Oriental Theatre
2230 N. Farwell Avenue,
Milwaukee,
WI
53202
2230 N. Farwell Avenue,
Milwaukee,
WI
53202
26 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 71 comments found
Here is another photo of the Oriental.
This is a 2008 night view of the Oriental Theater.
That was the 1-22-27 issue, p 26 for the record
Interestingly, a 1927 issue of Exhibitor’s Herald announcing the Oriental and Senate(?) theatre projects in Milwaukee names Gurda & Gurda as the architectural firm. Anyone know what the story is there?
This is a recent view of the marquee.
Recent photos of this theatre are HERE
This is a recent night view of the Oriental Theater.
The Theatre Historical Society visited here on June 21st. Of all the theatres on our itinerary to me this was the most impressive. The original 1920’s lamps hang down along the grand lobby entrance. The famous organist from Milwaukee, Jelani Eddington played the Kimball organ for us and sounded magnificent. Those giant buddahs with colored eyes and the elephants about just awesome.
Another recent photo of the Oriental Theater can be seen here.
Here is a vintage photo of the Oriental Theater.
This is a 2007 photo of the Oriental Theater.
Life: Thank You for taking the time to detail all of this. Now I can see the arrows and the image you originally mentioned is the last on your list.
Maybe it is an incompatible browser sort of thing. There should be orange arrows within the pircture frame at top. Clicking on the arrows allows me to move from picture to picture. Here is the whole photo set:
http://www.searlarch.com/OrientalImageBig1.html
http://www.searlarch.com/OrientalImageBig2.html
http://www.searlarch.com/OrientalImageBig3.html
http://www.searlarch.com/OrientalImageBig4.html
http://www.searlarch.com/OrientalImageBig5.html
You can also access via the Searle & Associates Projects page, Adaptive Reuse section:
http://www.searlarch.com/projects.html
Looks to me like a very tasteful project. Here is how Searle describes it:
Built in 1927, the Oriental Theater is an example of an exotic revival movement that used Arabian, Egyptian, and Far Eastern ornamentation. The corridor between the two new theaters is designed to reinforce the illusionary quality of fantasy and grandeur inherent in the old movie palace. The corridor columns, simplified versions of the originals, are made of faux marble plastic laminate with wood trim. The concern in this remodeling was to preserve the existing theater volume and ornament, while enhancing its quality with the addition of the two theaters.
Absolutely a stunning and unique looking theatre. A reminder of an era of great showmanship.
Life: is this the photo you intended? It looks toward the stage front, not the two little auditoriums. And “arrows at the top”? I see none.
Great auditorium photos, showing the two cinemas built under the balcony, can be found here:
http://www.searlarch.com/OrientalImageBig3.html
Use the arrows at top of photo to navigate.
Thanks for the correction.
A small point: the ORIENTAL is not owned by Landmark, but operated by them under a lease. So, the long term welfare of the theatre is more in the hands of its owner (a group of local business investors heretofore specializing in housing), rather than its operator. To be sure, if Landmark should somehow leave the theatre, its future would be more in doubt, since investors buy to increase their investment returns, not out of nostalgia for any property.
The Oriental is definitely well cared for, and there are more than a couple of theater buffs among the staff there. It is, however, owned by Mark “day-and-date” Cuban’s Landmark Theatres…
Those are some very beautiful photos of the Oriental lobbies. A couple of massive multiplexes have opened in New York in the past decade where an attempt was made to recapture the dream palace flavor — one in the Disney-ized 42nd Street, and the Sony near Lincoln Center. Of course, nothing can compare to the real thing. I do hope owners of gems like the Oriental appreciate what they have and keep things at least maintained, if not completely restored.
Russell Phillips Photos:
Lobby
Upper Lobby
This is another recent photo of the Oriental Theater.
Here is a recent photo of the Oriental Theater.
I lived on Farwell Avenue across the street from the Oriental as a student at UWM in the early seventies. I remember often taking advantage of the cheap double features they showed then. My first time at the Oriental was a Halloween costume party in 1970 I think. They showed the original Frankenstein film — quite a revelation to see it on a big screen — and the entire audience, most quite stoned and/or tripping out of their minds, howled when Dr. Frankenstein’s father lit up and puffed greedily on his very large carved pipe. Those giant Buddhas with the glowing eyes and jewels were truly amazing, as was the rest of the decor.
That’s cool. No problem Jim. I haven’t listed an email address on purpose. From time to time I get into it with people who I think are trying to use and abuse the preservation community, like Paul Warshauer. I don’t need messages from guys like that.