Orpheum Theatre

In 1915 work began on the Al. Ringling Theatre in Baraboo, Wisconsin which was also designed by Rapp and Rapp. The "Al." owes a lot to the Orpheum being nearly identical in plan. A greater budger however allowed for more lavish use of ornament including over a dozen handpainted murals and an elaborate terra cotta facade.

If you would like more information on the Al. check out the website at www.alringling.com

Please contact me if you would like to discuss the early works of Rapp and Rapp. Paul pawolter@chorus.net

This is a recent photo of the rear of the Orpheum Theater building.

Here is a recent photo of the former Orpheum Theater.

I used to see this theatre from the windows of "The City of New Orleans" when I took the train home for Christmas, and I always wanted to get out and have a look at it. It's good the building is still in use. Maybe someday it can be a theatre again. It's not likely that RKO bought the theatre in 1920. The RKO chain didn't exist until 1929 or so.

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991

New Orpheum Theatre ** (added 1991 - Building - #91000085)
Also known as RKO Orpheum Theatre;Orpheum Theatre
346--352 N. Neil St., Champaign
Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Rapp & Rapp
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Area of Significance: Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation
Period of Significance: 1900-1924, 1925-1949
Owner: Local Gov't
Historic Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Specialty Store, Theater
Current Function: Vacant/Not In Use

Address should be 346 N Neil St

Here is a 2007 photo of the Orpheum Theater.

A Kimball theater organ opus 6667 size 2/4 was installed in the Orpheum Theater in 1922.

Unfortunately, this photo shows some of the building. Try to concentrate on the marquee only.

I visited this now-museum several times over several years around the turn of the Millennia. My mom is a fan of old buildings, so my dad donated money to the museum for the restoration and expansion, so we traveled there to see what they've done. For the first several years, all they had was a small space that used up the area behind the windows paint with faux curtains in the above photos. However, in the last two or so years we went, they had reopened the main entrance below the marquee and with that, had a professional looking admission foyer which then opened up to the 2-story atrium just outside the main auditorium. The balcony stairs and upstairs was completely refurbished but keeping the original materials and designs, basically just new paint. There were safety code improvements, like plexiglass I believe to extend the height of the railings, but they don't detract from the look. The outdoor space just to the south has also become an outdoor exhibit space, with a fossil hunt and those cool echo sound domes present. Last time I was there, the main auditorium was still fully closed, but they have grand plans for it. The seats have long been removed, but they plan on turning the whole space into museum exhibits. The space is so large though that it will require a lot of funds and hadn't been touched at all. The woman who showed us around, since we were donors, knew a lot about the physical space, like the changing rooms beneath the stage, and seemed to have a really well placed heart and vision. The museum is definitely aimed at young crowds as my brother and I who were then in our early teens were completely bored by it, but let's be honest, we weren't the target audience. I'm curious now as to how much, or little, progress has been made since we were last there.

Either way, what they've already accomplished has turned that space back into a thing of beauty and should be a posterchild for other spaces facing the same fate.

-Brian

A 1996 view of the sad and abandoned Orpheum Theatre in Champaign here and here. But it looks as if if someone still loved it. Notice the two small, nicely kept flower gardens in front of the theatre. An enlarged view here and here.

Another photo is here.

Here is a 1992 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/dbg5n7

Here are views from the 1960s and from March of this year:
http://tinyurl.com/c38h3c
http://tinyurl.com/cmjq35

Here are two 1983 night photos:

Photo1

Photo2

1983 Interior Photo

More 1983 Interior photos of the Orpheum
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=Theatre+Interiors&catpageindex=2&catpagesize=25&ProductID=25988
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=Theatre+Interiors&catpageindex=2&catpagesize=25&ProductID=25990
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=Theatre+Interiors&catpageindex=2&catpagesize=25&ProductID=25989

This is a recent interior photo. Compare it to the 1983 interior photo linked to above on May 19, 2009.

October 2009 photo of the Orpheum Theatre.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bruce_theatres/4091694700/sizes/o/in/photostream/

Here's another one of my recent pictures of the Orpheum:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bruce_theatres/4091694302/sizes/o/

There are some press releases on the official web site which indicate that the building was recently damaged, and that the organization feels they may be better off in a building other than the Orpheum.

However, the newest one is a year old, and they are still scheduling events.

What was it damaged by?

Apparently a fire in a nearby building.

Metropolitan Building?
what does that have to do with any thing?

Take a look for yourself:

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2008/11/11/orpheum_childrens_science_museum_dealing_with_fire_damages

Oh. Must have been windy that day.:)

Did that effect the renovation of the auditorium?

Doesn't look like it judging by the Orpheum web site. Check it out:

http://www.m-crossroads.org/orpheum/

This is where all my info is coming from.

Oh. If the museum moves out than what will happen to the theatre?

There was a good article with a nice photo of the renovated auditorium in the News-Gazette back on or about November 4, 2009, which I just saw a copy of. I can't seem to find it on their website but it was lovely. They have already hosted one wedding there, even though it's not finished. I'll keep trying to find that article and photo, but if anyone else can get it please post it here.

There's a set of auditorium photos posted on flickr army.arch, of which this is one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/army_arch/3980160358/