Orpheum Theatre

I will be attending the show for this Saturday May 5 and need directions on how to arrive to your theatre. I'm coming from San Jose CA. Please send me a phone number or directions online.

Regards,
Theresa

In the late 1990s the orphuem went through a major remodeling in which the stage was extended into the seating area, a new marquee was put on the front of the building, and the back stage area was greatly expanded. One of the reasons this was done was so that the Broadway Show Miss Sygon could be played here. This is a very beautiful Spanish style theatre. One of the best in the world, truly.

In 1953 Cinerama subleased the theatre from the master lease holder Metropolitan. Cinerama's ran about 15 years before return it to Metropolitan. The theatre opened on 02/20/1926 with 2446 seats.

According to a Variety listing, late in 2000 the house record for the Orpheum was broken by the pre-Broadway tour of the London musical "Mamma-Mia". The show grossed over a million dollars a week.

With in the past 7 years the Orpheum was closed and the interior restored. The pink color that the auditorium was painted is no more. The stage was brought out into the audience more so that the backstage could be rebuilt and enlarged for traveling broadway shows. It has an amazing spanich themed interior.

When the Orpheum Theatre was a single screen theatre it seated 2446 people.

As with a vast percentage of other theaters originally built for the Pantages chain this was the work of architect B. Marcus Priteca. I believe I have a book with some additional info on this theater. If I find the info I will share it.

My parents have an old player piano that was supposedly used in the Orpheum Theater. It is a Fotopiano made by the American Photo Player Company, NY NY & Berkley CA. Any information relating to this would be appreciated.

A 1967 view of the Orpheum's marquee and vertical sign (or at least part of them) can be seen in this photo.

This was also possibly the first Cinerama theatre in the U.S. to catch on fire. Sometime shortly before Thanksgiving week in 1958 during the 37th week of the 4th Cinerama travelogue "Search For Paradise," a fire broke out backstage (late at night, nobody injured) which destroyed the screen, screen speakers, and curtains. Amazingly enough, the house was back in action within a week's time.

Cinerama 3 strip ran from 12/25/53 thru 4/2/61 and then from 5/29/62 thru 4/2/63. 70mm Cinerama ran from 12/18/63 thru1/31/66. The screen measured 78ft by 28ft. I have a gret black and white of the frony of the Orpheum when it was playing Mad Mad World if any one wants a copy I can email it.

Yes, Charles, I'd like a copy of that. veyoung52@yahoo.com Thanks, Vince

I think I have 10 seats from this theater; any one know how I might identify them to be sure? Are there extensive historical photos of this theater anywhere?

The Orpheum was one of the San Francisco Bay Area's premiere roadshow reserved seat houses. I remember the theatre advertising Exclusive Northern California engagement for films like "Dr Zhivago". It was the only Cinerama theatre in the Bay Area until the Golden Gate became a Cinerama theatre.It was one of the first downtown movie palaces to close in the early 1970's. The film "Hello Dolly" was booked into the Orpheum, but due to construction of the BART subway the booking was canceled and moved to the Cinema 21 and the Orpheum never recovered, until it was restored as a Broadway Theatre.brucec

There are several archival photos of the theatre at the San Francisco main public library. One shows the original marquee and blade sign. Another shows the interior of the theater in the Cinerama days.
During the mid 1990's remodeling, some lost parts of the theater were brought to light, including the ornate painted decorations on the ceiling of the foyer, which had been hidden under layers of white and pink paint. A new stage curtain was created based on archival photographs of the original. The curtain depicts a pilgrimage of sorts, and the persons shown are cariactures of the owners and others who were involved in the detailed work of restoring the theatre. It was proposed at the time to rename the theatre "The Shorenstein" but thankfully a new Orpheum blade sign was created to echo the original.
In my opinion the crown jewel of this theatre is the perforated plaster ceiling which is dotted with lights and has a huge sunburst light in the center. Definitely gaudy, somewhat Moorish, and a triumph of the handcrafted plaster art form.

The following page has pictures of the proscenium and the marquee from the Cinerama era:

http://cinerama.topcities.com/ctorpheum.htm

I was hoping someone can give me more info on the children rule. It says children under 5 are not allowed. My son just turned 5 and we got tickets to go see 'Wicked'. He's gone to other shows since before he turned 4. He's really good and is really excited to see the show since he just loves the music. My concern is getting there and being turned away. I called and the person I spoke to said we shouldnt have a problem. That the rule is more for infants and babies. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Nice photo:
http://www.noehill.com/sf/landmarks/sf094.asp

From the SF Public Library website:

http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-8991.jpg

The website for the live stage theatres has been re-designed. Very much for the better.

Here is a link that shows some great interior pics of the Orpheum.

http://38.114.160.250/theatres/index.asp?key=52

1926 photo as the Pantages Theatre.
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-9044.jpg
1931 photo of the Orpheum
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-8996.jpg
Udated photo of the Orpheum
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-8992.jpg

Here are some additional photos of the Pantages/Orpheum, from the SF Public Library:

http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-8993.jpg

http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-8995.jpg

http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-9042.jpg

http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-9043.jpg

Take a look at these two photos. The Crystal Palace Market across the street from the Orpheum appears to be an old theater. The question is, which one?

http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAB-6487.jpg

http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAC-6828.jpg

Here is a photo of the Orpheum from 1948:

http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-8997.jpg

Here is another photo of the Crystal Palace in 1929. Perhaps this was a market all along.

http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAC-6740.jpg

Pantages, 1929:
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-9045.jpg

1926:
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-9044.jpg
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-9046.jpg
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-9047.jpg
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-9048.jpg
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-9049.jpg
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-9050.jpg
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-9051.jpg

Undated:
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-9039.jpg
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-9012.jpg

Pantages, 1929:
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-9045.jpg

1926:
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-9044.jpg
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-9046.jpg
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-9047.jpg
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-9048.jpg
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-9049.jpg
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-9050.jpg
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-9051.jpg

Undated:
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-9039.jpg
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAA-9012.jpg

Sorry about the duplication.

1950s:
http://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/sfphotos/AAB-6463.jpg

A modern photo of the Orpheum Theater can be seen here.

ken mc the undated photos you posted on Dec. 22, 2005 are from the Pantages Theatre that opened on Dec. 30, 1911. That theatre was located at 937 Market Street. It closed Feb. of 1926 when the new theatre opened.

OK, thanks.

As a young boy we(my Grandmother, my cousin and me) went to see the first Cinerama movie there. Then the second Cinerama film. The experience was just awesome. The theater itself was unreal. Huge, overwhelming, a spectacular sight that had to be experienced in order to appreciate the value of the architecture itself. The old three screen (three projector) effect could not be duplicated with the later trials of cinerama. The realism was gone. I think at the time there were only 3 theaters able to show cinerama. One in Seattle Wash, the other in Los Angeles Ca. On the west coast that is.

We also later saw mad mad...... world. It didn't seem to have the same effect. Later I watched How the west was won. The old Cinerama experience seemed to have disappeared, and was replaced with a single projector which made it nothing more than "over sized" cinemascope with stereo sound.

About the only thing close to Cinerama might be IMax.

The great movie days are gone.

attended a performance of "Chicago", featuring Huey Lewis as Billy Flynn. Due to a ticket snafu, just made the curtain. However, at intermission, I had the chance to examine the theatre. Its beautiful and ornate inside, the ceiling just amazing and I sat there imagining what it must have been like to see Mad Mad Mad world in there.

After being inside, Im very happy it was able to be saved.

This grand and glorious theatre will live "another life". This time as a television studio.

Conan O'Brien will bring his Late Night to the Orpheum from April 30th until May 4th.

Best of luck in getting tickets, apply by cut and pasting this link

http://www.nbc.com/Late_Night_with_Conan_O'Brien/travels/tickets.shtml

The shows will be broadcast in High Definition.

A few more pictures of the Orpheum here:-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/424136415/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/424136434/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/424136441/

A Robert-Morton theater organ size 4/22 was installed in the Pantages Theater in 1926. Note: With echo; located at 1192 Market Street.

Here is a recent photo of the Orpheum Theater.

This is a 2008 photo of the Orpheum.

Another recent photo can be seen here.

Here is a July 2008 photo.

This is a December 2008 photo of the entrance.

Orpheum Theater photo

As a child I saw two Cinerama films at the Orpheum. I agree with "edison school jack" above that nothing comes close today. Most people have no idea what Cinerama was.

1962 Photo

1966 Photo

1981 Photo

Took 3 pics from the stage last weekend...unfortunately it was dark because the "house" wasnt open yet...one decent pic of the auditorium ceiling, the architectural features on sides seem less ornate than in the old pics i've seen above...maybe because of all the theatrical lighting ..also threw in some pics of civic center statues with "wicked" in the background

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26541422@N04/sets/72157617709214279/

Lost Memory... Your 1966 picture of the Orpheum brought back my City visits from 18 months at Oakland Army Base. Memories when I saw "Dr. Zchivago" in this glorious auditorium. Upon departing, patrons were handed postage-paid postcards to mail to friends, encouraging them to see the picture.

Another(live) show later was Eartha Kitt who sang her favorites and popped a few humorous jokes in between. The audience was generous in so much as to laughter, applause but most of all, they listened to her most politely.
I also obtained her autograph. Oh, what a talented and sexy lady!