Orpheum Theatre

St. Paul, MN

19-21 Seventh Street West

, St. Paul, MN 55102 United States

(map)

Status:	Closed
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Unknown

Function:	Unknown
Seats:	3000
Chain:	Unknown

Architect:	Charles Buechner, Henry Orth
Firm:	Unknown

Vintage photograph of the RKO Orpheum (circa-1952)

Photo courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society

This theater opened in 1916 as the Palace and could seat 3000. It was built on the site of the old St. Paul Public Library which burned down a couple years earlier. The architects were Henry Orth and Charles Buechner and the Palace was part of the Finkelstein & Ruben circuit.

Opening day newspaper ads gushed about the "New Palace" calling it, "The Show Spot of St. Paul", "St. Paul's Own Palace Beautiful" and "A Delight to the Artistic Eye". Finkelstein & Ruben supposedly told their architects that they wanted the Palace to resemble a theater they saw and liked in Buffalo, New York, the Shea's Hippodrome.

In 1922, the name of the theater was changed to the Palace-Orpheum after it became part of the Orpheum vaudeville circuit. However, three years later, when vaudeville was dropped in favor of movies only, the name became simply the Orpheum Theatre (later the RKO Orpheum).

In the 1940s, RKO remodeled the Orpheum, including a new lobby, facade and signage and greatly reduced seating (to 1400). Twelve years later, Ted Mann purchased the theater from RKO. First run films ended at the Orpheum in 1977. For a few years, the theater was open sporadically showing classic films, but closed permanently in 1984.

The historic theater -- once a prominent spot for nightlife in the city of St. Paul -- stands today in disrepair and its future remains uncertain.

Contributed by Chris Clay, Bryan Krefft

YOUR COMMENTS

The marquee shown here is just like the one RKO had on The Palace on Broadway when they ran movies there.

posted by RobertR on Mar 9, 2004 at 6:41am

One of the greatest cinema experiences of my life ocurred here. During the early 1980's this wonderful theater would show double features of classic films. I saw "Rebecca" and "Noth by Northwest " there. What an amazing afternoon!!! I also saw a "Goldfinger"-"Thunderball" double feature at the Orpheum and a memorable "Vixen" "Supervixen" and "Beyond the Vally of the Ultravixens" triple feature!!!

posted by josem on Oct 4, 2004 at 8:24pm

Numerous old photos at this link:
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/results.cfm?Page=7&Keywords=theatre&Type=Photo%2CArt%2CArtPhoto&SearchType=Basic

posted by TC on Mar 10, 2005 at 12:26pm

I toured the Palace-Orpheum about a year ago. There is some talk in St. Paul of bringing it back to life. In the early 2000s, the new owners fixed up the lobby, where a play was present "Finan's Wake" I believe. The auditorium remains locked up. But the new owner has put up and lit a flag with the name "Palace" bringing the house back to it's beginings in 1916.
As always it's a question of money. It'll cost a few million just to bring it up to usable state. A full restoration would be a mim of $10 million I would think. The big question can St. Paul support another large theatre?

posted by Kirk J. Besse on Jun 29, 2007 at 2:08pm

It seems the mayor is behind a move to convert this house into a rock venue along the lines of First Ave in Minneapolis.

posted by Kirk J. Besse on Aug 18, 2007 at 11:00am

The intro says that this theater was remodeled in the 1940's (auditorium and lobby) but there is no mention of the style or quality of the work. Would a renovation take the theater back to the way it was on opening day or from the 1940's? I would assume it would be cheaper to get it back to the condition at it's "modernization".

posted by LuisV on Jan 7, 2008 at 7:17am

Whilst it would great to see the house fully restored to its 1916 glory, I expect that due to the cost it will (if ever) be re-done back to the 1940s style. Nevertheless, bringing it back to life will be great for downtown St. Paul.

posted by Kirk J. Besse on Jan 14, 2008 at 11:45am

Bringing ANY theatre left in a downtown area would bring life back to these ares.

posted by movie534 on Mar 24, 2008 at 7:58pm

1982 photo of the Orpheum Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c23%2c3%2c-1&catpagesize=25&ProductID=28873
Another 1982 photo of the Orpheum Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c23%2c3%2c-1&catpagesize=25&ProductID=28874
1982 Night photo of the Orpheum Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c23%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=8&catpagesize=25&ProductID=28875
Another 1982 night photo of the Orpheum Theate.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c23%2c3%2c-1&catpagesize=25&ProductID=28876

posted by Chuck1231 on May 1, 2009 at 8:29pm

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