Orpheum Theater
116 N. Sixth Street,
Waco,
TX
76701
116 N. Sixth Street,
Waco,
TX
76701
2 people
favorited this theater
This theater was the last operating movie houses in downtown Waco until it closed in late-1978 and was demolished two years later.
The theater had 500 seats in the orchestra and 50 seats on either side of its divided balcony (the division was due to the location of the projection booth).
Contributed by
Don Mosher
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
I was in the army at nearby Fort Hood, Texas. In 1955 I was Giant at the Waco Theatre starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean.
The Orpheum Theatre was located at 116 N. 6th Street.
When was this theatre built?
What other uses did it have other than movies?
Here is a 1981 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/cpnkkv
Opened in the mid-1920’s, mostly operated by subsidiaries of Paramount Pictures until the mid-1950’s then by Newman Theatres and finally by Mitchell Theatres until its closing in 1978.
i worked here all my high school years, i sure love it .mr mitchell was a very good friend, , there was jerry merritt, martha and judy, neil, mr mitchell would take me home at night cause i had a curfeww at the methodist home ,he would always let me take a bag of popcorn home to the girls ,at my dorm, he was a very nice man, i learned alot form working out side of the home , almost all the old downtowns are gone ,, sadden by this.i still kept in touch with me mitchell for years,then i moved away.from 1968 to 78
I worked there in 64 and 65. JC Mitchell had an office upstairs and one in the back of the theater also. He spent a lot of time there. Back then the Mitchel Brothers also ran the Imperial on Waco Drive and built a new Drive in where Richland Mall is now. I worked for the construction company building the drive in and at night at the Orpheum. Worked with Debbie, Sharon, Reen, Phil, Niel and Jimmy. Jimmy and I once met some girls who were at a future nurses convention or something and we invited them all to the Imperial. We took a roll of tickets and handed them out and as I recall we had about 50 of them show up, we appropriated some free pop corn and joined the ladies for an almost private showing, since there wasn’t a paying customer in the place! Lots of fun memories! I went off to school, to VN and when I returned I would drive by from time to time and then one day it was gone… not just closed but gone! Plenty of good memories, thanks for lettine me share them.