Orpheum Theatre
126 Second Avenue,
New York,
NY
10003
126 Second Avenue,
New York,
NY
10003
4 people
favorited this theater
The site on which the Orpheum stands is alleged to have been a concert garden as early as the 1880s and, as such, to be one of the oldest continuously operating places of gathering for entertainment events in New York City.
A 1904 NY Times article describes a visit to the Orpheum as an evening which began with entertainment from a Hungarian orchestra, continued with dinner in the 7 o'clock hour, and concluded with a three-hour stage show by a Viennese theatre company.
The theatre was part of the exploding Second Avenue Yiddish theatre scene in the early decades of the 20th century but was exhibiting motion pictures by at least 1921. Additional references indicate that it continued to do so through the mid-1950s.
In 1958, the theatre became a home for legitimate theatre, referred to in some press accounts of the time as the New Orpheum, seating just 299 persons (down from a reported seat count of 560 while a cinema earlier in the decade). Though the Off Broadway venue continued to occasionally show film (hosting, for example, an International Film Festival for Children in 1971 and a weekly Film Makers' Festival in 1980), in the 1980s and 90s it became a venue primarily associated with two productions: the original stage version of “Little Shop of Horrors” (1982-1985) and “Stomp” (1994-present).
Contributed by
Damien Farley
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Recent comments (view all 21 comments)
Photo of the orpheum courtesy Nick’s Classic American Theatres.
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Bway,
Yes, “Stomp” is still, annoyingly, gratingly, pitifully, STILL running at this theater.
Thats too bad.Profjoe.
I was impressed by the length and narrowness of the theatre the first time I saw a live production there, I believe it was Anything Goes. I was in the last row. Made up for that with Stomp by being in the second row. Stomp was actually a very clever show that became a bit repetitious with time. I’m not disappointed that I saw it.
I saw “Stomp” here a few years ago. I can remember a VERY steep balcony!
It looks like the producers of Stomp are posting here, since every picture in the photos section, and most of the links, are shots of their marquee.
Saps, I don’t think Ken Roe or Ed Solero are producers of Stomp. They have been CT members for some time and both have posted pictures of many theatres besides the Orpheum. Ken Roe is a member of the CT staff and has a huge theatre photo collection from the many countries he has been to. He has provided most of the theatre photos from Great Britian since that is his home.
Chuck, you also posted a picture of the Stomp marquee. Are you a producer? (And my comment was tongue-in-cheek, as I’m sure Ed and Ken and others must know.)
It’s hard to get a photo of this theatre without STOMP on the marquee. It has been playing for 18 years.
Ha. Saps… I only WISH I had a piece of interest in Stomp! Unfortunately, my only financial connection to the show was when I made my own small contribution towards its fortunes, when I took the kiddies to see it about a decade or so ago!