Orpheum Theatre
129 University Place,
New Orleans,
LA
70112
129 University Place,
New Orleans,
LA
70112
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Anyone know the status of the renovaations?
An excellent 1928 photo of the New Orleans Orpheum appears on the Historic-Memphis.com website theatre page. Here’s a link to the page.
According to this article (http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2011/03/post_35.html), renovations of the Orpheum started on 2/14/11.
Over the next 12-14 months they plan to repair the roof, stage, electrical, seating and everything else.
They are continuing to secure financing while the work progresses.
The previous owners (mentioned in above posts to 2009) sold the orpheum to a new owner in 2010.
I don’t know when “seg” ended in N.O. but I recall being there in August 1964 for a day or two while traveling. In the New Orleans Union Terminal waiting room, one could see where the letters spelling out “Whites Only” and “Colored Only” had been removed from the walls. So that big rail station had been desegregated by then, and maybe the Orpheum Theatre as well.
The original article here discusses that the upper balcony was for blacks, but in the early 60’s I definately remember sitting anywhere in the theatre. You could easily walk to any level and I don’t have any recollection of certain seating areas for blacks.
A 1921 issue of the architectural journal Pencil Points ran this ad for The Northwestern Terra Cotta Company, which featured a photo of the Orpheum with its original entrance configuration and marquee.
Great photos.
Stagecoach in front of the Orpheum, from Boxoffice magazine, August 1, 1966:
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Announcing a book about New Orleans Movie Theaters
THEREâ€\S ONE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
The History of the Neighborhood Theaters in New Orleans
is being written by 89-year-old Rene Brunet, the dean of the motion picture industry in Louisiana, and New Orleans historian and preservationist Jack Stewart. The 160-page,coffee table book will be released in November and is being published by Arthur Hardy Enterprises, Inc. Attention will be focused on 50 major neighborhood and downtown theaters, culled from a list of nearly 250 that have dotted the cityâ€\s landscape since the first “nickelodeon†opened in 1896 at 626 Canal Street. The book will be divided by neighborhoods and will open with a map and a narrative about each area. Each major theater will feature “then and now†photographs, historic information, and a short series of quotes from famous New Orleanians and from regular citizens who will share their recollections.
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED
We are trying to acquire memorabilia and additional photos of this theater for this publication. (deadline July 1.) You will be credited in the book and receive a free autographed copy if we publish the picture that you supply. Please contact Arthur Hardy at or call 504-913-1563 if you can help.
Nice looking theatre.
This article from July, 2009 indicates that not only has the proposed renovation gone nowhere, but further deterioration has occurred and that the Texas owners owe the city back taxes:
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This is another 1980 photo.
Here is a circa 1955 photo.
To me, it’s the RKO Orpheum. Saw many horror movies there in the late 50’s and early 60’s, including Vincent Price’s “The Tingler”.
Would get my haircut in the basement of the Roosevelt Hotel across the street, then go to the movies.
Now home to the symphony.
Any updates on this renovation, sale or otherwise?
1973 photo of the RKO Orpheum Theatre.
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1979 photo of the RKO Orpheum Theatre.
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1980 photo of the RKO Orpheum Theatre.
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1982 Night Photo of the Orpheum Theatre.
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That is great news.
1982 photo of the Orpheum Theatre.
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According to this article:
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the owners of the Orpheum have started to renovate the theatre and are hoping to have it reopened by the end of the year. (The Saenger is renovation is also moving forward and the owners of the State Palace and Joy are still deciding whether to renovate, sell or demolish.)
This is a link to the a photo of the interior of the Orpheum Theatre.
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This web site has several interor and exterior views of the Orpheum & Saenger Theatre.
Here is another vintage photo of the Orpheum.
This is a photo of the RKO Orpheum Theater. Date given with photo is 1958.
Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Orpheum Theatre ** (added 1982 – Building – #82002787)
125—129 University Pl., New Orleans
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event
Architect, builder, or engineer: Lansburgh,G. Albert
Architectural Style: Beaux Arts
Area of Significance: Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation
Period of Significance: 1900-1924
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Theater
This is a brief article dated 7/10/2006.
“Texas investor buys flooded Orpheum Theater in N.O.
Source: New Orleans CityBusiness
Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports
The Orpheum Theater, closed since the floodwaters of Hurricane Katrina destroyed much of its interior, was purchased two weeks ago by Rick Weyand, owner of Golden Eagle Investments in Frisco, Texas. A group of private shareholders previously owned the theater, according to Associated Press reports. Weyand declined to discuss details of the sale but Babs Mollere, managing director of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, said Weyand indicated in previous discussions his desire to renovate the property and use it as a theater with the LPO as one of its anchor tenants. Since losing the Orpheum as a primary venue, the LPO has performed at Tulane and Loyola universities and First Baptist Church of New Orleans. Its next season begins Sept. 16 and runs through May 19".