St Charles Theatre
100 St. Charles Avenue,
New Orleans,
LA
70130
100 St. Charles Avenue,
New Orleans,
LA
70130
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The St Charles Theatre was one of New Orleans' oldest and most storied theaters, first opened in the early-1830’s by James Caldwell as a legitimate playhouse. It was said to seat upwards of 4,000 in Neo-Renaissance splendor.
It was at the time one of the most extravagant theaters of the South, costing over $300,000 to construct. However, it burned to the ground in 1842, but was rebuilt just a year later. Though smaller and with a simpler facade, it was no less ornate inside, if not moreso, than its predecessor.
The second St Charles Theatre hosted some of the biggest stage names of the 19th century, including Jenny Lind and Edwin Booth. Ironically, it was also burned to the ground, like the original St Charles, in 1899.
In 1902, George King Pratt designed a third theater on the site, for the Keith-Orpheum vaudeville circuit, this time called the Orpheum Theatre. When a new Orpheum Theatre was opened in 1924, not far from the old one, the theater was sold to the Saenger circuit and its old name revived, the St Charles Theatre, as a movie house with live stage shows.
In 1932, the St Charles Theatre was remodeled under its new management, and switched over to movies-only. It remained a popular first-and-second run movie house until it was closed in 1965 and razed to make way for a parking lot, ending over a century of theater history on the site.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
Although I haven’t visited New Orleans in over 5 years, the St Charles or the Orpheum as it was known as in 1996 was still standing and served as the home of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.
The theatre Mr. Coursey is referring to is the second (or New) Orpheum Theatre which opened in 1924 (see the entry on this site for this theatre)
The last incarnation of the St. Charles Theatre seated 1700 according to the 1945 Film Daily Yearbook.
The Philharmonic also used the St. Charles Theater as its rehearsal hall up until the time of its razing. As a boy of 11 in 1964, I sang with the philharmonic and remember rehearsing in the run- down musty theater.
Here is an undated view of the interior.
Hello Friends, I would like to understand about the St. Charles/Orpheum/Saenger. I live in Paris. I took a photo a few years ago of the actual Orpheum, which stands in a street near Canal St. on the left looking towards the Lake, near Rampart. I also took photos of the Saenger big theater at Canal and Rampart (last April they were renovating it). I also have a 1915 postcard with the sign Orpheum on Canal St. I can send this postcard.
Where was the original situation of the theater? Which one was razed?
And is the one still standing (in full activity) the one where the Pilharmonic rehearsed?
I thank you for your reply. Cordially, Dan Vernhettes, Paris, France.
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