Orpheum Theater

620 Hampshire Street,
Quincy, IL 62301

Unfavorite 2 people favorited this theater

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Balaban & Katz Corp.

Architects: Cornelius Ward Rapp, George W. Leslie Rapp

Firms: Rapp & Rapp

Nearby Theaters

Orpheum Theater

The Orpheum Theater was opened December 24, 1914 as a venue for legitimate theater and vaudeville. The theater switched to movies sometime later. The Orpheum Theater was torn down in the 1960’s.

Contributed by Matt Fessler

Recent comments (view all 9 comments)

route66sue
route66sue on December 30, 2004 at 5:13 pm

I have seen pics of this theatre at the Quincy Public Library. It was absolutely beautiful. If anyone had any to post, they are definitely worth seeing.

PaulWolter
PaulWolter on May 4, 2007 at 9:18 am

This was an early Rapp and Rapp design. The Rockford Morning Star for Sunday, February 31, 1915 states the following in an article heralding the opening of the Palace Theatre in Rockford, Illinois:

“…Messrs. George and C. L. Rapp have specialized in theater designing and among their latest masterpieces are the New Oprheum in Champaign, the Orpheum in Quincy, the Columbia in Davenport, Ia., the New Palace in Fort Wayne, Ind., the Hippodrome in Chicago, the Ringling Theatre in Baraboo, Wis., and the Palace in Rockford. They also have theaters under construction in Louisville, Ky. and Grand Rapids, Mich.”

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on November 22, 2014 at 9:35 am

Here is a photo of the auditorium of the Orpheum Theatre.

This advertisement says that the Orpheum would open on Thursday, December 24, 1914.

robboehm
robboehm on March 26, 2016 at 12:06 pm

Uploaded interior and exterior photos of the Orpheum as well as the announcement of the December 25, 1914 opening from the Quincy Public Library collection.

robboehm
robboehm on March 26, 2016 at 12:56 pm

First talkies purported to be July 7, 1929.

Scott
Scott on March 27, 2016 at 9:18 am

What an odd auditorium. Don’t recall ever seeing boxes running along the front of a balcony. Interesting design. Too bad it didn’t survive the 1960s.

robboehm
robboehm on March 27, 2016 at 10:00 am

Must have had a pretty good orchestra in the day since I saw a reference that they played in Hannibal, MO on one occasion.

SethG
SethG on March 31, 2018 at 2:00 pm

Hannibal is maybe 15 miles away, and quite bit smaller. Not exactly a big booking.

You must login before making a comment.

New Comment

Subscribe Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.