Orpheum Theatre
315 N. Phillips Avenue,
Sioux Falls,
SD
57104
315 N. Phillips Avenue,
Sioux Falls,
SD
57104
1 person
favorited this theater
The Orpheum Theatre opened on October 2, 1913 as a vaudeville house and originally had a seating capacity of 900. This elegant and beautifully-preserved theatre served in this capacity until 1954, when the Community Playhouse group acquired the Orpheum Theatre for its home.
Known for its superb acoustics, the theater receives over 100,000 visitors each year, and events there include plays, concerts, community events and private rentals.
The Orpheum Theatre is rumored to be haunted by a ghost who has been named named “Larry”, whose identity is unknown, but was thought to have been either a construction worker or stagehand in life.
The Orpheum Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
Contributed by
Bryan
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Recent comments (view all 13 comments)
I used to go to the Orpheum when I was a boy in the early 50’s My dad would give me a quarter,and the ticket was 10cents,popcorn was 5 cents a box,I would get two boxes,and have 5 cent left to call my dad to pick me up.
They would show great Bmovies like “The Bowery Boys”,“Johnny Mack Brown” westerns. I treasure thoughs times
Cosmo
This website has a small photo and some background on the Orpheum Theater in Sioux Falls.
I found the Sioux Falls Argus Leader news clippings that talk about the Oct. 1913 opening of this theater. The historic plaque also says 1913, and a history book about Minnehaha County pictures the building, showing the 1913 date, too.
On October 2, 1913, the grand opening of the Orpheum Theatre was a full
dress affair with box and dress circle patrons paying the unheard price of $5 per
seat. First Nighters were entertained with a concert by the Orpheum Orchestra,
four vaudeville acts, screen projections of Pathe News, and short subjects from
the Orthoscope, the latest in silent film equipment.
Brothers John and Frank Solari built the 1000-seat Orpheum, and planned it to
be a state of the art theater for the staging of vaudeville. A railroad spur led to
the theatre back door, which enabled performers to unload their animals, props,
instruments, and wardrobe trunks.
In the early 1920s repertory theater became popular at the Orpheum. Stock
companies performed the current play for one week; at the same time they
rehearsed a second play to be performed the following week. “Talkies,†movies
with sound, and the sale of the Orpheum to a competitor, led to its temporary closing in
1927.
The Orpheum was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
Community Playhouse went under, there was a dark year or two before a new group, Sioux Empire Community Theater (SECT) began producing three shows a season, the third being the 2005-06 season.
“We’ll leave the light on for ya..” The Orpheum neon sign is turned on every night, but there was no performance when I was in Sioux Falls. The Orpheum is the first thing mentioned by the local tourist bureau when talking about their restored downtown. Jessie, a tour guide, said the interior is seriously run down; but I’d be hopeful the local citizens will fix it up in the longrun.
Added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1983
Orpheum Theatre (added 1983 – Building – #83003016)
315 N. Phillips Ave., Sioux Falls
Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Architectural Style: Other
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: Monument/Marker
Here is a photo of the Orpheum Theater.
In the photo I doubt that these are the original doors..too bad they changed them out, imo.
This is the website for the Orpheum Theater.
More history of the Orpheum Theater can be found here.
Here is a 1999 photo of the Orpheum at night.