Nor Shor Theatre
211 E. Superior Street,
Duluth,
MN
55810
211 E. Superior Street,
Duluth,
MN
55810
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Exciting new plans just announced to get the Norshor operating and restored. See link: http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/223330/group/News/
Lounge
The Orpheum Theatre was built in 1910 on the site of the Temple Opera House which was part of the Temple Opera House Building that contained in its 6 stories the Masonic Temple among other offices, etc. At sometime prior to 1929 the entrance on Second Avenue East and the Magquee were changed around the corner to Superior Street.
In 1940 the Orpheum was gutted, the auditorium reversed and totally redesigned in the Art Deco style and renamed the Norshor. The new entrance and lobby is adjacent to where the second Orpheum entrance was. The three top stories of the Temple Opera Building were removed to clear of view of the Norshor Lighted Tower of the new theatre.
In the Detroit Publishing company photo site there is a photo showing the Opera House partially demolished prior to the construction of the Orpheum.
I grew up in Duluth and attended the Norshor many times but knew nothing of the Orpheum even though the corner business in the Temple Building housed the Orpheum Drug Store. The Norshor has been purchased by the city of Duluth and the Duluth Playhouse will operate it at some time in the future. I recently returned (after 40 years to Duluth and had a tour of the now closed Norshor. It is in pretty bad shape. I understand that they have discovered behind the existing ceiling the original gilt Orpheum ceiling and portions of the second balcony.
The Nightclub has closed. Interesting, the building to the right, on the corner of the block says on its top, “Temple Opera House” – nice circa 1900 facade. That building now houses a computer store.
Address is 10 n 2nd ave. E Duluth, MN
And it is now a nightclub
There is an Orpheum Nightclub located at 10 North 2nd Avenue East which claims on their website: “Duluth’s first Orpheum Vaudeville Theater was built on the site of the current Orpheum Nightclub in the 1890’s”. Would that be this Orpheum Theater or an earlier Orpheum Theater?
A Geneva theater organ size 2/8 was installed in the Orpheum Theater in 1925. Note: Smith-Geneva nameplate.
A Feb 26, 1911 Chicago Tribune article likewise lists Pridmore
A Guide to the Architecture of MN lists the architect of the 1910 Orpheum Theater as J.E.O.Pridmore. Pridmore also designed the 1920 State Theater in Minneapolis.