Orpheum Theater (New Orleans)

Last updated

Orpheum Theatre
CBD3Oct97OrpheumUp.jpg
Orpheum Theater in 2007
New Orleans Section and West Bank 1998 Map.jpg
Red pog.svg
USA Louisiana location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location125–129 University Pl., New Orleans, Louisiana
Coordinates 29°57′16″N90°4′21″W / 29.95444°N 90.07250°W / 29.95444; -90.07250
Area0.3 acres (0.12 ha)
Built1918
Architect G. Albert Lansburgh
Architectural styleBeaux Arts
Part of New Orleans Lower Central Business District (ID91000825)
NRHP reference No. 82002787 [1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPAugust 11, 1982
Designated CPJune 24, 1991

The Orpheum Theater is a theater in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Contents

Also known as the RKO Orpheum, it was designed by G. Albert Lansburgh, [2] built in 1918, and opened for vaudeville in 1921. The Beaux Arts style building has 1,500 seats, and went on to host silent movies, “talkies,” live music and a range of other shows. [3] In 1983, the Orpheum was scheduled for demolition but was acquired by the New Orleans Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, and underwent a $3 million renovation. It served as the orchestra's home theater until the orchestra's financial demise in 1991. Under new ownership, the Orpheum became the home of the newly formed Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO), whose musicians prized the auditorium for its acoustical purity. [4] The theater is an example of "vertical hall" construction, initially built to provide perfect sight lines and acoustics for vaudeville shows which did not have the benefit of amplifiers or modern lighting. [5]

The Orpheum Theater was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. It was also included in the NRHP listing of the New Orleans Lower Central Business District in 1991. The theater was severely damaged in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina and the associated levee failure floodwaters [6] [7] and was sold to a Dallas businessman. [4] It was then sold to Axiom Global Properties in 2011 (formerly Orpheum Properties, Inc.). [8] Neither of these owners succeeded in restoring the theater to commerce. The theater was purchased in February 2014 by Dr. Eric George, who completed a $13 million renovation. [9] Renovations included installing a new hydraulic floor that can be lifted and lowered to create sloped or flat footing, which allows it to accommodate concerts and events. [3] Additionally, the upgrade included an expanded marble lobby, enlarged seating, additional bathrooms, multiple bars. George and his investment company, ERG Enterprises, completed a subsequent renovation in 2020 by opening a speakeasy bar in the basement of the theater. The venue, called the Double Dealer, opened January 24, 2020. [10]

The theater reopened in August 2015. The first event was held on September 17, 2015, with a performance by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO). The LPO has since become the anchor tenant for the theater. [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate</i> American newspaper published in New Orleans, Louisiana

The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate is an American newspaper published in New Orleans, Louisiana. Ancestral publications of other names date back to January 25, 1837. The current publication is the result of the 2019 acquisition of The Times-Picayune by the New Orleans edition of The Advocate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">State Theatre (New Brunswick, New Jersey)</span>

State Theatre New Jersey is a nonprofit theater, located in New Brunswick, New Jersey. It has seating for 1,850 people. Designed by architect Thomas W. Lamb in 1921, it is one of the oldest theaters in the State of New Jersey.

The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) is an American orchestra based in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is the only full-time, professional orchestra in the Gulf South. The orchestra performs at the Orpheum Theater.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Count Basie Center for the Arts</span> Theater in Red Bank, New Jersey, United States

The Count Basie Center for the Arts, originally Count Basie Theatre, is a landmarked performing arts center in Red Bank, New Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saenger Theatre (New Orleans)</span> Theatre

Saenger Theatre is an atmospheric theatre in downtown New Orleans, Louisiana, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Once the flagship of Julian and Abe Saenger's theatre empire, today it is one of only a handful of Saenger movie palaces that remain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olympia Theater (Miami)</span> Historic theater in Miami, Florida

The Olympia Theater is a theater located in Miami, Florida. Designed by John Eberson in his famed atmospheric style, the theater opened in 1926. Throughout its history, the venue has served as a movie theater, concert venue and performing arts center. In 1984, it received historical designation by the NRHP. The Olympia Theater and its sister venue, the Tampa Theatre are the only remaining atmospheric theatres in Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orpheum Theatre (Memphis)</span> Theatre in Memphis, Tennessee

The Orpheum Theatre, a 2,308-seat venue listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is located in downtown Memphis, Tennessee, on the southwest corner of the intersection of South Main and Beale streets. The Orpheum, along with the Halloran Centre for Performing Arts & Education, compose the Orpheum Theatre Group, a community-supported nonprofit corporation that operates and maintains the venues and presents education programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atmospheric theatre</span> Type of movie theater

An atmospheric theatre is a type of movie palace design which was popular in the late 1920s. Atmospheric theatres were designed and decorated to evoke the feeling of a particular time and place for patrons, through the use of projectors, architectural elements and ornamentation that evoked a sense of being outdoors. This was intended to make the patron a more active participant in the setting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pontchartrain Hotel</span> Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana

The Pontchartrain Hotel is a historic hotel on St. Charles Avenue in Uptown New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orpheum Theatre (Omaha)</span> Theater in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.

The Orpheum Theater is a theater located in Omaha, Nebraska. The theater hosts programs best served by a more theatrical setting, including the Omaha Performing Arts Broadway Season, presented with Broadway Across America, and Opera Omaha's season. The theatre is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The main auditorium is a proscenium theater known as "Slosburg Hall". The theater has a theatre organ, made by Wurlitzer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts</span>

The Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts is a theater located in Louis Armstrong Park in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was named after gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, who was born in New Orleans. The theater reopened in January 2009, after being closed since the landfall of Hurricane Katrina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orpheum Theatre (Boston)</span> Music venue in Boston, Massachusetts, US

The Orpheum Theatre is a music venue located at 1 Hamilton Place in Boston, Massachusetts. One of the oldest theaters in the United States as designed by Snell and Gregerson, it was built in 1852 and was originally known as the Boston Music Hall. It was the founding location of the New England Conservatory of Music in 1867 and it was the original home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra from its founding in 1880. The concert hall was converted for use as a vaudeville theater in 1900. It was renamed the Orpheum Theatre in 1906. In 1915, the Orpheum was acquired by Loew's Theatres and substantially rebuilt. It operates as a mixed-use hall, primarily for live music concerts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orpheum Theatre (Sioux City, Iowa)</span> Historic theater in Iowa, United States

The Orpheum Theatre, also known as New Orpheum Theatre and Orpheum Electric Building, is a performing arts center located at 528 S. Pierce Street in Sioux City, Iowa. Built in 1927 as a vaudeville and movie palace, the theatre was restored in 1999 and today is the home of the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">State Palace Theatre (New Orleans)</span>

State Palace Theatre is a performing arts venue located in downtown New Orleans, Louisiana. It is located at the uptown lake corner of Canal Street and Rampart Street. The Saenger Theater is directly opposite the State Palace on Canal Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Civic Theatre (New Orleans)</span>

The Civic Theatre is a 1,200-seat theater located in New Orleans, Louisiana. The theatre was originally built in 1906 and is used for concerts, plays, films, corporate events and private parties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carver Theater (New Orleans)</span> Theater in New Orleans, Louisiana, US

The Carver Theatre is a theater located in New Orleans, Louisiana. The theatre was originally built in 1950 and was used for concerts, plays, off-broadway shows, films, conventions, graduations, Mardi Gras balls, dance recitals, corporate events and private parties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trixie Minx</span> American burlesque dancer and healthcare advocate

Trixie Minx is a burlesque dancer, producer, healthcare advocate, and cultural ambassador based in New Orleans, LA. As a performer she is best known for her unique style of striptease combining comedy with classic burlesque. She is well known for her collaborations with musicians and charitable organizations as well as her devotion to preservation & growth of New Orleans arts and culture. She produces multiple New Orleans based circus art and burlesque shows and designs custom entertainment for both public and private events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LaToya Cantrell</span> 62nd Mayor of New Orleans

LaToya Cantrell is a politician serving as the Mayor of New Orleans, Louisiana since May 7, 2018. A Democrat, Cantrell is the first woman to hold the office. Before becoming mayor, Cantrell represented District B on the New Orleans City Council from 2012 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric George</span> American hand surgeon

Eric George is an American medical doctor, best known as a hand surgeon. He is the founder and CEO of ERG Enterprises, Omega Hospital and The Hand Center of Louisiana in New Orleans. He is also a venture capitalist, real estate investor, and author.

References

  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "Orpheum Theatre" . Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Patch, Lianna. "Greek Revival". New Orleans Living Magazine. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  4. 1 2 New Orleans Times-Picayune, July 7, 2006, p. 1
  5. "New Orleans - Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra" . Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  6. Gambit Weekly : Cover Story : July 4, 2006
  7. "New Orleans, Louisiana Local News NOLA.com" . Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  8. Orpheum Theater - History
  9. "local physician to buy, reopen Orpheum Theater". The Gambit. January 18, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  10. "New underground speakeasy, Double Dealer, opening under the historic Orpheum Theater". NOLA Weekend. January 24, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  11. "LPO sets 2015-16 season opener at restored Orpheum Theater in New Orleans, Sept. 17". nola.com/Times-Picayune. February 2, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2015.