The Orpheum Theatre pages: history | vintage exterior views | recent exterior views | lobbies and lounges | vintage auditorium views | recent auditorium views | booth | backstage | lofts |
On the main floor:
A wide angle look toward the bare stage. Thanks to Magnetic Lobster for the 2010 photo on Flickr.
The view from the rear of the house with a show onstage. Thanks to Stephen Russo for his photo taken during the January 2015 "Night On Broadway."
Looking down the aisle during a load-in. Thanks to Mike Hume for his 2017 photo. Visit his Historic Theatre Photography site for tech data and hundreds of terrific photos of the theatres he's explored. And don't miss his page on the Orpheum.
At the tech table during the March 2019 taping of "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend." Thanks to Jonathan Kunst for sharing his photo.
Getting set for a June 2023 L.A. Conservancy Last Remaining Seats screening of "Enter the Dragon." Photo: Mike Hume
Top of the side aisle house right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022
A closer look at the panel featuring a salamander design. It's a 2022 photo by Mike Hume. He comments: "The inspiration for the interior design of the
theatre comes from King Francis I of France (the 'salamander king') who
was a great patron of the arts and used an emblem of a crowned
salamander." Francis I reigned from 1515 to 1547.
One of the wonderful pieces art glass on the balcony soffit. The c.2006 photo appeared on the now-vanished website L.A. Time Machine.
A soffit art glass detail. Thanks to Sierra and German for the 2009 photo on Flickr.
A look at the back wall treatment. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022
A closer look above the left center exit door. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022
A stage view from house left. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
The
seats have all been replaced but they incorporate the original end
standards. Thanks to Claudia Mullins for this 2018 photo she took of one
of them.
The top of the side aisle house left. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022
The fixture near the house left exit door. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022
A classy look across the main floor during the 2015 "Night on Broadway." Photo: Mike Hume. Many of his photos of the event appeared with Bianca Barragan's L.A. Curbed article: "Stunning Looks inside 7 of Broadway's Rarely opened Theatres."
The proscenium from under the house right boxes. The curtain we see is a vintage beaded curtain from the Million Dollar Theatre that's in the Steve Markham collection. Thanks to Don Solosan for his 2010 photo on the LAHTF Facebook page. Don't miss "The Markham Collection," Don's wonderful video done for the L.A. Conservancy about Steve's historic curtain collection. Much of the video was shot at the Orpheum.
The house right boxes and organ grille. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022
Looking up from under the boxes. Thanks to Don Solosan for his c.2009 photo taken for the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation.
The LAHTF is actively involved in the study and preservation of the
vintage theatres in the Los Angeles area. The group frequently supports
events and offers tours of the buildings. www.lahtf.org | group Facebook page | official FB page
The ornament on the front of one of the boxes. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022
A fine look at the plasterwork under one of the house right boxes. Photo: Mike Hume - 2019
The vista toward the house left organ grille. Photo: Don Solosan - c.2009
Another look at the house left organ grille and box area. Thanks to Stephen Russo for his photo taken at the L.A. Conservancy's May 2011 "Last Remaining Seats" showing of "Rear Window." It originally appeared on the Conservancy Facebook page.
The Orpheum is one of a number of historic theatres the L.A. Conservancy uses to screen classic films for their summer "Last Remaining Seats" series. LAConservancy.org | on Facebook
The alcove under the boxes house left. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
The fixture in the alcove. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022
Another angle on the alcove. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022
A closer look at one of the pilaster capitals. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022
The stairs going up to the boxes house left. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022
The front of the balcony soffit as seen from house left. The c.2006 photo is from the now-vanished website L.A. Time Machine.
The front of the main floor during the January 2018 "Night on Broadway." Photo: Mike Hume
A fine view of the house right annunciator. It's now electronic rather than a painted card. Photo: Mike Hume - 2017
A shot toward the rear of the house taken during the January 2016 "Night on Broadway." The uncredited photo is one of twenty eight views in an album on the Bringing Back Broadway Facebook page.
A view to the booth. The image coming out of the box at the center of the balcony rail is from a 4K digital projector installed in 2019. Photo: Mike Hume - 2019
A view to the booth. The image coming out of the box at the center of the balcony rail is from a 4K digital projector installed in 2019. Photo: Mike Hume - 2019
A 2016 view to house left. Thanks to Bobby Jones for his photo, one of four in a post on the Facebook page Theatre Architecture. He notes that the scaffolding was up to repair some water damage.
A main floor look to the ceiling and the amazing chandeliers. Thanks to Stephen Russo for his 2011 photo, one originally appearing on the L.A. Conservancy Facebook page. It was taken at their "Last Remaining Seats" screening of Harold Lloyd's "Safety Last."
The house right chandelier once had a accident and came down in the middle of the night after not being properly secured. The railing at the crossaisle is still noticeably bent where it hit. David Saffer calls our attention to the blue glass at the bottom of which doesn't quite match the color of the glass on the other chandelier.
A closer view of the house left chandelier. Thanks to Emily Han for the 2007 photo, one of twelve in her Orpheum Theatre set on Flickr.
The house right chandelier once had a accident and came down in the middle of the night after not being properly secured. The railing at the crossaisle is still noticeably bent where it hit. David Saffer calls our attention to the blue glass at the bottom of which doesn't quite match the color of the glass on the other chandelier.
A closer view of the house left chandelier. Thanks to Emily Han for the 2007 photo, one of twelve in her Orpheum Theatre set on Flickr.
Up in the balcony:
Looking in toward the crossaisle house right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022
The view up to the sounding board when entering the balcony. Note the medallion that's spotlit. It features a salamander, the emblem of King Francis 1 of France. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
A detail of one of the salamander medallions above the proscenium. It's a 2022 photo taken by Mike Hume after he went on a salamander hunt throughout the theatre.
The area below the salamander panel that's seen in the previous image. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022
A look across the sounding board. It's a photo from the now-vanished website L.A. Time Machine.
Looking down into the boxes. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
Across the balcony from the center proscenium box house right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022
A box view to the rear corner of the ceiling house left. Photo: Don Solosan - LAHTF - c.2009
Across the front of the balcony. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - 2014. Keep up with Hunter's recent explorations: on Facebook | HunterKerhart.com | on Flickr
A January 2017 "Night on Broadway" view. Photo: Mike Hume
The view from the house right end of the crossaisle. Photo: Mike Hume - 2019
A view to the boxes from the crossaisle. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022
A closer look toward the boxes and part of the organ grille house right. The
occasion was the L.A. Conservancy's 2011 showing of Harold Lloyd's
"Safety Last." Thanks to Yasmin Elming for her photo.
A proscenium plaster detail house right. Photo: Mike Hume - 2019
Another proscenium plaster detail. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022
A house right ceiling detail. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022
Down the crossaisle to the right wall. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022
Ornament at the crossaisle exit doors. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022
A look across from above the crossaisle. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - 2014
The balcony sidewall house right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
Another balcony sidewall view. Thanks to Corey Miller for the 2008 photo included in his Exit Signs set on Flickr.
A sidewall fixture. Photo: Mike Hume - 2018
The house left boxes. Thanks to Don Solosan for sharing this photo he took at an L.A. Conservancy film screening.
A proscenium plaster detail house left. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
A look to the rear of the house from a house left box during a 2012 L.A. Conservancy screening of the 1922 Douglas Fairbanks version of "Robin Hood." The Barry Schwartz photo once appeared on the L.A. Conservancy Facebook page but Facebook seems to have misplaced it.
The vista across from higher in the balcony at a 2012 L.A. Conservancy "Last Remaining Seats" screening. The Barry Schwartz photo once appeared on a now-vanished version of the L.A. Conservancy Facebook page.
A wider view from a house left box. Photo: Mike Hume - 2019
The house was starting to fill for the L.A. Conservancy's 2018 screening
of "Steamboat Bill, Jr." Thanks to Yasmin Elming for her fine photo.
The vista across from higher in the balcony at a 2012 L.A. Conservancy "Last Remaining Seats" screening. The Barry Schwartz photo once appeared on a now-vanished version of the L.A. Conservancy Facebook page.
The center of the ceiling from house left. Photo: Yasmin Elming - 2018
One of the main chandeliers. Photo: Mike Hume - 2018
A look upward at the two main chandeliers. Photo: Mike Hume - 2018
A closer view of the ornament between the chandeliers. Photo: Mike Hume - 2018
Up at the top house right during the 2018 "Night on Broadway." Photo: Mike Hume
Top of the balcony house right -- and the elevator. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
The stairs down from the top of the balcony house right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
Top of the balcony house right -- and the elevator. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
The exit sign on the back wall at the top of the balcony house right. Thanks to Corey Miller for the 2010 photo included in his Exit Signs set on Flickr. Also check out his Movie Theatres and Theatre Signs sets.
The stairs down from the top of the balcony house right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
One of the chandeliers in the area across the back of the balcony. Photo: Mike Hume - 2018. Thanks, Mike! See the page on the Orpheum on his Historic Theatre Photography site for more of his great work.
A chandelier view from the top of the balcony. Photo: Mike Hume - 2019
The view from the top house left. Photo: Don Solosan - LAHTF - c.2009. Thanks, Don! 
The house from the last row center. Photo: Mike Hume - 2019
A chandelier view from the top of the balcony. Photo: Mike Hume - 2019
The view from the top house left. Photo: Don Solosan - LAHTF - c.2009. Thanks, Don!
Along the house left wall. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022
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At the recent silent film at the Orpheum a large Allen digital organ was used. The Original Wurlitzer pipe organ console is out for a full and much needed restoration.
ReplyDeleteYes. The film was the June 3 L.A. conservancy screening of "Metropolis," the opening event of their 2023 Last Remaining Seats series.
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