The Orpheum Theatre pages: history | vintage exterior views | recent exterior views | lobbies and lounges | vintage auditorium views | recent auditorium views | booth | backstage | lofts |
A peek in along the house right side of the main floor. The 1926 photo appears in "American Theatres of Today" by R.W. Sexton and B. F. Betts. The two volumes of the book were published in 1927 and 1930 by the Architectural Book Publishing Co, New York. It was reprinted in one volume in 1977 by the Vestal Press, New York. Thanks to Mike Hume for including a pdf of the four pages of Orpheum material from the book on his Historic Theatre Photography page about the theatre.
A 1926 view to the rear of the main floor from "American Theatres of Today." The photo also made an appearance in an October 1, 1927 Exhibitors Herald ad for Heywood-Wakefield seating.
This great view from onstage appears with "Life o' the Show-House: Light,"
an article by Nellie Barnard Parker from the publication "Light" that
was reprinted in the February 19, 1927 issue of Exhibitors Herald.
The article also comments on the Egyptian, Carthay Circle and Forum
theatres. Ms. Parker discusses the Orpheum:
"Another of the gorgeous theatres [in L.A.] is the new $1,500,000 Orpheum. Over 9,000 lamps outside give promise of a brilliant performance within where 17,000 lamps, reflected by the gold ceiling, copper finished doors, and copper fixtures presents a spectacle of brilliant colorfulness. A thousand cove lights around the dome, changing from color to color, contrast or blend with the various set-ups which transfigure the auditorium. The ceiling is of gold and tan with walls of the same effect. Care has been taken not to have the coloring in the drapes or decorations conflict with the lighting effects. By kaleidoscopic changes of colored light countless combinations are secured making of this theatre a splendid example of the electrician's art and technique. By the use of mirrored reflectors on the border and foot lights, the Orpheum claims to obtain twenty percent more useful light for the wattage than any other stage on the coast."
"Another of the gorgeous theatres [in L.A.] is the new $1,500,000 Orpheum. Over 9,000 lamps outside give promise of a brilliant performance within where 17,000 lamps, reflected by the gold ceiling, copper finished doors, and copper fixtures presents a spectacle of brilliant colorfulness. A thousand cove lights around the dome, changing from color to color, contrast or blend with the various set-ups which transfigure the auditorium. The ceiling is of gold and tan with walls of the same effect. Care has been taken not to have the coloring in the drapes or decorations conflict with the lighting effects. By kaleidoscopic changes of colored light countless combinations are secured making of this theatre a splendid example of the electrician's art and technique. By the use of mirrored reflectors on the border and foot lights, the Orpheum claims to obtain twenty percent more useful light for the wattage than any other stage on the coast."
The photo was also used in a July 10, 1926 Exhibitors Herald ad for Heywood-Wakefield seating. Thanks to Mike Hume for finding both the ad and the article.
A 1926 balcony view from "American Theatres of Today." A version of the photo is also in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. The photo also appeared in the October 1, 1927 issue of Exhibitors Herald with the article "Fabrics Used For Decorative Effects." Thanks to Mike
Hume for finding the article on Internet Archive.
Thanks to Mason P. Martinez for this early view of the house right organ grille area. It was a post on the Facebook group Historical Pictures of Los Angeles.
A perhaps early 50s look at the proscenium from the Los Angeles Public Library collection.
A view to the balcony from the Los Angeles Public Library collection. Note that RCA TV projector in the cutout in the balcony rail.
A perhaps early 50s look across from the house right box. It's a Los Angeles Public Library photo.
Christine Jorgensen on the stage in 1953 narrating a travelog she made in Denmark. Thanks to Steven Otto for finding the shot for a post on the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles.
A look up from the main floor, perhaps in the 1980s. The photographer is unknown.
A fine view across the balcony in the theatre's film house days. Note the drapery treatment in the balcony sidewall arches. Photographer and date are unknown.
A 1989 photo by Tim S. Stewart. Thanks to Tim for sharing it with the Theatre Architecture private Facebook group. It was made into a "Downtown Revival 10th Anniversary" poster in 1999 which carried the caption "Dancers rehearse for the first Friends of the Orpheum event in 1989 -- a re-premiere of the silent classic 'The Phantom of the Opera.'"
A great shot toward the rear of the auditorium when the Orpheum was still running as a film house. Thanks to Bill Gabel for his photo, a contribution to the Cinema Treasures page about the Orpheum.
Hiroshi Sugimoto's theatre series resulted from a question he asked: "Suppose you shoot a whole movie in a single frame? And the answer: You get a shining screen. Immediately I sprang into action, experimenting toward realizing this vision."
We don't know what film Sugimoto saw at the Orpheum in 1993 but this was the result. A number of his photos of theatre auditoria appear on a Sugimoto Portfolio: Movie Theatres page from C4 Contemporary Art. Several images from the theatres series appear on a page of the Hiroshi Sugimoto website. Thanks to Eitan Alexander for spotting this one.
A look down from the top. Note the new treatment in the balcony sidewall arches. Photo: Berger Conser Architectural Photography - c.2000. Thanks, Robert and Anne! The photo made an appearance as part of a now-vanished 2015 Curbed photo portfolio assembled by Patrick Sisson: "Touring Historic Theaters Across the U.S." There it was credited to the National Trust. Ha!
The Orpheum closed as a film house in early January 2001. The operator was Metropolitan Theatres, who had been running it since September 1933. RKO had closed the theatre at the end of 1932.
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