Orpheum (Vancouver)

Orpheum (Vancouver)
The Orpheum Theatre
The Orpheum circa 2007.
Location 884 Granville Street Vancouver, British Columbia
Type Music venue (former movie palace)
Opened November 7, 1927
Closed November, 1975 and Reopened April 2, 1977
Owner The City of Vancouver (formerly owned by Famous Players)
Former name(s) New Orpheum
Capacity 2780
National Historic Site of Canada

The Orpheum is a theatre and music venue in Vancouver, British Columbia. Along with the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and the Vancouver Playhouse, it is part of the Vancouver Civic Theatres group of live performance venues. The Orpheum is located on Granville Street near Smithe Street in Vancouver's downtown core.

Contents

History

The Orpheum Theatre with advertising for the movie Lady Luck, circa 1946.

Designed by Scottish architect Marcus Priteca,[1] the theatre officially opened on November 7, 1927 as a vaudeville house, but it hosted its first shows the previous day.[2][3] The old Orpheum, at 761 Granville Street, was renamed the Vancouver Theatre (later the Lyric, then the International Cinema, then the Lyric once more before it closed for demolition in 1969 to make way for the first phase of the Pacific Centre project).[4] The New Orpheum, which was the biggest theatre in Canada when it opened in 1927, with three thousand seats,[3] cost $1.25 million to construct.[5][6] The first manager of the theatre was William A. Barnes.[3]

Following the end of vaudeville's heyday in the early 1930s, the Orpheum became primarily a movie house under Famous Players ownership, although it would continue to host live events on occasion. Ivan Ackery managed the Orpheum during most of this period, from 1935[7] up until his 1969 retirement.[8]

In 1973, for economic reasons, Famous Players decided to gut the inside of the Orpheum and change it into a multiplex.[9] A "Save the Orpheum" public protest and fundraising campaign was launched, which even Jack Benny flew in to help with,[5][9] and the Orpheum was saved. On March 19, 1974,[2] the City of Vancouver bought the theatre for $7.1 million, with $3.1 million coming from the city itself, and $1.5 million from each of the provincial and federal governments.[5][6] The Orpheum closed in November 1975 and a renovation and restoration was done by the architectural company Thomson, Berwick, Pratt and Partners.[6][10] It re-opened on April 2, 1977 and has since been the permanent home of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.[2][11] Tony Heinsbergen, a U.S. designer who originally chose the color scheme for the interior (ivory, moss green, gold and burgundy) was brought back, fifty years later, for the renovation.[12] In 1983, an additional entrance was opened on Smithe Street.[6]

In 2006, the Capitol Residences development was proposed for the old Capitol 6 cinema adjacent to the Orpheum. The City of Vancouver gave the developer permission for extra height and density on their site in return for a major expansion to the Orpheum, including a long desired back stage area. This was the largest amenities trade in the history of the city, and will increase the usability of the facility.[13]

The Orpheum's neon sign was donated by Jim Pattison in the 1970s.[14]

See also

The Orpheum Theatre, advertising the Vancouver Symphony Orcherstra.

Notes

  1. ^ The History of Metropolitan Vancouver: B. Marcus Priteca Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  2. ^ a b c Welcome to the Orpheum Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  3. ^ a b c The History of Metropolitan Vancouver:1927 Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  4. ^ Four Orpheums Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  5. ^ a b c The Vancouver Board of Trade Sounding Board (January-February 1998) Retrieved on 2008-06-04.
  6. ^ a b c d Orpheum facts Retrieved on 2008-06-07.
  7. ^ The History of Metropolitan Vancouver: Ivan Ackery (Part II) Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  8. ^ The History of Metropolitan Vancouver: Ivan Ackery (Part III) Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  9. ^ a b The Puget Sound Pipeline Online: The Capitol. Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  10. ^ Orpheum Theatre The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved on 2008-06-07.
  11. ^ Cinema Treasures: Orpheum Theatre Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  12. ^ The History of Metropolitan Vancouver:Tony Heinsbergen Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  13. ^ Capitol Residences, Vancouver / Emporis.com
  14. ^ Mackie, John. "Neon glow on Granville sign of past, future", June 21, 2002 Vancouver Sun

External links

Coordinates: 49°16′48″N 123°07′13″W / 49.280096°N 123.120196°W / 49.280096; -123.120196


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Orpheum — is a name often used for theatres or other entertainment venues. It may refer to: Theaters Australia Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace in Sydney, Australia Canada Orpheum (Vancouver) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Germany Orpheum Dresden… …   Wikipedia

  • Orpheum Circuit — Orpheum Circuit, Inc., was a company started by Martin Beck who owned a series of vaudeville theaters and motion picture theaters. Contents 1 The company 2 Earlier Orpheum Circuit 3 Theatres still operating …   Wikipedia

  • Orpheum Circuit, Inc. — Orpheum Circuit, Inc. was a company started by Martin Beck who owned a series of vaudeville theatres and motion picture theatres. Orpheum Circuit, Inc. was incorporated on December 22, 1919, under the laws of the State of Delaware with a… …   Wikipedia

  • Vancouver — Skyline von Vancouver …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Vancouver Public Library — Established 1869 …   Wikipedia

  • Vancouver City Hall — General information Type City hall Architectural style …   Wikipedia

  • Vancouver City Centre Station — Vancouver City Centre Station, formerly called Robson Station, is a subway station currently under construction on the rapid transit Canada Line in Vancouver, Canada. The station is due to open when the Canada Line opens, in… …   Wikipedia

  • Vancouver — This article is about the Canadian city. For other uses, see Vancouver (disambiguation). Vancouver   City   City of Vancouver …   Wikipedia

  • Vancouver — /van kooh veuhr/, n. 1. George, 1758 98, English explorer. 2. a large island in SW Canada, off the SW coast of British Columbia. 410,188; 12,408 sq. mi. (32,135 sq. km). 3. a seaport in SW British Columbia, on the Strait of Georgia opposite SE… …   Universalium

  • Vancouver Recital Society — The Vancouver Recital Society is one of Vancouver’s major presenters of classical and chamber music, offering a platform for fans to see both new and established, high profile talent perform in the best venues in Vancouver. The Vancouver Recital… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”