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Orpheum Theatre Facts
   
- Built in 1929 in a style known as Spanish Baroque Revival at a cost of $750,000, by J.E. Rickards and Harry Nace for movies and vaudeville.
- Purchased by the
Paramount movie chain in 1949, its name changed to Paramount. Sold
to James Nederlander in 1968 for live stage productions and named
changed to Palace West.
- The city of
Phoenix purchased the Orpheum Theatre in 1984.
- It was listed on
the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
- The Orpheum is
the last remaining example of theatre palace architecture in
Phoenix and is the only theatre designated historic in the Valley.
- The city of
Phoenix 1988 citizens bond election authorized $7 million for
Orpheum restoration. The Phoenix Civic Plaza Building Corporation
authorized additional funding.
- Supported and
organized by the Junior League of Phoenix, the Orpheum Theatre
Foundation was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1989 to
raise private sector funds to supplement the publicly authorized
funds for a full restoration.
- Restoration
construction was completed in four phases at a total cost of more
than $14 million. Van Dijk, Pace Westlake Architects was the
restoration architect. Huntcor was the general contractor on
phases 1 and 2; Joe E. Woods, Inc. was the general contractor on
phase 3 --the historic interior restoration. Kitchell CEM was the
development manager for the city. Conrad Schmitt Studios did
decorative interior painting and mural restoration.
- In recognition
of their leadership and significant contribution to the Capital
Campaign, the auditorium has been named the Lewis Auditorium,
dedicated to Delbert and Jewell Lewis and family.
- The Orpheum
re-opened on January 28, 1997 with Carol Channing in "Hello Dolly!"
- The 1,364 seat auditorium (1,062 seats on orchestra level; 302 in balcony)
complements the other venues in the Valley and joins the larger
capacity Symphony Hall and the more intimate auditoriums at the
Herberger Theater Center to create a downtown theatre district.
The City of Phoenix Civic Plaza Department operates, books, rents, staffs, programs and manages the Orpheum Theatre as well as Symphony Hall.
The Friends of the Orpheum provides volunteer support and community education activities, and supports the theatre's special needs through fund-raising activities and other
public events.
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