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 8, 1927, as a vaudeville house, but it hosted its first shows the previous day.[2][3][4] 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).[5] The New Orpheum, which was the biggest theatre in Canada when it opened in 1927, with three thousand seats,[4] cost $1.25 million to construct.[6][7] The first manager of the theatre was William A. Barnes.[4]
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[8] up until his 1969 retirement.[9]
In 1973, for economic reasons, Famous Players decided to gut the inside of the Orpheum and change it into a multiplex.[10] A "Save the Orpheum" public protest and fundraising campaign was launched, which even Jack Benny flew in to help with,[6][10] and the Orpheum was saved.[11] On March 19, 1974,[3] 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.[6][7] The Orpheum closed on November 23, 1975, and a renovation and restoration was done by the architectural company Thomson, Berwick, Pratt and Partners.[7][12] It re-opened on April 2, 1977, and has since been the permanent home of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.[3][13] 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.[14] In 1983, an additional entrance was opened on Smithe Street.[7]
The Orpheum's present neon sign was installed in the 1970s.
In 2006, the Capitol Residences development was proposed for the old Capitol 6 cinema site 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.[17]
^ abcThe Vancouver Board of Trade Sounding Board (January-February 1998) Retrieved on 2008-06-04.
^ abcdOrpheum facts 2009-03-12 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2008-06-07.
^The History of Metropolitan Vancouver: Ivan Ackery (Part II) Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
^The History of Metropolitan Vancouver: Ivan Ackery (Part III) Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
^ abThe Puget Sound Pipeline Online: The Capitol. Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
^Laing, Richard (2013). "How to save a theatre: the Orpheum, Vancouver". Structural Survey. 31 (5): 355–367. doi:10.1108/SS-01-2013-0010. hdl:10059/922 – via RGU Openair (repository).
^Orpheum Theatre The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved on 2008-06-07.
^Cinema Treasures: Orpheum Theatre Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
^The History of Metropolitan Vancouver:Tony Heinsbergen Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
orpheum, vancouver, orpheum, theatre, music, venue, vancouver, british, columbia, canada, along, with, queen, elizabeth, theatre, vancouver, playhouse, annex, part, vancouver, civic, theatres, group, live, performance, venues, permanent, home, vancouver, symph. The Orpheum is a theatre and music venue in Vancouver British Columbia Canada Along with the Queen Elizabeth Theatre the Vancouver Playhouse and the Annex it is part of the Vancouver Civic Theatres group of live performance venues It is the permanent home of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra The Orpheum is located on Granville Street near Smithe Street in Vancouver s downtown core The interior of the theatre was featured prominently in the award winning 2004 reboot of Battlestar Galactica where it is dressed to portray a heavenly opera house The Orpheum TheatreInterior of the theatreFormer namesNew OrpheumLocation601 Smithe StreetVancouver British Columbia CanadaV6B 3L4OwnerThe City of Vancouver formerly owned by Famous Players TypeMusic venue former movie palace Capacity2 672ConstructionOpenedNovember 8 1927ClosedNovember 23 1975 andReopenedApril 2 1977National Historic Site of CanadaOfficial nameOrpheum Theatre National Historic Site of CanadaDesignated1979 Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 Notes 4 External linksHistory edit nbsp 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 8 1927 as a vaudeville house but it hosted its first shows the previous day 2 3 4 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 5 The New Orpheum which was the biggest theatre in Canada when it opened in 1927 with three thousand seats 4 cost 1 25 million to construct 6 7 The first manager of the theatre was William A Barnes 4 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 8 up until his 1969 retirement 9 In 1973 for economic reasons Famous Players decided to gut the inside of the Orpheum and change it into a multiplex 10 A Save the Orpheum public protest and fundraising campaign was launched which even Jack Benny flew in to help with 6 10 and the Orpheum was saved 11 On March 19 1974 3 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 6 7 The Orpheum closed on November 23 1975 and a renovation and restoration was done by the architectural company Thomson Berwick Pratt and Partners 7 12 It re opened on April 2 1977 and has since been the permanent home of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra 3 13 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 14 In 1983 an additional entrance was opened on Smithe Street 7 nbsp The Orpheum s present neon sign was installed in the 1970s The theatre was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1979 15 The Orpheum s present neon sign was installed during the 1970s donated by to the theatre by Jim Pattison 16 The theatre and its neon sign have been used as a key location in several episodes of the science fiction series Battlestar Galactica and Fringe as well as Highlander The Series It was also the location of the filming of the Dan Mangan documentary What Happens Next by Brent Hodge In 2006 the Capitol Residences development was proposed for the old Capitol 6 cinema site 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 17 See also editList of heritage buildings in Vancouver List of concert halls Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage Peter WallNotes edit The History of Metropolitan Vancouver B Marcus Priteca Retrieved on 2008 06 01 The Orpheum Theatre The Grand Old Lady of Granville Street Retrieved on 2017 11 08 a b c Welcome to the Orpheum Archived 2008 08 02 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2008 06 01 a b c The History of Metropolitan Vancouver 1927 Retrieved on 2008 06 01 Four Orpheums Retrieved on 2008 06 01 a b c The Vancouver Board of Trade Sounding Board January February 1998 Retrieved on 2008 06 04 a b c d Orpheum facts Archived 2009 03 12 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2008 06 07 The History of Metropolitan Vancouver Ivan Ackery Part II Retrieved on 2008 06 01 The History of Metropolitan Vancouver Ivan Ackery Part III Retrieved on 2008 06 01 a b The Puget Sound Pipeline Online The Capitol Retrieved on 2008 06 01 Laing Richard 2013 How to save a theatre the Orpheum Vancouver Structural Survey 31 5 355 367 doi 10 1108 SS 01 2013 0010 hdl 10059 922 via RGU Openair repository Orpheum Theatre The Canadian Encyclopedia Retrieved on 2008 06 07 Cinema Treasures Orpheum Theatre Retrieved on 2008 06 01 The History of Metropolitan Vancouver Tony Heinsbergen Retrieved on 2008 06 01 Orpheum Theatre Canadian Register of Historic Places Retrieved 28 January 2012 Mackie John Neon glow on Granville sign of past future June 21 2002 Vancouver Sun Capitol Residences Vancouver Emporis comExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Orpheum Theatre Vancouver Orpheum Website49 16 48 N 123 07 13 W 49 280096 N 123 120196 W 49 280096 123 120196 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Orpheum Vancouver amp oldid 1176401018, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
