Orpheum Theatre history – eight decades of evolution

The story of the Orpheum's glory days, its fall from grace and its rise again, parallels the history of Phoenix through eight decades — from a community of prosperity, through the Depression, to post-World-War-II suburban growth and, now, in the renaissance of an urban downtown core.

1927 Construction begins on the new Orpheum Theatre amidst a bustling construction boom in downtown Phoenix. Built by J.E. Rickards and Harry Nace at a cost of $750,000, the Orpheum Theatre breaks ground the same year as the Hotel San Carlos, Hotel Westward Ho, Luhrs Towers, and the combined courthouse and City Hall.
1929 Theatre construction is completed. Designed in Spanish Medieval and Baroque styles, the theatre is one of the most extravagant venues of its time. It is one of the last major construction projects in downtown Phoenix before the October 1929 stock market crash and subsequent Great Depression.

Jan. 5, 1929 Orpheum Theatre first opens its doors – an event that “The Arizona Republican” (now known as the Arizona Republic daily newspaper) hailed as an “epoch in Phoenix history.”

1929 – 1948 The Orpheum’s musical productions and first “talkies” provide a respite for Phoenix residents from the struggles endured during the Depression and World War II. Newsreels provide Phoenicians with a glimpse of the worldwide conflict and vital news regarding the ongoing war.

1949 The Orpheum Theatre is sold to another movie chain and renamed The Paramount. Phoenix is booming, but new residents are settling in the suburbs. The advent of television soon undermines theatre as the exclusive outlet for entertainment.

1968 During four decades as a movie theater, various owners have obliterated much of the Orpheum's intricate, decorative painting, which originally graced the lobbies and audience chamber. The murals have been painted over in black to avoid competing for attention with the productions, and four of the graduated “ropes" of decorated plaster that framed the proscenium arch have been removed. Impresario James Nedelander buys The Paramount (Orpheum Theatre), renames it Palace West and adds it to his string of playhouses for touring Broadway plays and musical productions. Under his new ownership, new generations of Phoenicians are introduced to the theater through stage productions, such as “Cabaret,” “Annie” and “Barefoot in the Park.”

1968 – 1980 While Phoenicians continue to frequent the theatre and touring productions, Nederlander recognizes extensive improvements are needed to continue, and he abandons Palace West as a stop for his touring circuit. In 1977, he leases the theatre to the Corona family to present Spanish-language films. The once-superior Orpheum is outdated, however, and no match for suburban theaters built to accommodate Hollywood’s latest technologies in sound and color, showing wide-screen, celluloid extravaganzas. Nederlander puts the theatre up for sale in 1980.

1984 Junior League of Phoenix initiates a project to inventory the city’s historic buildings. Although the Orpheum is identified as a valuable, historic property, potential buyers consider razing the theater to construct a new, commercial building on the site. As part of an effort to restore historic downtown, the City of Phoenix purchases the theatre, which has fallen into disrepair.

1985 The City of Phoenix, under then-Mayor Terry Goddard’s leadership, succeeds in its bid to add the Orpheum Theatre to the National Register of Historic Places.

1986 Nearly 60 years after its doors first opened, the Orpheum Theater is closed to begin renovation to transform the facility for adaptive reuse as a modern theatre.

1987 – 1989 In celebration of Junior League’s 50th anniversary, the League pledges a gift of $50,000 to serve as a catalyst for the Orpheum Theatre’s complete restoration. To raise public support and private-sector donations, the League organizes the Orpheum Theatre Foundation in 1987 and incorporates it in

1989. Shortly thereafter, the Friends of the Orpheum Theatre group forms to provide volunteer support for community and fundraising activities benefiting the theatre’s restoration. In 1988, voters approve a $7 million citizen bond initiative, which is combined with additional funding from the Phoenix Civic Plaza Building Corporation, to fund the facility’s historic restoration.

1990 Then-Mayor Paul Johnson and Phoenix City Council incorporate the Orpheum Theatre into construction plans for a new, 20-story city hall, which is designed to provide water, electricity and HVAC to the theater.

With the dedicated leadership of Delbert and Jewell Lewis, president and board chairman of MAC America, respectively, the Orpheum Theatre Foundation's Restoration Campaign Committee embarks on a mission to bridge the financial gap and secure the funds to support a total restoration of the facility before reopening. Through a multitude of events, programs and activities, fundraising and consciousness-raising, corporate and individual contributors from a broad cross-section of the community meet the challenge.
1993 The Phoenix Convention Center (formerly Civic Plaza) Building Corporation authorizes additional funds for the restoration of the Orpheum Theatre, and the Phoenix Convention Center assumes responsibility as operator of the venue.

1997 After a 12-year, $14 million restoration, the Orpheum Theatre’s transformation as a modern-day theatre is completed. Much of the renovation effort goes to restore the historic theatre to its original glory, repairing its intricate moldings and rich landscape murals.

Jan. 28, 1997 The Orpheum Theatre ushers in a brand new era as the curtain rises once again at the historic venue’s grand re-opening.

Today This born-again national landmark regularly hosts touring Broadway groups, musical concerts, speakers, corporate meetings and varied, multi-cultural events. Owned by the City of Phoenix, the Orpheum Theatre is operated by the Phoenix Convention Center Department, which also operates Symphony Hall, Herberger Theater and the Phoenix Convention Center.