The Orpheum — the last survivor of the grand Wichita theaters built in the 1910s, 1920s and 1930s — is celebrating its 100th birthday this month.
Here are current and historical photographs of the Orpheum:
A photo of the Orpheum Theatre under construction in 1922 Courtesy of the Orpheum Theatre The Wichita Eagle
A newspaper ad for Ella Fitzgerald’s 1942 performances at the Orpheum Theatre Courtesy of the Orpheum Theatre The Wichita Eagle
A artist rendering form the office of Jon Eberson, the architect to designed the Orpheum. Courtesy of the Orpheum Theatre
An ad in the Wichita Beacon from 1923 when illusionist Harry Houdini performed at the Orpheum. Courtest of the Orpheum Theatre
The Orpheum Theatre became a popular movie house after “talkies” brought an end to vaudeville entertainment in the late 1920’s. Courtesy of the Orpheum Theatre The Wichita Eagle
Volunteers work to clean up the interior of the Orpheum Theatre in the 1980’s. File photo
Orpheum Theater as it appeared in the late 1920’s or early 1930’s. File Photo
Marge Setter was instrumental in bringing the Orpheum Theatre back to life in the 1980’s and 90’s. File Photo The Wichita Eagle
Jonalou Pinnell, a member of the Friends of the Orpheum Board, shows the orchestra pit to six-year-old Josh Engels and his grandfather Clarence. “I was telling him on the way over,” the elder Engels said. “how I used to come here when I was about his size. File photo
Harry Watts (left), manager of community relations at Southwestern Bell, points out some of the Orpheum theater’s intricate decor to a tour group Tuesday night. File photo
The interior of the Orpheum Theatre in the 1920’s. Courtesy of the Orpheum Theatre The Wichita Eagle
The Orpheum theatre as it appeared in the mid-1970’s before it closed. File Photo
The interior of the Orpheum Theatre after all of the chairs had been removed and the building was boarded up. Courtesy of the Orpheum Theatre
The old Orpheum marquee sat in a junkyard at Central and Washington in 1999. Jaime Green The Wichita Eagle
The stairwells in the Orpheum will be totally restored as part of the multi-million dollar capital campaign to renovate the theater. (Aug. 3, 2011) The Wichita Eagle
David Salmon, with Robl Construction, installs some hardware on a door in the Orpheum Theatre vestibule. The restoration of the vestibule has been the second phase of the theatre’s renovation. Mike Hutmacher/The Wichita Eagle Mike Hutmacher/The Wichita Eagle
FILE The inside of the Orpheum Theater. Fernando Salazar The Wichita Eagle
_____________, Mary Eaves, right, and Dick Honeyman at the Orpheum’s First Flush Party. PHOTO BY JAIME OPPENHEIMER JAIME OPPENHEIMER
3/6/01 Orpheum -- Miracle Sign worker Larry Bower works on the new Orpheum Theater sign, a replica of the old marquee. PHOTO BY DAVE WILLIAMS Dave Williams Williams
Wichita’s historic Orpheum Theatre opened to the public on September 4, 1922. After nearly meeting wrecking ball in the late 1980’s the theatre was saved and is a staple of Wichita’s entertainment scene today. Travis Heying The Wichita Eagle
The interior of the Orpheum Theatre today Travis Heying The Wichita Eagle
Wichita’s historic Orpheum Theatre opened to the public on September 4, 1922. After nearly meeting wrecking ball in the late 1980’s the theatre was saved and is staple of Wichita’s entertainment scene today. Travis Heying The Wichita Eagle
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