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Orpheum Theater (New Orleans)
Encyclopedia
The Orpheum Theater is a theater in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana
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Also known as RKO Orpheum, it was esigned by G. Albert Lansburgh
, built in 1918, and opened for vaudeville in 1921. The Beaux Arts style building has 1800 seats. Soon after opening it became a movie house. In 1979, the Orpheum was scheduled for demolition but was rescued and underwent a $3 million renovation. It reopened in 1989 as home to the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
, whose musicians prize the auditorium for its acoustical purity. The theater is an example of "vertical hall" construction, initially built to provide perfect sight lines and acoustics for vaudeville shows which didn't have the benefit of amplifiers or modern lighting. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The theater was placed on the Louisiana Landmarks Society’s list of New Orleans’ most endangered sites in 2009.
The Orpheum Theatre was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina
floodwaters and was sold to a Dallas businessman who planned to restore it.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
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G. Albert Lansburgh
Gustave Albert Lansburgh was an American architect, largely known for his work on luxury cinemas and theatres. He was the principal architect of theaters on the West Coast from 1900 - 1930.-Life and career:...
, built in 1918, and opened for vaudeville in 1921. The Beaux Arts style building has 1800 seats. Soon after opening it became a movie house. In 1979, the Orpheum was scheduled for demolition but was rescued and underwent a $3 million renovation. It reopened in 1989 as home to the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra is an American orchestra based in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is the only full-time, professional orchestra in the Gulf South. The music director is Carlos Miguel Prieto....
, whose musicians prize the auditorium for its acoustical purity. The theater is an example of "vertical hall" construction, initially built to provide perfect sight lines and acoustics for vaudeville shows which didn't have the benefit of amplifiers or modern lighting. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The theater was placed on the Louisiana Landmarks Society’s list of New Orleans’ most endangered sites in 2009.
The Orpheum Theatre was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
floodwaters and was sold to a Dallas businessman who planned to restore it.
