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Orpheum Theatre reopens on its 61st Anniversary
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July 8, 2010 at 3:59 pm
MARSHALLTOWN, IA — After a $3.2 million dollar and 10-year renovation, the Orpheum Theatre re-opened its doors with a four-day celebration.
The theater was the first that RKO built after World War II, back when Hollywood studios built their own facilities.
It seats 152 people in two theatres, includes an outdoor amphitheater, a gallery of photos and artifacts about Iowa film stars, and will play movies over 1 year old.
The good news: The air-conditioning is up and running, along with other features visitors may remember from way back when. The original marquee and neon tower are glowing again, the terrazzo floor in the lobby has been polished, the chandeliers sparkle, and the original coffee shop has been serving customers for the last two weeks.
There are new features, too, including an outdoor amphitheater, a gallery of photos and artifacts about Iowa film stars (including Marshalltown natives Jean Seberg, Mary Beth Hurt and “Wizard of Oz” munchkin Dale Paullin, who still lives in town), a black box theater for live performances, a prep kitchen for special events and three classrooms for the theater department at Marshalltown Community College.
Read the full story in theDes Moines Register.
Comments (1)
Dale Paullin was not in the movie, “The Wizard of Oz.” Research shows that and it is confirmed. The article is incorrect. He was in “It’s A Small World” and in a 50’s television as Johnny the page boy in Philip Morris cigarette commercials.