Orpheum Theatre
200 N. Broadway,
Wichita,
KS
67202
200 N. Broadway,
Wichita,
KS
67202
9 people
favorited this theater
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The Orpheum Theatre is closing in June 2025 to remodel the auditorium, the last major project. For its 102nd birthday on September 4, 2024 the asbestos fire curtain was lowered. The curtain is in good condition for being 102 years old. I included pictures of it in the photos section.
The Orpheum Theatre offers in depth tours which I really enjoyed. The theatre has both working carbon arc and digital projectors. Seating capacity is 1281. The Orpheum was closed from the mid ‘70’s to 1985. While there is still more restoration to be completed much has been completed and the theatre’s beauty is very apparent. The combination digital and neon marquee is still quite impressive and necessary to promote all the upcoming future acts. Washrooms have all been upgraded and appear as what is expected in a grand movie palace. The foyer had suffered severe flooding but was beautifully restored with replicated original tile.
“it was the first Atmospheric style theatre in the United States. The Majestic Theatre in Houston, Texas was the second.” What about the Indiana in Terre Haute? January 28, 1922 opening, also an Eberson theater.
Grand opening ad
Orpheum theatre opening Sun, Sep 3, 1922 – Page 50 · The Wichita Daily Eagle (Wichita, Kansas) · Newspapers.com
The restoration is far from finished. The auditorium still needs a lot of work.
According to their video on their website, the restoration is mostly finished now; I believe the bulk was finished by 2011.
Terrywade, The original entrance with the neon marquee is not going away according to the article below. http://www.kansas.com/2013/12/06/3164040/orpheum-theatres-30-million-campaign.html
If you look at the photo provided you will see the back of the neon marquee to the right of the building.
Looks like they are about to ruin the place with a remodel, gone will be the nice neon marquee front.
Mike, The Voque Art Theater was originally the Marple Theater at 417 E. Douglas.
The Westway Cinema was at 2515 S. Seneca in the Westway Shopping Center.
Are you sure you don’t mean the Victory Theater. I can not find any information on a Victory Drive-In in Wichita.
Where is the WESTWAY CINEMA, VICTORY DRIVE-in and VOGUE ART.?
Playing May 15 1974 was “BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID” what a great flick.at 7;20 and 9:40.
The Orpheum Theatre originally seated 1,676. 952 seats were on the main floor, 666 were up in the balcony and 58 seats were in boxes on the main floor. The boxes were removed in about the late 1950s.
After doing more research the architect for the Orpheum was John Eberson. Harry Weaver was the architect who supervised the construction in Wichita.
Good Theatre stories from Employees.Thanks for putting them on so many stories yet to be told,all so different in many ways.
The book on the Orpheum Theatre is now available through Amazon.
Here is the link:
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Here is a link to images of and from the projection booth in the Orpheum:
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Enjoy.
Actually the architecture firm of Eberson & Weaver designed the Orpheum Theatre. Harry Weaver came to Wichita to supervise the construction of the Orpheum.
Chuck this link might help:
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I don’t know Chuck I will get back to you on that. I know when it opened the Orpheum Office Building was home to doctors, dentists, and on the ground floor a Tilford Drug Store.
For anyone who is interested I am writing a book on the history of the Orpheum Theatre in Wichita Kansas. I will post more information when it gets closer to the release date. I just thought I would let everyone know on here.
Here are some aerial shots of the Orpheum Theatre that I took from atop a Wichita Fire Department ladder fire engine during the 2010 Orpheum Theatre Car Show:
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Here is another 1976 ad:
http://tinyurl.com/yl5atya
I worked at the Miller theater in 1952 and 1953. First as Popcorn Boy, then as a Doorman and finally as Ass’t Manager. I worked for H. F. (Buddy) Brown and C.C.Murray who was the city managaer for Fox theatres at that time. My dad who was a motion picture operator (projectionist) helped get me the job. I was 16. I remember working with Paul Amick (manager of the Orpheum) during one of the big shows where some movie stars were there in-person. Frank Young the black greeter who stood in front of the theatre was an important part of my life then. Being both a counsillor and close friend. At the end of this period I worked as ass’t manager at the Wichita theatre before joining the Navy.
Here is my set of Orpheum Theatre pictures I have taken.
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Here is a photo of the interior:
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Here is a photo of the vestibule floor:
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