Vic Theatre
217 E. Walnut Street,
Green Bay,
WI
54301
217 E. Walnut Street,
Green Bay,
WI
54301
3 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Fox Wisconsin Circuit, Marcus Theatres
Functions: Bar
Previous Names: Green Bay Theatre, Fox Theatre, Jay-Are Theatre, Orpheum Theatre
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Opened as the Green Bay Theatre in late-February 1900. Seating was listed at 1,114. It became the Orpheum Theatre on September 30, 1912 and was operated by Fox Wisconsin Theatres from 1933 and renamed Fox Theatre from August 25, 1933. On December 25, 1957 it was renamed Vic Theatre and was operated by Marcus Theatres. The theatre was located a couple blocks from the West Theatre on E. Walnut Street.
The theatre closed in the late-1980’s. The building is still standing and became a banquet Hall named Confetti’s and is very recognizable as a former theatre. By 2017 it was a bar.
Contributed by
Chuck
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Recent comments (view all 23 comments)
Did you know that the downtown Green Bay redevelopment plan lists the Orpheum Theater as one of the “Cultural Anchor Enhancements” of downtown Green Bay?
http://greenbaywi.gov/csa/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/AuthentiCity-Plan-final-4-18-14.pdf
How many Green Bay natives are out there? Please chime in.
Just posted some articles and a picture of the outside of the theater after its 1930’s remodel. The September 18, 1930 issue of the Green Bay Press-Gazette has a very large write up about the theater.
Excerpt from: NEW ORPHEUM THEATER OPENS DOORS FRIDAY AFTERNOON Green Bay Press-Gazette September 18,1930
“HIS DREAM COMES TRUE” Harry K. Timm manager of the Orpheum theater, brings to his post an excellent background of experience in the legitimate drama, vaudeville and motion picture fields, and is regarded by the stage folk as one of the most capable managers in the middle west. Frequently in the past visiting players have remarked “It’s good to be back in a regular show-house”. Mr Timm has been manager of the Orpheum in Green Bay for 14 years. Prior to that he was with the Finn & Heiman theater circuit, later absorbed by the Orpheum circuit. Before that he was with the W. S. Butterfield chain of theaters in Michigan. Altogether, he has been in the show business for 18 years, and is thoroughly conversant with all its branches.
FIRST PROGRAM WILL BE GIVEN AT 1 O’CLOCK Organ Recital, Comedy and Four ‘Vodvil’ Acts Scheduled. Simple but impressive services all within the theater will mark the reopening of the Orpheum Friday afternoon and evening after being closed since the winter of 1929, according to Manager Harry K Timm. There will be four performances the opening day, one at 1 o’clock, one at 3:30, one at 7, and one at 9:30. The doors will open at 12:30 noon, and at 6:30 in the evening to permit the crowds to inspect the interior of the theater f before the performance starts. There will also be an intermission between the first and second shows, afternoon and night.
The Vic is under new management and will reopen again as the Confetti Club. Opening night is April 21st.
I noticed it on a little scrolling marque in the window of the theater. It looks like it never reopened.
Its now a bar that my dad helps manage ive been in there and let me say this its creepy as f**k lights turn on by themselfs ive personally had something screem my name!
After it became a Fox operated theater, the Orpheum didn’t change its name to the Fox Theatre at all. It retained its Orpheum Theatre name (although it was sometimes named Fox Orpheum Theatre by advertisements for secondary purposes).
50sSNIPES is correct. The Orpheum sign was still on the building in the mid-1950s, and a photo from that time was published in Boxoffice of June 2, 1958. Though the theater was advertised as the Fox Orpheum in the 1930s, the Fox Wisconsin circuit only leased the house from 1933 to 1943, after which it was independently operated as the Orpheum Theatre by Victor McCormick until he leased it to Marcus Theatres in 1956.
Locals tend to refer to this theatre as the Vic Theatre, which is how it is listed here on Cinema Treasures. Fox built another theatre in town in 1929, and perhaps they did own the Orpheum for a while, but the historic property record does not show that. Here is a link to the State/National historic property record: https://wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Property/HI2226
Either way, it is a lovely example of an Art Deco facade!
Because the original style of the Vic is so similar to the 1906 Grand Opera House, Tulsa, I’m going to guess this was a John Eberson design.