Varsity Theatre
1500 O Street,
Lincoln,
NE
68508
1500 O Street,
Lincoln,
NE
68508
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Additional Info
Architects: Ellery Lathrop Davis, Walter F. Wilson
Firms: Davis & Wilson
Previous Names: Bijou Theatre, Orpheum Theatre, Majestic Theatre, Rialto Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Bijou Theatre was opened by 1906. It was soon renamed Orpheum Theatre, which closed in 1915 when a new Orpheum Theatre located at 12th Street & P Street opened. It reopened as the Majestic Theatre and around 1920 was renamed Rialto Theatre. It was remodeled in 1934 to the plans of architects Davis & Wilson, and reopened on November 1, 1934 as the Varsity Theatre with Grace Moore in “One Night of Love”. In October 1940 the world premiere of “Too Many Girls” starring Lucille Ball was held at the Varsity Theatre. It was closed in 1941 and the Varsity name was transferred to the former Oliver/Liberty Theatre on N. 13th Street & P Street (which has its own page on Cinema Treasures).
The Varsity Theatre on O Street was demolished in 1942.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 1 comments)
Before becoming the Orpheum the house at 1500 O Street had operated as the Bijou. I haven’t discovered when it opened, or the exact year it was renamed the Orpheum, but the Bijou was mentioned in The Billboard in 1906 and 1907. After closing as the Orpheum in 1915 the house reopened as the Majestic, then around 1920 became the Rialto. The Rialto closed for about two months in 1934 for remodeling, and then reopened on November 1st as the Varsity Theatre. The Varsity closed in 1941, and its name was moved to the former Liberty Theatre, originally the Oliver, at 15th and P Street. The theater at 1500 O Street was demolished in early 1942 to make way for a northward extension of 15th Street, which is today called Centennial Mall.