Orpheum Theatre
910 Hennepin Avenue,
Minneapolis,
MN
55403
910 Hennepin Avenue,
Minneapolis,
MN
55403
5 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Hennepin Theatre District (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Orpheum Circuit, RKO
Architects: Charles Kirchoff, Thomas Rose
Firms: Kirchoff & Rose
Functions: Performing Arts, Stage Shows
Styles: Beaux-Arts
Previous Names: Hennepin Theatre, RKO Orpheum Theatre
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
612.339.7007
Manager:
612.339.7007
Nearby Theaters
The original Orpheum Theatre was opened in 1904 and was located on S. 7th Street and Hennepin Avenue. From 1921 it became the 7th Street Theatre.
It had been replaced by this ‘new’ Junior Orpheum Theatre which opened as the 3,500-seat Hennepin Theatre on 16th October 1921 as a vaudeville house for the Orpheum Circuit. Appearing on opening night were The 4 Marx Brothers. It was soon renamed Orpheum Theatre. It went over to movies in 1927 and the name was changed to RKO Orpheum Theatre.
The Orpheum Theatre ended its run as a movie house in 1979 and has been a legitimate theatre ever since.
Renovated in 1993, the Orpheum Theatre still showcases the best touring broadway shows in the country.
Contributed by
Ross Melnick
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Recent comments (view all 22 comments)
Please update the website to www.HennepinTheatreDistrict.org
Thanks!
I just attended a session of the National Trust for Historic Preservation at this theatre. And yes, it has a very odd lobby — long and narrow. As I had to catch the bus, I wasn’t able to walk around the block to get a better idea of how it all fits together. We were told in our printed material that Bob Dylan once owned this theatre. I don’t know how long or how it was used.
Here’s a 1997 shot of the Orpheum.
View link
From the late 1950s a photo postcard view of the Orpheum along Gopher which is on the opposite side and up the street.
George Burns mentioned on his TV show (in 1954) that he played this theater.
The New Hennepin theatre is shown as the current Orpheum theatre on a few sites. It is a different building allgeather. It was on 9th street and Hennipen Ave. Is it still standing, or was it replaced by the current Orpheum?
I managed the Orpheum Theatre at 910 Hennepin Avenue in the 1970’s. This is the second Orpheum theatre and, according to the blueprints, was built as the Junior Orpheum to the original theatre two blocks away, even though the surviving theatre is nearly 700 seats larger. I also have original blueprints of the main floor. It was originally designed, and was built as it now stands. The 9th Street vestibule was always meant to be for exiting only, it was never intended to be an entrance.
11/13/72 photo added, photo credit Denny Schwartz, courtesy of Gary Schwartz. Looking South from 9th Street.
1933 photo added courtesy of Randy Inghram.
1954 photo added. Photo credit Gary Schwartz, taken by his father.