Home About Writers Categories Recent Issues Subscribe Contact File Transfer





J Basham
J. Basham has been with the Orpheum Theatre for 3 ½ years, he is director of theatre operations, and promotions. If you have any further questions he can be reached, (316) 263-0884 or you may e-mail him at Orpheum@wichitaorpheum.com
Entertainment
2010-07-01 12:04:00
What is the Orpheum Theatre?
Being born and raised here in Wichita I’ve always been very interested in the history, can you please tell me about the Orpheum Theatre?
Answer: The Orpheum Theatre in Wichita, Kansas represents one of the finest remaining examples of atmospheric school of theatre architecture which was developed during the first part of the 1900s. There were two major schools of design: the standard school derived its form and decoration from nineteenth century opera houses and the vaudeville theatre traditions. The atmospheric school concentrated on creating interiors that could provide the patron with the feeling he inhabited a landscape setting.

The architect for the Orpheum, John Eberson, was the creator of the atmospheric school. In his book, The Picture Palace, Dennis Sharp has classified the Orpheum’s style as "pre-atmospheric". However, further research indicates that the Wichita structure is in fact an authentic atmospheric with all the accoutrements associated with the style. Opening on September 4, 1922, it was the first atmospheric theatre in the United States. The Majestic in Houston, Texas was the second. The Orpheum was conceived as a garden of old Andalusia. Its entire design was that of a Spanish garden or court "made festive by music and torchlight." The Orpheum had a fully developed decorative theme and the sky and star projections properly associated with the atmospheric theatre. The magnificent proscenium arch is the main feature of the auditorium which originally contained 1,700 seats. The sidewalls of the auditorium were accented by niches with mock tile roofs and grills and wooden lattice work arches across the ceiling to create a courtyard effect. The theme of a Spanish courtyard was continued in the decoration of the balcony. The stairways to the mezzanine are ornamented with the original plaster moldings and arched doorways. On the stage in the flyout hangs the theatre’s original fire curtain. It is a hand executed painting on asbestos, designed specifically for the Orpheum by John Eberson and rendered by Fabric Studio of Chicago. This curtain is quite valuable in its own right. The Orpheum Theatre was originally conceived by a group of local investors and when construction completed it was leased to Carl Hobitzelle, the operator of a $6,000,000.00 theatre chain. The initial construction cost of the theatre was $750,000.00. Opening on Labor Day, 1922, it was an integral part of the famous "Orpheum Circuit" and in its heyday virtually every major star of vaudeville graced its stage, including such luminaries as Eddie Cantor and Fannie Brice. During its vaudeville period, more than 17,000 acts appeared with the playbill changing three times each week. At the time the Orpheum was built, modern sound enhancements were not available and the architects of the period had to be skilled acoustical engineers. John Eberson was one of the best and, to this day, the quality of sound within the auditorium, with or without amplification, is exceptional. The Orpheum Theatre has significant associations nationally and internationally with the development of a whole new concept and style of theatre architecture. In 1980 the Orpheum was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1984 it was gifted to the Orpheum Performing Arts Centre, Ltd., a non profit corporation which is dedicated to the preservation, restoration and ongoing utilization of this important part of our cultural and architectural heritage. To the greatest extent possible, it is the intent of the Orpheum Performing Arts Centre, Ltd to restore this beautiful theatre to the design that John Eberson initially conceived and constructed. J. Basham has been with the Orpheum Theatre for 3 ½ years, he is director of theatre operations, and promotions. If you have any further questions he can be reached, (316) 263-0884 or you may e-mail him at Orpheum@wichitaorpheum.com

 
The Q & A Times Journal accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs.Materials will not be returned unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Thank you.
 
Wildcard SSL Certificates