History:
The Orpheum Theater is the most intact and finest remaining example of a vaudeville and movie theater in Madison. It was one of the two grand movie palaces built in downtown Madison during the heyday of motion picture entertainment, the period of opulent theaters in which one movie mogul remarked "we sell tickets to theaters, not movies." Financed in part by dentist William Beecroft, also known locally as "Mr. Theater," it cost a whopping $750,000 to construct. Along with the Capitol Theater across the street, it was the venue for big name orchestras and stage stars, in addition to first run movies. Its French Renaissance interior made it one of the most beautiful public spaces in the city. The limestone exterior was built in the very fashionable Art Deco style, and the towering "Orpheum" sign is a visual landmark in downtown Madison.
Frank Sinatra, Buddy Holly, Artie Shaw, Louis Armstrong are a few of the artists that performed there in its heyday. Sonny & Cher, Johnny Cash, Liberace, Bob Marley and Elvis Costello were some of the last performers to grace the Orpheum's stage, that is, until its latest incarnation.
Over the years there have been plans to dramatically alter the space. A gym, and more recently an IMAX theater have been two of the proposed projects. In 1999, Henry Doane, a local restaurateur and preservationist, came to the Orpheum's rescue. He purchased the building and promised to keep it running as a theater and bring it back to its former prominence in the community. The Orpheum is undergoing a long-term restoration process while it continues to remain an important part of Madison's entertainment and cultural arts scene.
Remarkably, much of the Orpheum Theatre remains as it were when it opened more the 80 years ago. There have not been any major alterations to the original interior. The lobby still contains the grand staircase, terrazzo floors, chandeliers and original Orpheus Statue. In the 1960's a second theater, the StageDoor, was constructed directly behind the main theater. Due to this renovation, only six feet of the original Orpheum Stage remain and many hundreds of seats were lost. With the exception of the stage renovation, the theater is much like it was. The original seating capacity of the theater was 2,400 seats, making it the largest in Madison. The theater currently retains around 1,700 seats.
Today the Orpheum fills many roles in the thriving Madison community. It still shows first run movies. Some are big box office hits, but most are independent films that you rarely get a chance to see in large chain movie venues. The theater also hosts nationally known music and comedy acts. Some recent acts include Ween, The Bangles, The Decemberists, Modest Mouse, Bela Fleck, Feist, The Guess Who and Frank Caliendo. The public can rent out space in either the lobby or theater for special events including weddings, parties, movie screenings and lectures. The Orpheum Lobby Restaurant and Bar is open to the public on weekdays for lunch and dinner and on weekends for breakfast and dinner.
