The Orpheum Theatre at 842 S. Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles opened on February 15, 1926, as the fourth and final Los Angeles venue for the Orpheumvaudeville circuit.[2] After a $3 million renovation, started in 1989, it is the most restored of the historical movie palaces in the city. Three previous theatres also bore the name Orpheum before the one at 842 Broadway was the final one with that moniker.
The Orpheum theatres are named for the Greek mythological figure, Orpheus.
Orpheum venues in Los Angeles
The first site for the Orpheum vaudeville circuit was the Grand Opera House, also known as the Grand Theater, 110 S. Main Street (built 1884, closed 1937).[3]
The second Orpheum venue was the Orpheum Theatre (previously known as the Los Angeles Theatre and later known as the Lyceum Theatre, at 227 S. Spring Street (opened 1888, closed 1941).[3]
The third venue was the Orpheum Theatre now known as the Palace Theatre, 630 S. Broadway (built 1911, still standing).[3]
In the 1960s, the theater held rock 'n' roll concerts featuring Little Richard, Aretha Franklin and Little Stevie Wonder. The restored Orpheum Theatre is now a venue for live concerts, movie premieres, and location shoots.[6] The love metal band HIM played there for their live CD/DVD album Digital Versatile Doom. The 2010 Streamy Awards were live broadcast from the theater.