Orpheum Theater, Historic theater in Downtown St. Louis, United States.
The Orpheum Theater is a Beaux-Arts building in downtown St. Louis, recognizable by its terra cotta facade and ornate sculptural details. Inside, the main performance hall features a large domed ceiling and decorated surfaces throughout.
The theater opened in 1917 as a vaudeville house, built by entrepreneur Louis A. Cella. In 1930, Warner Brothers took over the building and turned it into a movie theater.
The theater was listed on the National Register of Historic Places under the name American Theater, which it carried for part of its history. That name is still referenced in historical records, even though the building is better known today as the Orpheum.
The building stands in downtown St. Louis and is easy to spot from the street. It has been closed since 2012, so visitors can only view the exterior.
When it opened in 1917, the theater was fitted with mechanical systems for ventilation, heating, and electricity that were unusual for a public building of that time. This made it one of the more technically advanced venues in St. Louis at the start of the 20th century.
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