Orpheum Theatre Memphis

For thirty-three years, the corner of Main and Beale belonged to the Grand Opera House and then the Orpheum. The original theater opened in 1890, hosting vaudeville and silent films before joining the Orpheum circuit in 1907. In October 1923, a fire destroyed it. The cause was never established. Memphis did not leave the site empty for long: a new theater began rising there four years later.

The replacement opened in 1928 as a 2,800-seat palace for both live acts and motion pictures. Its scale and elaborate interior announced a new era, with crystal chandeliers, gilded moldings, and a Mighty Wurlitzer organ. The opening program mixed an organ recital and vaudeville with a silent film. It was designed for a moment when entertainment itself was changing, and the building could accommodate more than one form.