The Sioux City Orpheum Theatre is often referred to as the Crown Jewel of the city. It is called this because of the beautiful interior. With the magnificent chandeler's in the lobby and the grand chandeler in the theatre, the art work and artificats on display of this fully restored building the terracotta that adorns the outside of the building and its period correct marquee the Sioux City Orpheum is truly something to behold.
1927 - The Sioux City Orpheum was designed by architect Chicago firm of Rapp & Rapp and constructed in 1927 as part of the Orpheum Circuit. The major developer and promoter for the theatre was local Sioux City businessman, Arthur Sanford and was the largest theatre in the State of Iowa at the time. Total construction cost was 1.75 million.
1927 to 1980's - This opulent vaudeville and moving picture house featured a large 2,690 seat, six story auditorium. It had a a 21 rank Wurlitzer pipe organ, half circle boxes, hand carved detailing, gilded ornamentation, several crystal chandeliers and a hand painted ceiling. Throughout the years, the Orpheum was used for symphony performances, ballet and special attractions and hosted entertainers such as Fred Astaire, Tallulah Bankhead, and Katherine Hepburn, Kirk Douglas, John Barrymore, Joseph Cotton, and Joe E. Brown.
1980's -The Orpheum was remodeled and turned into a one-story movie house with fluorescent light fixtures and a projection booth carved into what was once the mezzanine balcony. Later it was split into a two-screen theater. The entire box section of the balcony and the half circle boxes were removed, and the chandeliers and fine architectural detailing were covered over with false ceilings.
1989 - The non profit organization, Orpheum Theatre Preservation Project, Ltd., or OTPP was created for the purpose of raising funds to renovate, restore and reopen the theatre.
1990's - The Orpheum Theatre Preservation Project was involved with the acquisition of the theatre building, renovating and remodeling of the interior and exterior, and the establishment of an endowment fund. The total cost of the project was approximately $15 million, with funding from grants, foundations and private donations.
1992 - The building was closed to the public.
1999 - OTPP began the restoration process in 1999, with architects and theatre experts from FEH here in Sioux City, and theatre restoration expert Ray Sheppardson from GSI Architects in Cleveland, OH. The building was restored by a restoration team of local and nationally prominent professionals including Glover Painting, Sioux City, Iowa; Holtze Construction Company, Sioux City, Iowa; Evergreen Painting Studios, New York, New York; New Metal Crafts, Chicago, Illinois; and Tiffin Scenic Studios, Inc., Tiffin, Ohio.
The few surviving crystal chandeliers, light fixtures and lighting devises were meticulously restored. The chandeliers in the main lobby are all original to the Theatre. Many of the light fixtures were removed when the Theatre was closed, but thanks to dedicated volunteers many fixtures were recovered and half of the wall sconces are original to the Theatre. The missing ones were replaced with exact replicas or period appropriate antiques and reproductions. The aluminum entrance doors were replaced with historically appropriate African mahogany doors. All of the terrazzo baseboards and mahogany handrails were stripped and their finishes restored. The original drapes and fabric wall coverings were reproduced in both the grand lobby and the auditorium. The original carpet was carefully replicated and installed throughout the theatre. The original ornate terra cotta drinking fountains were replicated from the original drawings and returned to their prominent positions. The balcony and side boxes were replaced using original drawings and available photographs.
The heavy, post historic stucco material was stripped off the walls. The flat wall and ceiling surfaces were skim coated and restored. Molds were created of the original plaster ornament. The damaged and missing plaster ornament was restored with replicas made from these molds. Ornamental plaster was applied to the rebuilt balcony and box seats. A study of the historic finishes identified which finishes were original and how they could be cleaned. It also revealed what the original decorative finishes were in areas that had been painted over. The stencil and trompe l’oeil grand lobby ceiling was uncovered and meticulously documented. The historic designs were replicated to match the original appearance in technique and color. The surviving original auditorium stencil and trompe l’oeil was carefully cleaned and repaired and missing sections were meticulously reproduced. Historic decorative finishes were reinstated throughout the entire theatre and lobbies.
September 15, 2001 - The Sioux City Orpheum Theatre re-opened.
Since the grand re-opening, the theatre has provided the Siouxland area an opportunity to attend performances by fabulous performers like Bill Cosby, Sheryl Crow, BB King, Bob Dylan, Wynton Marsalis, David Copperfield, Willie Nelson, Jewel, Alison Kraus, and Jerry Seinfeld. In addition, thousands have witnessed spectacular Broadway shows and enjoy hearing the Sioux City Symphony.
Info. source: Sioux City Orpheum Theatre History
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