Orpheum Theatre Vaudeville Shows and Movies
This image is from a piece of film found in the Orpheum's projection booth.
Will Rogers appeared in January 1915.
Birth Of A Nation
February 7-12, 1916
The company arrived in a sixty-foot baggage car bringing their own oversize screen, projection booth, and twenty-piece symphony orchestra. The orchestra was too big for the pit and spilled into the front row. It took ten hours to set up a theatre.
D.W. Griffin introduced filmmaking innovations with this film.
Charles 'Chic' Sale
The Marx Brothers appeared on stage in May 1918.
Trixie Friganza appeared 2-4 February 1922.
Harry Houdini appeared
27-29 September 1923
19-21 March 1925
Bob Hope
2 December 1928
George Burns and
Gracie Allen played the Orpheum in February 1929
Red Skelton played the Orpheum Saturday and Sunday, 14-15 November 1936.
Gone With The Wind played at the Orpheum in a record-breaking run.
Some of these images are from a Gone With The Wind souvenir program. Collection of Perry C. Morris.
Marcella Clifford Martin, the daughter of Senator and Mrs. W.E.C. Clifford, West University Avenue, Champaign, played the part of Cathleen Calvert and was a stand-in for Vivian Leigh. Miss Martin attended Champaign grade schools, University High School, and the University of Illinois. She was discovered by a Selznick International casting director at the Shreveport Little Theatre.
The Junior Service League Follies was a fundraising event with local talent
The
Ben Hur
run
began
Thursday
6 October
1960
The Love Bug played in
July 1969
The marquee advertising Jaws in 1975
