Spanish
Chinese
Dutch
Another TravelShark™ Site
More Shark Guides
The Orpheum Theatre
The Orpheum Theatre is a staple among Boston theaters. After going through a few different incarnations, it has held its place on the music scene, hosting various concerts in a crowded and sometimes stuffy but intimate space.
History of the Orpheum
The Orpheum Theatre in Boston was originally built in 1852 as the Boston Music Hall, which housed the Boston Symphony Orchestra. It retained this role until 1900, when it was gutted and almost completely rebuilt with a new interior as a venue for vaudeville shows. In1905 it was renamed the Empire Theatre, although it became the Orpheum the following year when it was taken over by a new owner.
The theater changed hands again in 1910 when it was purchased by Marcus Loew. Loew also bought some of the surrounding land and commissioned architect Thomas Lamb to create a new building design that substantially changed the original venue. The renovated theater had greater capacity and a backlit arch made of golden-hued glass. It opened in 1916, presenting a mix of vaudeville and movies, although the live shows died out by the 1930s and were replaced by film double features.
The Orpheum Theatre fell on hard times in the 1960s, when theaters outside of the downtown Boston area were allowed to start showing first-run movies. Its owner abandoned it in 1972, and it was taken over as a live performance venue, known as the Aquarius. It got a breath of new life in 1974, when it became home to the Opera Company and regained its old name. It remained a place for operas until 1979, when the company moved to the Boston Opera House.
The Orpheum was the location of several notable recording sessions. For example, two performances by the Grateful Dead in late 1973 were released as the album,
“Dick's Picks Volume 14.” Half of the “Live!” album by The Police was recorded at the Orpheum in 1979. Tin Machine recorded part of their live album, “Tin Machine Live: Oy Vey, Baby,” in the theater in 1991.
Today, the venerable theater is still a place for a variety of live musical performances. Although its entrance was once on Washington Street, that spot has been taken over by retail space, and concert goers enter from the alley.
Concerts
The Orpheum Theatre hosts a wide variety of bands and artists representing virtually every musical genre. You might find anything from bluegrass to reggae being performed at this venue, although rock music dominates the schedule. The building still has admirable acoustics despite its many changes over the years. Its schedule is always available online so you can check which artists are playing there while you visit Boston and order tickets in advance. The theater has even hosted Bhangra competitions. Big names in the rock world that have played at the Orpheum include Pink Floyd, Bruce Springsteen, the Smashing Pumpkins, and Lenny Kravitz.
Location
The Orpheum Theatre is located near Boston Common in the heart of the city's theater district, with easy access from the Red, Green, and Orange Lines for patrons who prefer public transportation. You can also drive to the theater, and though it does not have its own parking lot, there are several parking garages in the immediate vicinity of the theater. There are also plenty of restaurants within walking distance if you want to combine a concert and a meal.
The theater looks small when you see its tucked-away entrance, but it actually holds almost 3,000 people. The seats are not built for comfort, and the crowd often makes the temperature inside rise quickly during packed performances because there is no air conditioning, so dress appropriately. However, while not restored to the opulent level of many other Boston theaters, the Orpheum has a certain ambiance that beckons back to its history, and its relatively small size makes the shows seem more intimate.
- © Copyright 2012 TravelShark |
- Manage My Booking |
- FAQs |
- Advertise with Us |
- Privacy Policy |
- Terms & Conditions|
- Sitemap
