Orpheum Theatre (1st)

Will Dunklin on October 20, 2009 at 7:25 pm

The following is taken from Variety October 21, 1923.

MEMPHIS ORPHEUM COMPLETELY RUINED IN SPECTACULAR BLAZE TUESDAY NIGHT

BURNED TO GROUND WHILE TOWNSPEOPLE WATCHED FIRE AROUND MIDNIGHT – $250,000 LOSS – ARTISTS ON BILL SAVED TRUNKS – 34 YEAR OLD THEATRE

Tuesday October 17, 1923, Memphis Tennessee

The loss in the fire that destroyed the Orpheum, the Tri-State Manufacturing Co., and the stores on the lower floor early this morning was estimated at over $250,000.

The Orpheum, for 34 years the home of theatricals on Main Street, was destroyed by a spectacular fire that left in place of the once beautiful auditorium, the former palatial Chickasaw Club, only a mass of blackened, jagged ruins.

Starting at 11:16 o'clock last night, exactly 30 minutes after the last of the vaudeville playgoers had filed out, the blaze, as though spread to every part of the four-story structure by a massive torch, within two hours had completely devastated the building.

Vaudevillians and second men tugged and struggled to save their baggage and personal effects, and succeeded.

The theatre, erected in 1889 by a little handful of Memphis men at a cost of $100,000, was owned by the heirs of Colonel W.D. Bethell, at one time mayor of Memphis.

It was insured for $150,000, J.P. Edrington, one of the owners, said late last night.

The Orpheum theatre’s loss in scenery, stage effects and other properties, may reach another $50,000. Insurance was carried at the eastern offices of Vannah Taylor, manager of the local house, was unable to say to what extent the circuit was indemnified.

The second, third and fourth floors of the front part of the structure were rented by the Tri-State Manufacturing Co., makers of women’s dresses and aprons. It was in the workshop of this concern on the Beale avenue side of the building that the fire was first observed by Charley Toler, whose association with the theatre is almost as old as the theatre itself.

Although eight pumpers, two trucks and two water towers were on Main and Beale streets playing half a dozen streams of water through the upper windows of the building, within three minutes the blaze as though fanned by a master power blower was beyond the control of any group of men. Tremendous and continuous sweep of wind from the southeast seemed to reverse itself and carry the fire forward to the front part of the third and fourth floors of the building as though a tremendous eddy was surging forth with it.

Parapets and fire walls proved futile. First the front half of the structure went.

The blaze illuminated the sky for miles around and sending vast billows of flaming sparks into the air. As the roof and each successive floor and partition fell a new eruption of cherry red sparks and burn embers would be sent hurtling to the heavens to circle and spread about the buildings across Beale avenue and Front street. Even the Hotel Gayoso was given a baptism of fire.

Thousands of spectators, after the show diners and late partyies joined with hundreds of Memphians who had left their homes to view the spectacle, more stupendous than Pain ever dreamed of in his wildest days. “The Fall of Pompeii” and “Last Days of Rome” were hand plays by comparison.

At exactly midnight while the lights in the theatre still blazed and Blossom Seeley’s name burned with undimmed fervor on the big electric sign on Main Street, the cupola on the south corner of the Main street side fell with a resounding crash. The heat became terrific on the streets and policemen unnecessarily gave spectators instructions to move back.

The crowd surged forward and as each of the four great outside and two great inde brick separations toppled and fell, it slowly moved back, awed by the impressiveness of the blaze.

Just how the blaze started will probably never be known. It had its beginning on the third floor of the building in the showroom where a score or more of women have been wont to spend their daylight hours toiling over a similar number of sewing machines in the manufacturing company’s plant and which was owned by Joseph and John Kriveher. Their loss was placed at from $25,000 to $35,000.

On the street level floors Jim’s Barber shop and a small confectionery and the Singer Sewing Machine Company’s Property was covered by the quick work of the salvage corps and partly saved.

The musicians defied the flames which were rapidly sweeping towards the big proscenium arch and stage and rescued most of their instruments.

Actors rushed in and frantically saved their trunks. Those who had been assigned to upper floors were not so fortunate.

Blossom Seeley and her husband, Benny Fields, were the heaviest losers among the actor folk. Their setting was completely destroyed. An ermine wrap costing $3,000, Miss Fields said, was burned, too. Fields was able to save but one of his trunks before ordered from the theatre by police, he said. Others saved part of their effects.

The loss hardest to replace will be that of Jewell, who owned the Manikin act, although in figures it will not be as great as that of Miss Seeley’s. Jewell expects to experience much difficulty in creating a new set. One actor who came out of the theatre without his collar and necktie defied the police to stop him from going back after them and got away with it.

Whether the Orpheum will be rebuilt as a theatre is problematical. When the front half was destroyed and it appeared as though the stage and auditorium were going to be saved, Mr. Edrington was hopeful that it could be rebuilt.

“Probably put some offices in front,” he said. Then as the flames spread further and further back, over the parapet and he saw his hope fading, he remarked to a friend, “Well, it’s a nice site for a fine hotel.”

In 1889 a small group of Memphians led by Col. Bethell decided that the thrown was entitled to a new and fine theatre. They built the house and in the years that followed every celebrity of note trod its boards. Emma Juch, operatic queen, opened the house in October of its first year with a fine production of “The Huguenots.” It was the pride of Memphis in those days. The silver voice of Adelina Patti was heard there before variety and later vaudeville became popular. Frederick Warde, Otis Skinner, Richard Mansfield, James O’Neill, every Shakespearean actor of note during the nineties and every musical comedy celebrity on the American stage appeared at the Grand Opera House.

In the meantime Col. Bethell had bought the interest of his associates and became sole owner of the theatre. Then in 1894 Col. H.L. Brinkley and some of his friends decided that Memphis needed another theatre, so they built the Lyceum. For 10 years the competition was keen and the rivalry intense.

While the road shows and “combinations” were flourishing the late Frank Gray, beloved of all newspaper men, was made manager. In 1899 the theatre was thoroughly remodeled and overhauled. A.B. Morrison, still one of the most popular theatre managers ever known, was placed at the helm.

The bill consisted of Blossom Seeley, Burns and Lynn, Bert Hanlon, Lahr and Mercedes, Anderson and Burt, Van and Bell and the Jewell manikins.

Will Dunklin on March 22, 2012 at 2:41 pm

Here’s a song tribute to Blossom Seeley, last headliner at the old Orpheum. The musician has included several images of the old Orpheum along with at least one of the new (existing) Orpheum, built on the same site. Good tune, very reminicent of Blossom Seeley’s own style, worth the 2 ½ minutes of your time. It’s called “Hot Blossom.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpgYei_I5Ko