Orpheum Theatre
116 NE Madison Avenue,
Peoria,
IL
61602
116 NE Madison Avenue,
Peoria,
IL
61602
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Additional Info
Architects: Frank Nelson Emerson, Herbert Edmund Hewitt
Firms: Hewitt & Emerson
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The Orpheum Theatre opened in 1911 and closed in 1927. Part of Martin Beck’s Orpheum circuit, the house operated for most of its history as a two-a-day vaudeville theatre, but as movies gained in popularity it was converted to a combination house. The building was demolished in January 1952.
Contributed by
Joe Vogel
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Recent comments (view all 2 comments)
Here is a ca. 1920 photo of the Orpheum Theatre. Click the name “Orpheum” in the title field just below the photo for links to additional photos of the house.
The July 16, 1910, issue of The American Contractor said that the theater under construction in Peoria, which would be leased to the Orpheum Theatre company, had been designed by the architectural firm of Hewitt & Emerson. Herbert Edmund Hewitt and Frank Nelson Emerson formed their partnership in 1909. At least nine of the firm’s buildings are now listed on the NRHP.
The Orpheum circuit brought Al Jolson, Will Rogers, Sophie Tucker, Eddie Cantor, and Fannie Brice to Peoria. And this was known when the demolition crew found the log of everyone who had been on the stage in the wreckage in January of 1952.
The building was stout in its defense - the project took longer than expected at six months and it took a big bite out of the neighboring Elks Club in a noon-time accident that crushed a pinball machine, damaged the bar, and injured two patrons. The space was used for a 55-car parking lot for Terminal Parking Co.