History of the Orpheum Theatre
The Orpheum is a rare and beautiful piece of the history of our community. It is one of the finest examples of early theater architecture designed by the prestigious architectural firm of Rapp and Rapp of Chicago.
The Architects
The firm was founded by George Rapp, an 1899 alumnus of the University of Illinois School of Architecture and his brother Cornelius; they were later joined by their nephews D.H. Brush, Jr., and E.C.A. Bullock, also graduates of the U of I in 1906 and 1910 respectively. During 1911 and 1912 the Rapps went to Europe and visited Bordeaux, Paris, and Versailles. Architectural design from the Louis XIV era formed the basis of their signature French-inspired theater interiors. In all Rapp and Rapp designed over 400 theaters, most of them during the 1920s.
The Orpheum is particularly significant because it was one of the Rapps' earliest theater designs; it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in February 1991. The four facades of the building and the interior spacial and decorative elements are now protected in perpetuity against demolition or alteration by a permanent easement.
A Grand Design
Built in 1914 as both a vaudeville theater and a "moving picture" house, the Orpheum is a one-third scale model of La Salle de Spectacle, the opera hall at Versailles. In 1914 the Orpheum Theatre was considered to be the finest theater in downstate Illinois. Great care was taken in the construction of the building; it was built to last forever. It has a 28-foot high inner lobby area encircled with an oval mezzanine level balcony and a 36-foot high auditorium ringed with a horseshoe of seventeen ornamented loge boxes at the mezzanine level and 24 Corinthian columns. The 50' tall stage was designed to be large enough for any type of vaudeville act.
Except for cosmetic plaster damage and the loss of original murals that were painted on the ceiling, the auditorium is completely intact; to the delight and surprise of all who enter, it retains its beautiful, ornate French Renaissance and Baroque friezes and moldings. Although there was some damage from the addition of aluminum sheathing in a "modernization" of the theater in 1967, the Classical Revival facade still has a good degree of integrity with the storefronts and second floor of the theater section retaining all original materials. Improvements to the front facade are ongoing.
A Legacy for Children and Science
While it is true that children would benefit from a hands-on museum no matter where it is located, the grandeur of the magnificent Orpheum Theatre most certainly will enhance any child's visit to the museum. George Rapp was once asked why he incorporated so much ornamentation into his theater designs; he gave this simple reply:
Watch the eyes of a child as he enters the portals of our great theaters and treads the path into fairyland.
We believe Mr. Rapp would approve of using the theater as a children's museum; it is a particularly compatible use since it requires no alteration of the distinguishing historic elements of the building, and the lofty, open spaces of the theater are perfect for science exhibits.
