Orpheum Vaudeville

The new Orpheum Theatre opened Dec. 19, 1927. The theatre included vaudeville acts, such as a comedy acrobatic act and singer Frank Richardson. Ticket prices in 1927 were 50 cents for adults in the main floor seating and 35 cents for balcony seats. Children were charged 15 cents.

The RKO New Orpheum Theater, as it was later known, was only four stories tall when it was originally erected in 1927. Four more floors were added in 1948. The theater closed in 1992.

Playbill from the Orpheum Theatre's production of "Life with Father," which graced the stage Feb. 23, 1942, starring Lillian Gish and Louis Clahern.

Dubinsky Bros. Theatres of Lincoln, Neb., remodeled and opened the Orpheum as a movie theater. A suspended ceiling was installed and concealed the chandeliers and dome of the auditorium.

The Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City is shown in April 1985. A local group was given grant money in 1988 to study whether the Orpheum should be renovated to its original glory.

The ceiling of the Orpheum was uncovered in April 1999, exposing several original crystal chandeliers.

The Sioux City Symphony performs along with the Siouxland Master Chorale, the Morningside College Chorale and the Briar Cliff University Singers during the grand opening of the Orpheum Theatre on Sept. 15, 2001.

In this 2001 file photo, the new Orpheum Theatre sign awaits elevation above the marquee on the front of the building.

The Yanney family donated this chandelier for the Orpheum restoration in 2001.

People mingle in the lobby of the Orpheum Theatre at its grand opening in 2001.

The Orpheum Theatre fills with people during the grand opening ceremonies on Sept. 15, 2001.

Master of Ceremonies Jim Wharton welcomes people to the grand opening of the Orpheum Theatre on Sept. 15, 2001.

Gene Hancer, Sioux City, wears period type attire while attending the grand opening of the Orpheum Theatre on Sept. 15, 2001.

Bob Ralston plays the Wurlitzer organ at the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City in November 2004.

Larry Wentz and Amanda Krenz introduce the speakers at the Iowa Governors Debate at the Orpheum Theatre in 2010.

The Orpheum Theatre is shown in January 2011.

People dine during the Mardi Gras Gala outside the Orpheum Theatre on June 30, 2011.

Guy Fieri warms up the crowd at the beginning of his cooking show at the Orpheum Theatre on May 27, 2011.

Workers prepare the stage at the Orpheum Theatre in September 2010 while setting up for the Iowa gubernatorial debate.

Usher Trudy Gordon grabs a pair of ear plugs while preparing for the Bret Michaels concert at the Orpheum Theatre Saturday, December 21, 2013. (Jim Lee, Sioux City Journal)

Irving Jensen, Jr., poses for a photo at Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City on Sept. 14, 2016.

A cartoon of Irving Jensen, Jr., drawn by famed Disney director Ron Clements is seen at the Orpheum Theatre on Sept. 14, 2016.

The Orpheum Theatre is pictured in 2016, 15 years after its "rebirth."

A board outside the Orpheum Theatre displays coming attractions in fall 2016.

"Fluffy" (aka stand-up comic Gabriel Iglesias) actually was there. Theater technician Joe Mahaney II talks in 2016 about some of the celebrities who have signed the backstage wall at the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City.

The 1-ton grand chandelier is a centerpiece of the Orphuem Theatre.

Willie Nelson's autograph is shown in 2016 on the backstage wall at the Orphuem Theatre.

The seven-story structure, at 528 Pierce St., was built for $1.27 million in 1927 as a vaudeville and movie palace. After years of neglect, this architectural treasure was brought back to life in 2001 and is now a performing arts center and home to the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ.

Theater technician Joe Mahaney II stands on a catwalk surrounding the dome above the the ceiling in the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City.

Theater technician Joe Mahaney II stands on a catwalk surrounding the dome above the the ceiling in the Orphuem Theatre in Sioux City.

The Righteous Brothers' autographs are shown on the backstage wall at the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City.

Theater technician Joe Mahaney II flies a movie screen down across the stage at the Orphuem Theatre in Sioux City.

Director John Luebke of the Sioux City Rockestra is pictured ahead of the group's final concert at the Orpheum Theatre.

An audience assembles for a panel discussion held in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the United Airlines flight 232 crash in Sioux City, at the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City, Iowa on Friday, July 18, 2014. (Dawn J. Sagert, Sioux City Journal)

Iowa gubernatorial candidates Gov. Terry Branstad and Jack Hatch debate at the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City on October 14, 2014

People watch on a monitor as Victor Cayres, from Brazil, competes during the solo recital round of the Iowa Piano Competition at theOrpheum Theatrein Sioux City on March 19, 2015.

Members of the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra rehearse at the Orpheum Theatre on Sept. 15, 2015.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks during a campaign event at Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City, Iowa on Tuesday, Jan., 5, 2016.

Donald Trump speaks with Jerry Falwell, Jr., at the Orpheum Theatre on January 31, 2016.

Kansas performs at the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City on October 7, 2017.

The Orpheum Theatre's seats are shown from the stage in 2017.

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