Film Venue Spotlight: Orpheum Theatre
Grand, opulent and thoroughly magical, The Orpheum Theatre debuted in 1927 as Vancouver’s biggest vaudeville house. In subsequent years, the venue transformed into a movie palace and then concert hall, and throughout its tenure played host to royalty, political leaders and celebrities who travelled there from around the world to see such legendary performers as Fred Astaire and the Marx Brothers.
The Orpheum’s grand staircases, plush décor and majestic Romanesque and Gothic arches translate beautifully on-camera, which is why directors and producers eagerly travel here to cast the theatre as an elegant background. Visitors might recognize the venue as a concert hall and movie theatre in The Flash; a hotel in Arrow; and a fundraiser site in iZombie, as well as various venues in The Magicians, Supergirl, Timeless and many others.
Today, guests to The Orpheum can attend an array of classical music performances – including popular shows by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra – as well as film viewings and live shows. In the next several months, the theatre will host a series of National Geographic Live performances, during which explorers, scientists and photographers share fascinating stories of their adventures accompanied by visually stunning imagery. Visitors with a penchant for history can join one of the theatre’s free tours, which run regularly through September. For more information, click here.
