Source: Mercantile Library Collection

Address: 416 Ninth Street Construction Date: 1916-1917 Architect: G. Albert Lansburgh

ORPHEUM THEATRE
The Orpheum Theater opened on Labor Day, 1917 at a cost of $400,000. It was one of many Orpheum theaters around the country that played host to the Orpheum circuit performances. The opening night headliner was Nan Halpern and she made $475 for a one evening performance. The three men who formed the Missouri Orpheum theater company were Louis A. Cella, Frank R. Tate, and Martin Beck. The theater opened as a big vaudeville theater and was very successful with a variety of big name vaudeville acts. As movie houses began to gain popularity the theater lost its appeal and closed for a season in 1933 when the company fell into bankruptcy.

In 1943 the Orpheum was leased to Loews. The Orpheum was under the control of Loews until 1960 when it was remodeled at a cost of $300,000 and reopened as the American Theater.