Collection: Orpheum Theatre Programs | Special Collections Finding Aids

Scope and Contents

This collection includes theater programs, 1911-1913 with some undated programs.

Dates

1911-1913.

Creator

Orpheum Theatre (Fargo, N.D.) (Organization)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.

Copyrights

Copyrights to this collection are held by the NDSU Archives.

History

The Fargo Mercantile Company Building, located at 611 NP Avenue, was opened in 1896. In 1909, the three-story building was purchased by a group of local businessmen with the intent of converting it into a theater. The Orpheum Theater opened later that year with seating for 1,000. It was a vaudeville house “Devoted to high class vaudeville and acting pictures.” It featured a six-piece orchestra under the direction of Anton Ziegler. Vaudeville shows included a variety of acts such as comedians, singers, drama, and puppets. Admission ranged from .10-.75. The theater also showed an occasional movie. In 1915, “Birth of a Nation” played to a packed house. The Orpheum was in competition with the Grand Theater. In 1914, the two merged. The theater was sold to the McCarthy Brothers in 1921 and began showing movies on a regular basis. In 1925, the American Amusement Company took over the theater. The Orpheum Theater closed in the 1930s. It sat empty until Mike Orban’s shoe repair business moved into the lobby space. The building was used for retail space. The marquee was finally removed in 1952. It was torn down in 1960 and replaced by a parking lot.