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Orpheum Theatre Vaudeville Shows and Movies
This image is from a piece of film found in the Orpheum's projection booth.
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Will Rogers appeared in January 1915.
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Birth Of A Nation
February 7-12, 1916
The company arrived in a sixty-foot baggage car bringing their own oversize screen, projection booth, and twenty-piece symphony orchestra. The orchestra was too big for the pit and spilled into the front row. It took ten hours to set up a theatre.
D.W. Griffin introduced filmmaking innovations with this film.
Charles 'Chic' Sale
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The Marx Brothers appeared on stage in May 1918.
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Trixie Friganza appeared 2-4 February 1922.
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Harry Houdini appeared
27-29 September 1923
19-21 March 1925
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Bob Hope
2 December 1928
George Burns and
Gracie Allen played the Orpheum in February 1929
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Red Skelton played the Orpheum Saturday and Sunday, 14-15 November 1936.
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Gone With The Wind played at the Orpheum in a record-breaking run.
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Some of these images are from a Gone With The Wind souvenir program. Collection of Perry C. Morris.
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Marcella Clifford Martin, the daughter of Senator and Mrs. W.E.C. Clifford, West University Avenue, Champaign, played the part of Cathleen Calvert and was a stand-in for Vivian Leigh. Miss Martin attended Champaign grade schools, University High School, and the University of Illinois. She was discovered by a Selznick International casting director at the Shreveport Little Theatre.
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The Junior Service League Follies was a fundraising event with local talent
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The
Ben Hur
run
began
Thursday
6 October
1960
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The Love Bug played in
July 1969
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The marquee advertising Jaws in 1975
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