Classic Silent Films At The Orpheum Theatre

Travel back in time with your family and experience movie going as it was in the golden age of silent movies in Phoenix's only remaining movie palace, the beautiful Orpheum Theatre. Each Silent Sundays program features a family enjoyable silent film classic with live accompaniment provided by a world famous organist on the Orpheum's Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ.

Ticket Information

Over 1000 General Admission Seats Available

  • Adults - $20.00
  • Student ID - $15.00
  • Group Sales of 10 or more - $15.00
  • VOTS Members - $15.00
  • Children Under 12 - FREE!

Ticket Outlets

*A facility fee of $2.00 per ticket is not included in the prices above

 

Orpheum Theatre

OrpheumTheaterThe Phoenix Orpheum Theatre is the last remaining movie palace in Phoenix. It opened in 1929 as venue for vaudeville acts as part of the nationwide Orpheum Circuit. Its beautiful Spanish Revival style architecture and its atmospheric ceiling, complete with sunrises, sunsets, stars and moving clouds give patrons the impression that they are enjoying the show al fresco. The theatre was purchased by the City of Phoenix in 1984 and restored to its original elegance over a period of twelve years.

The theatre is the only theatre designated historic in the valley, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.

Orpheum Theatreorphmap
203 W. Adams
Phoenix, AZ  85003

 

Orpheum Wurlitzer Pipe Organ

OrpheumOrgan400px

Like most theatres of the day, the Orpheum originally had a pipe organ to provide the musical accompaniment to silent films but it had been removed and no funds had been allocated for a replacement as part of the theatre restoration.


The Valley of the Sun Chapter of the American Theatre Organ society raised the funds necessary to purchase and install the pipe organ now in the theatre. The organ has over 2000 pipes as well as various percussion instruments and sound effects. It has an appraised value of over $250,000. The Valley of the Sun Chapter owns and maintains the organ at its expense and makes it available to interested parties under an agreement with the City of Phoenix. Receipts from Silent Sundays are used in large part for the continued maintenance of this historical musical resource.

 

Brett Valliant - Organist

Brett Valliant

Brett Valliant is an American organist in demand for his ability to perform many different genres of music on the instrument he loves. Whether at an organ in a concert hall, a majestic church organ on Sunday morning, a mighty Wurlitzer in a theatre, or a Hammond B-3, Brett is right at home. Critics internationally have defined his performances as “exciting,” “refreshing”, “unorthodox”, and “astonishing.”

He plays annually for several film festivals including the International Film Festival hosted by the American Film Institute, and has been a featured performer at national conventions of the American Guild of Organists and the American Theatre Organ Society, which awarded him the prestigious Organist of the Year in 2021.  He has toured extensively as a solo artist, featured soloist with orchestras, and film accompanist abroad and throughout the United States.

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