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 - $22.00
  • Student ID - $17.00
  • Group Sales of 10 or more - $17.00
  • VOTS Members - $17.00
  • Children Under 12 - FREE!

Ticket Outlets

*A facility fee of $3.00 per ticket is not included in the prices above
*Cash is no longer accepted at the theatre box office. Use any major credit card.

 

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.

 

Ron Rhode - Organist

Ron Rhode has been a major performer in the theatre pipe organ world for more than four decades. Since 1974 his concert career has taken him across the US from coast to coast, into Canada, England, and Australia. Ron is known for his “traditional” theatre organ style, playing music from the golden era of the “Unit Orchestra”, the 1920’s and 1930’s.

Growing up in Illinois, and moving to Phoenix in 1973, Ron played theatre organ for Organ Stop Pizza in Phoenix and Mesa for 21 years. He has continued a career in church music, which started at his Illinois home church, Port Byron Methodist Church, and is currently service musician at 1st United Methodist Church in Phoenix. In his non-musical life, Ron taught 2nd grade and Library Science for Mesa Public Schools, Mesa, AZ, until his retirement after 20 years. Since that time, he had been teaching 5th and 6th grade Class Piano for Arizona School for the Arts, Phoenix, AZ, and has since retired as of May 2019.

Another ongoing facet of Rhode’s life has been his legacy of recordings on many of the finest theatre organ installations to be found! He has received great reviews for both the technical production and the musical artistry.

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