[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12707]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      SIOUX FALLS ORPHEUM THEATER

 Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the Sioux 
Falls Orpheum Theater Center's 100th Anniversary. Opening their doors 
in 1913, The Orpheum Theater Center was built to serve the City of 
Sioux Falls as a venue for theatrical presentations. Over the past 100 
years, the Orpheum Theater has grown to become a cherished location for 
South Dakotans to enjoy quality entertainment.
  The Orpheum Theater was built for the Solari Brothers and opened on 
October 3, 1913, as a vaudeville house and seated 1,000 audience 
members. Tickets for the opening night were sold for $5 each and acts 
included features such as ``An Evening in Honolulu,'' two different 
comedy acts, and the Orpheum Concert Orchestra.
  In 1919, the theater was sold to a major theater management firm. It 
remained as a vaudeville house until 1927, when it was sold and became 
a second run and B movie theater. It was not until the Sioux Empire 
Community Playhouse purchased the building in 1954 that it was restored 
to its original theater space.
  The City of Sioux Falls purchased the Orpheum and neighboring 
buildings in 2002 and has since named the entire facility The Orpheum 
Theater Center.
  The Orpheum Theater Center has provided quality entertainment to many 
generations of South Dakotans. It attracts over 100,000 visitors each 
year with events that include plays, concerts, community events, and 
private events. Known for its superb acoustics, it is the oldest 
theater in Sioux Falls. In 1983, the Orpheum Theater was added to the 
National Register of Historic Places.
  I am honored to congratulate the Sioux Falls Orpheum Theater Center 
on their 100th Anniversary and wish them another 100 years of 
success.

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