1955: Orpheum Theater, First & Broadway. When the Orpheum opened in September of 1922, it was the nation's first "atmospheric" theater, designed to evoke the feeling of enjoying a night under the stars in an Andalusian garden. In addition to movies, over 17,000 live acts performed to audiences here over the years. By the 1970s the theater was in danger of being lost as it fell into disuse and disrepair; it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and today has been revived as a popular venue for live performances, special film presentations and other events. The original elaborate marquee (advertising a re-release of the 1933 film King Kong in the above left photo) was scrapped; the replacement was created using vintage photos for reference.