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| “Ben Hur” was shown at the Grand Opening of the theater in 1927. (3) |
Capacity 2500
When the Oriental opened on July 2, 1927, it featured 2 minaret towers, three marveleous stained glass chandeliers, 6 larger-than-life Buddhas, several hand drawn murals, 8 porcelain lions, dozens of original draperies, and hundreds of elephants. The motif is not what first comes to mind today as being 'oriental.' Designed by Gustave A. Dick and Alex Bauer, this $1.5 million escape from mundane cares offered the theatergoer an incredible, dreamy pastiche of Moorish, Byzantine and East Indian themes.”(1)
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| “This crowd lined up on Oct. 16, 1929 to see The Greene Murder Case, a well-reviewed mystery starring William Powell, Jean Arthur and Florence Eldridge |
The Oriental Theatre, located a mile north of downtown, a mile south of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and 5 blocks west of Lake Michigan, is at the heart of Milwaukee's alternative Eastside.
The lush sounds of the Kimball Theatre Pipe Organ introduces films, just like the good old days. This pipe organ is the largest of its kind in a theatre in America, and the third largest in the world.
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| Before a Friday or Saturday night show, there’s a unique sound coming from the main theatre. It’s the sounds of the Kimball Theatre Pipe Organ. An organ that is home to 95-year-old William Gans, better known as Bill. Bill is a very sweet man who has a passion for music, the organ and films. He’s practically been living in theatres his whole life, learning from his Mother who used to play the organ back when there were silent films. A lot of Milwaukee-area residents get to a show early just to hear Bill play the organ. They say, "It helps make The Oriental Theatre experience that much better."(2) |
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| Backstage lightboard Photo by Eric Oxendorf |
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| Photo by Eric Oxendorf |
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| Photo by Eric Oxendorf |
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| Photo by Eric Oxendorf |
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| Photo by Eric Oxendorf |
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| Photo by Eric Oxendorf |
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| Photo by Eric Oxendorf |
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| Photo by Eric Oxendorf |
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| The Oriental Theatre is the world record holder for a current and continuing film engagement. The Rocky Horror Picture Show has played as a midnight film since January, 1978. |
Jerry performed here on
4/19/75 Legion Of Mary
1.)^http://wiscohisto.tumblr.com/post/16028207623/oriental-theater-milwaukee-1929-this-crowd
2.)^O'Brien, Brianna, The Oriental Theatre: The Art of The Organ/Make Milwaukee, 2012-01-22, http://www.radiomilwaukee.org/initiatives/make-milwaukee/oriental-theatre-art-organmake-milwaukee-2012-week-2
3.)^Milwaukee Journal, 1927-06-29, pg 10
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