Orpheum Theatre commemorates history Friday with showing of 'The Sender'

GALESBURG — At 7 p.m. Friday The Orpheum Theatre will commemorate a piece of its history by showing the movie “The Sender.”

Founded in 1916 as a vaudeville theatre, The Orpheum underwent numerous changes in management and purpose over the years, including a long stint as a movie theatre. By the 1980s the Orpheum was owned by the Kerasotes Theatres and was mostly being used to show movies that were not expected to be big box office releases. The building itself had fallen into disrepair, and the once proud “jewel of Galesburg” was on its last legs. The Kerasotes company could no longer justify the theatre’s operating costs, and so they decided to shut it down, scheduling “The Sender” as the last movie to ever be shown, on Nov. 18, 1982.

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At the time, the theatre was so near to being closed that they didn’t even have all the marquee letters required to advertise the show, displaying “The Zender” instead. According to one of the ushers who worked at the theatre in the '80s, the employees all prepared for a grand last goodbye, popping all of the popcorn and preparing for the community to turn out for one last show. As it happened, the community did not turn out to say goodbye to The Orpheum Theatre, only two people showed up. The ushers and workers all joined them, sharing the popcorn between them, and together they enjoyed what they believed was The Orpheum Theatre’s final movie. After the show, the theatre was locked up, and someone removed the ‘Z’ and the ‘ER’ from the marquee, leaving it with the simple message “The End.”

Fortunately for all of us, it was not the end for The Orpheum Theatre. The doors were not closed forever after the showing of “The Sender;” instead, the community rallied, raising nearly $100,000, applying for grants, receiving state money, and renovating the theatre. Now, The Orpheum is once again a pillar of art, performance, entertainment and community in Galesburg. This year, on the 40th anniversary of “The Sender,” we want to remember The Orpheum’s history, and celebrate the fact that after everything the theatre remained open, and is now thriving, and so we are bringing the movie “The Sender” back to The Orpheum screen.

“The Sender” is a psychological thriller about a disturbed telepath capable of transmitting nightmarish terrors through his dreams. Starring Kathryn Harrold as psychologist Gail Farmer, and Zeljko Ivanek as The Sender, this movie features chilling themes that will leave you terrified. Come join us at The Orpheum Theatre on November 18th at 7pm to commemorate what could have been out last movie.

Tickets for ‘The Sender’ are general admission and pay-what-you-can. This means that patrons can choose their own ticket price; 100% of the ticket sales benefit The Orpheum Theatre. When they become available, you can get your tickets by calling the Orpheum Theatre Box Office at (309) 342-2299 during office hours (10 a.m.-2 p.m., Tuesday through Friday) or online 24/7 at www.galesburgorpheum.org/tickets. The concession stand will be open and offering refreshments for purchase.

This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: Orpheum Theatre commemorates history Friday with showing of 'The Sender'