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“Milwaukee's only operating movie palace”
The Oriental is Milwaukee's only operating movie palaces, certainly the most beautiful and ornate one that has shown movies for 84 years solid. When the Oriental opened on July 2, 1927, it featured 2 minaret towers, three marvleous stained glass chandeliers, 6 larger-than-life Buddhas, several hand drawn murals, 8 porcelain lions, dozens of original draperies, and hundreds of elephants. This is how the papers described the Oriental when it opened and this is how it could be described today! The Oriental Theatre was the crown jewel among the 45 theatres in the Saxe Brothers' chain. The motif is not what first comes to mind today as being 'oriental.' Designed by Gustave A. Dick and Alex Bauer, the themes of the decor are East Indian, with no traces of Chinese or Japanese artwork. Milwaukee's Oriental is said to be the only standard movie palace ever built to incorporate East Indian decor. Check out these stunning Facebook photos of the Oriental Theatre's luxurious surroundings, dazzled by mystical murals, lions, elephants and giant Buddhas! For more information about the architecture and ornamentation of the theatre, read James H. Rankin's web story "Our Oriental Treasure." Miraculously, the Oriental survived as a movie theatre until 1972, when local electricians the Pritchett Brothers purchased the theatre and graciously obliged the request of Parallax Theatres (now Landmark Theatres) to start running the Oriental in 1976. Landmark developed the programming strategy of repertory films; short runs of classic and cult double features, and the Oriental existed as a popular ‘calendar’ house for many years until video and cable TV again took away the customers. Landmark then switched programming strategies to foreign and specialty films and now is the largest "art" house circuit in the country. In the '70s and '80s, the Oriental was also known for live performances, and was the venue to see such acts as Iggy Pop, Laurie Anderson, INXS, Supertramp, Jay Leno, Blondie, Devo, REM, Tears for Fears and Milwaukee's own Bodeans, among others. The Pretenders lost their opening act one fateful day, so they invited three guys who happened to be regular performers on the sidewalk in front of the theatre to take their place. Such was the beginning of the Violent Femmes, whose Greatest Hits compilation pays homage to the Oriental. After live performances were discontinued, Landmark refocused the Oriental as solely a movie theatre. In 1988, the Oriental was painstakingly and successfully triplexed by adding 2 theatres underneath the balcony without touching any of the original artwork of the main auditorium. A one-of-a-kind vending stand was added, and the two new theatres were sensitively created by architects and artists to match original designs and colors of the theatre. The Oriental Theatre is the U.S. record holder for a current and continuing film engagement. The Rocky Horror Picture Show has played as a midnight film since January, 1978. Rocky Horror now shows every second Saturday of the month. The live shadow cast Sensual Daydreams proudly performs at each showing.
Incredible theatre for movies! I've been coming to the Oriental since the '80s, before it was divided up and now it's been restored to its original glory and it couldn't be better! The Milwaukee... Read more
This theatre is a great hidden gem within Milwaukee. Not only is it surrounded by amazing restaurants, it is in such a cute part of town with plenty surrounding activities. They have current... Read more
The theater has an interesting vibe - definitely not the normal mall movie theaters. Almost feels like a Broadway theater, but with a screen instead of a stage. But there is also a stage. I was... Read more
Oriental Theatre
Hours
- Sun - Sat: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
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Wheelchair Accessible
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Credit Cards Accepted
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