New Orpheum Theatre
Also known as: RKO Orpheum Theatre; Orpheum Theatre
Why it's listed
Opened on October 19, 1914, this downtown Champaign theatre combines an auditorium with three storefronts along N. Neil Street. The exterior is restrained Classical Revival work in brick with limestone trim and wooden Ionic columns between the upper windows. Inside, the auditorium is far more elaborate, with giant Corinthian columns, 17 loge boxes, a plaster dome and French Renaissance and Baroque ornament. Chicago architects Rapp and Rapp designed it, and it shows an early version of the French-inspired interiors they later used in their large movie palaces of the 1920s. The same plan served as the model for the Al Ringling Theatre in Baraboo, Wisconsin. The theatre presented vaudeville and later films, with only brief interruptions, until 1986. Rooms above the storefronts housed early Black vaudevillians. Aluminum sheathing added around 1967 damaged some exterior details but was removed in 1990, and the auditorium remains largely unaltered.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an early example of the French-inspired interiors that became the signature of Rapp and Rapp's later movie palaces. It also represents the local pattern of vaudeville and motion picture entertainment, which ran almost continuously from 1914 into the 1980s.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 91000085, listed February 28, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 346--352 N. Neil St., Champaign |
|---|---|
| County | Champaign County |
| Listed | February 28, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000085 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1914-1940 |
| Architect / builder | Rapp and Rapp, Architects |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival; French Renaissance |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant/not in use at the time of nomination; the theatre operated as a movie house until spring 1986, and aluminum sheathing added around 1967 was removed in July 1990. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.11949, -88.24260 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 91000085.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7103964
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.