The Grand Theatre is part of a complex of historic buildings in

Salem, Oregon Salem ( ) is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County, Oregon, Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

that was originally owned by the fraternal organization

Independent Order of Odd Fellows The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) is a non-political and non-sectarian international fraternal order of Odd Fellowship. It was founded in 1819 by Thomas Wildey in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Evolving from the Order of Odd ...

, and listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

(NRHP) as the Chemeketa Lodge No. 1, Odd Fellows Buildings. The theater building is also known as the I.O.O.F. Temple. The Grand Theatre was built as a lodge hall and

opera house An opera house is a theatre building used for performances of opera. It usually includes a stage, an orchestra pit, audience seating, and backstage facilities for costumes and building sets. While some venues are constructed specifically for o ...

by the Oddfellows in 1900, and was designed by the architectural firm of Pugh & Gray. The Julius Grau Opera Company performed at the grand opening on November 29, 1900. An annex containing a hotel and bus terminal and designed by architect Morris Whitehouse was built in 1921. The two former I.O.O.F. buildings were added to the NRHP in 1988. The buildings currently hold retail businesses, offices, and a ballroom with other facilities that are rented for special events and even lends itself as a film and music venue.
Enlightened Theatrics
also performs several Broadway style live performances each year at the Grand Theatre. The Grand Theatre has main floor and balcony seating. Th
Film Daily Yearbook of 1947
listed the Grand Theatre having 744 seats. Over the years, the seating capacity has been reduced t
380 seats
There are 13 rows on the main floor with 268 seats and 5 rows in the balcony with 112 seats.

References

External links

Chemeketa Lodge No. 1, Oddfellows
from Salem Online History

history and images from Puget Sound Theatre Organ Society
Grand Ballroom
(official website of building owners)

* with detailed description and history of the buildings Theatres in Oregon Buildings and structures in Salem, Oregon Odd Fellows buildings in Oregon Culture of Salem, Oregon National Register of Historic Places in Salem, Oregon 1900 establishments in Oregon Theatres on the National Register of Historic Places in Oregon Historic district contributing properties in Oregon {{Oregon-NRHP-stub

See also

References

External links