ABOUT THE ORPHEUM

The original Orpheum Theater opened in 1916 as Chatham’s first and only movie house.  From the early days of silent films through the blockbuster era of JAWS, our Main Street movie theater was a magical place for 72 years — a year-round destination where generations of Cape Cod families and summer visitors could enjoy gripping dramas, slapstick comedies, joyous musicals or swashbuckling adventure films week after week.  

In 1938, the building was purchased by Interstate Theaters Corporation and became known as the Chatham Theater.  Then in 1987, like so many village movie theaters on Cape Cod, it ceased operations, went dark, and eventually became a CVS pharmacy. The entire town mourned the loss of this iconic Main Street treasure, but the tradition was never forgotten.

The return of the Chatham Orpheum Theater began in November 2011, right after CVS vacated the historic theater building at 637 Main Street.  A local grass roots team was quickly formed and established a non-profit organization with an audacious goal:  To raise funds needed to buy the original Orpheum building and bring back movies to Main Street.

Led by founding president Naomi M. Turner and a local team of volunteers, the first $1.3 million was raised to purchase the building in April 2012.  The team then launched a more daunting challenge — raising the projected $4 million needed to restore and rehabilitate the 100-year-old wooden structure as a modern, first-class cinema that would feature first-run major motion pictures plus art house movies, independent productions, provocative documentaries, and the works of local filmmakers.