It served as the orchestra's home theater until the orchestra's financial demise in 1991. Under new ownership, the Orpheum became the home of the newly formed Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO), whose musicians prized the auditorium for its acoustical purity. The theater is an example of "vertical hall" construction, initially built to provide perfect sight lines and acoustics for vaudeville shows which didn't have the benefit of amplifiers or modern lighting.
It functioned as the orchestra's home theater until its financial collapse in 1991. Under new management, the Orpheum became the home of the newly established Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO), whose musicians valued the auditorium for its acoustical purity. The theater exemplifies "vertical hall" construction, originally designed to offer perfect sight lines and acoustics for vaudeville shows without amplifiers or modern lighting.