The interior of the theatre was featured in the 2004 reboot of Battlestar Galactica, where it is dressed to portray a heavenly opera house.

Designed by Scottish architect Marcus Priteca,[1] the theatre hosted its first shows on November 7, 1927 and officially opened as a vaudeville house the next day.

[4] Following the end of vaudeville's heyday in the early 1930s, the Orpheum became primarily a movie house under Famous Players ownership, although it would continue to host live events on occasion.

[3][13] Tony Heinsbergen, a U.S. designer who originally chose the color scheme for the interior (ivory, moss green, gold and burgundy) was brought back, fifty years later, for the renovation.

The City of Vancouver gave the developer permission for extra height and density on their site in return for a major expansion to the Orpheum, including a long desired back stage area.