Randsburg 1897
Randsburg 1897, Looking Northwest.
C. W. Tucker, Randsburg, CA studio stamp on verso. The Orpheus Theater appears to have been originally opened by Joe Petrich in 1897 and was under his management in 1898 when the two major fires swept Randsburg. Marcia Rittenhouse Wynn reports in her book Desert Bonanza that John Woodward built the Orpheum Theater after the two fires. However, the Bakersfield Californian in reporting the fire of May 9, 1898 stated that "...many thought that the fire would never get past the Orpheus Theater in an easterly direction, but it jumped over and was soon burning fiercely on the east side of it as on the west side of it." In addition, George McPherson shows on page 24 of his History of the Rand Mining District, published in 1899 that Joe Petrich was the proprietor of the Orpheum Theater. It is not known when Joe sold out to Louie Woodward. The author now believes that this establishment was called the "Orpheus" when Joe Petrich ran it and the "Orpheum" when Louie Woodward ran it. It is stated in Desert Bonanza that an oldtimer said that the Orpheum Theater was at its best in 1899, when each night a brass band was out front playing. Therefore it is quite possible that Louie took over in late 1899 after publication of Mr. McPherson's history.
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