Hayden Orpheum

I really like the Oprheum, I’ve done functions here, film festivals or just a simple movie night and I think it is one of the nicest theatres I have been too!
On top of brining very competent people, who are as polite and flexible as they are smiling and well-​dressed in a genuine theatre valet costume.
With big hits every year like the French Film Festival, the Scandinavian Film Festival, the Sydney Film Festival and much more, it gives you access to seventh art masterpieces from all over the world.
They also vintage movies nights with epic historical movies at super cheap prices!
The one cinema to try in Sydney!

The Orpheum is what a multiplex cinema should be. Showing not only the blockbusters, but also independent and local films on the smaller screens. As I discovered they show cult films every month, including a monthly screening of The Room. Yet despite this the cinema is still in business, showing people what they want and allowing people, like me, to catch up on films that were a couple of months old and had been missed when they were first released.
The cinema is a beautiful Art-​Deco classic style, with two refreshment bars, one by the ticket office and the other just up the stairs. There are at least 5 screens, all named instead of numbered. Each one giving you the classical cinema experience. The seats were comfortable, though nothing to write home about and they had sweet popcorn in a bucket, which is unusual for cinemas in Australia, at least in my experience.
The adverts before the film I saw were all for local businesses, which transported me back to the cinema of my childhood but also suited the nature of the film I saw. I wouldn’t like to assume this holds true for every screening.
I would recommend coming to this cinema if you are in a large group of people who all want to see different films. It is likely that the Orpheum will be able to cater for your groups differences, and as most, if not all, the films start within 15 minutes of each other, you wouldn’t have vastly differing screening times to juggle.
I loved it. I wish it was my local cinema.

Absolutely love this theatre, and that it’s just a 5 minute drive from my home. I’ve mainly attended for some of the film festival screenings, including the French Film Festival and the Sydney Film Festival this year, plus bigger blockbusters such as the latest Mad Max and one of The Hobbit films.
The highlight however was just a few weekends, when I settled in for the afternoon for Lawrence of Arabia as part of David Stratton’s Great Britain Retro Film Festival — 4 ½ hours once you included a few ads, the playing of the overture and an intermission. (It would have been nice to know, however, how long the intermission was going for.)
The best part of this complex is the outstandingly restored art deco decoration — both in the theatres and in the foyers and corridors. It elevates a cinema going experience to something akin to the night at the opera. Naturally, all of the theatres are also licensed, so take in a (plastic) glass of wine.
I’ve had trouble finding a park nearby a few times (such as on a Saturday night), but it’s usually quite easy. Definitely recommended for all film going lovers!

The cinema that ruins every other cinema experience for ever more.
Quite simply the finest, classiest, most demure, seductive, charming and good old-​fashioned fun cinema experience in Sydney and quite possibly the universe. Every time you visit a soulless megaplex after your time at Hayden Orpheum it will be a singularly disappointing experience bereft of any aesthetics or cultural value because really, how can anything compare?
The cinemas are stunning art deco, they sell old-​school choc tops, there’s a solid program of the latest blockbusters and art house /​doco fare, and they have insanely fun cult classics like a monthly interactive showing of the word movie ever made, The Room. There are love seats in the main cinema, and a freaking organ that rises up out of the floor for matinée performances. I know right! What what all the way. Best.

SPOONS!
What’s better than seeing a film at this Art Deco little wonder of a cinema? Seeing an interactive film. Especially if that film is The Room. Seriously. You have to see it. It’s on every month. BECAUSE YOU’RE A WOMAN!
It goes without saying the Orpheum is an institution and any cinema where you can lounge around in the foyer and drink wine is alright by me. I drive past this place every week but don’t go here nearly enough.
The choc-​tops have a smarty on top. It may be some kind of symbolism.
YOU’RE TEARING ME APART, LISA!

There are hella art deco boobs all over this place. Beyond the awesome architecture, the Orpheum has great double features during their ‘I Love Retro’ nights in addition to showing the latest releases. It’s a great antidote to those crummy cineplexes that don’t really care much about what garbage they show on their screens.

The best place in the world. My happy place. Wonderfully restored art deco cinema with a constant supply of scarf wearing toffs bickering over the price of premium quality tuna for their pussy cats.

Being an eastern suburbs dweller, I’ve only been to the Orpheum on a couple of occassions. Each time I’ve sworn to journey over there more often (it’s not even that far FFS). The Orpheum has kept it’s gorgeous original deco interiors and exteriors intact, and the last time I visited (John Cleese triple bill including the Life Of Brian on Easter Sunday– kudos Orpheum!), there was a vintage pianist playing the grand piano in the lobby. I would love to see a silent movie thing here and I would bet money that they do them, it’s that kind of place.
Check out retro cinema Sundays– awesome and affordable triple bills that people dress up for. Old school wholesome entertainment, I love it.

This is without a doubt the best cinema in Sydney.
It is independent and thus has reasonable prices, but the art deco design of the theatre is impeccable.
Throughout the year the cinema also holds special events such as movie marathons and special guests. For example recently David and Margret from the ABC’s «At The Movies» sat down on the main stage to talk about 25 years together and then introduce a new release movie.

This cinema is so art deco ornate that I just want to submerge it under the sea and play Bioshock cosplay all day long. Clank clank clank. For everyone else who does not play video games or seem to be suffering from a partial concussion, maybe this will make more sense: this cinema is so gorgeous that it almost seems a shame that Twilight: Breaking Dawn, Part 1 (I always rep the correct titles) and I Don’t Know How She Does It are playing. Avert your eyes, lest Sarah Jessica Parker sully them! I’m all for the multiplex, I love them, to be honest. But this is something a little different and definitely special.
A lot of girls on the North Shore will know this cinema as where they saw Breakfast At Tiffany’s on Valentine’s Day. When working nearby this year, it fell to the lazy boyfriends of the day to discuss last minute plans and this was high on the roster of options. Rest assured, this tradition is set to return once more, so do not fret LZ-​BFs, here’s a solid choice wrapped up in a beautiful cinema. The neon outside is right: a picture palace it is.

If you’re into underground, alternative or just non-​Hollywood Cinema, then I doubt that I need to sing the praises of the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace to you. Known all over Sydney as The Orpheum, this is THE cinema for anything that doesn’t star Katherine Heigl/​Kate Hudson/​Matt Damon. It sometimes offers the more mainstream films, but as a rule shows the edgier and more interesting cinematic offerings. I’ve seen many a French film there, and if you’re after the Swedish version of the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, or any foreign-​language film, The Orpheum is your best bet. Be careful, though — they are sometimes not subtitled, so make sure of your fluency before you commit to seeing it. The best thing about the Orpheum, however, is the grand piano in the biggest theatre — a throwback to the olden days, perhaps?
Located on the perennially-​busy Military Road, The Orpheum can be hard to find a park at. But there’s a heap of buses headed both north and south that solve that particular problem. I do like driving past though, or zipping by on the bus if only to admire the nostalgic board displaying film times above the front door. No smart phone necessary for that one!

I have a very special place in my heart for the Orpheum as called by the locals, and yet I was never a local. I love the Art Deco architecture, and how they’ve followed through with the theme to the neon lights, and cinema lettering.
This cinema houses real red velvet drapes, personal service to your seat, a built in musical organ, and professional organist. The cinema runs some great mums and bubs events during the day, and is very close to great café’s and restaurants.
The service is wholesome and friendly, justified by the traditional that bellows from this cinema. It’s history is not just a draw card, but sometimes even a smell, or erie feeling you get walking in.
If you appreciate architecture, and cinema history, then this is definitely an education that you cannot miss out on.

I’ve attended many films at the Hayden Orpheum, it’s one of the last of the Art Deco cinemas. I say Art Deco without any professional or educational knowledge. I’ve never studied the art deco movement nor entirely understand it, but something in my gut tells me that the Orpheum is Deco.
It’s a grand old cinema with a rich history, playing both mainstream films and smaller independent titles. They host events and even get in the National Theatre live broadcasts, which are always interesting and a different way to experience something so few get to.
I most recently came to the theatre for a special event; food and beverages culminating in a screening of Get Low, a hilariously dry film involving the genius of Bill Murray.
The Hayden Orpheum, even though it’s simply a movie cinema complex for both families and individuals alike, because of it’s age and heritage feels as though it’s a proper night out and one wouldn’t look out of place in a tuxedo or with pearls. Or with a pearl tuxedo.

You kind of get the feeling when you walk into the Orpheum that the people who own and run this place care more about cinema than profits… now don’t get me wrong, it’s a stunning cinema… that just has a lot more heart and soul then some of the other places you see a movie…
So what makes it so special? The retro décor? The old school Wurlitzer organ (you’ll know it when you hear it) or the flush red curtains and carpets?
i think its all of the above but mainly I think its the passion… you just feel a sense of love that you don’t get in many other cinemas… they sometime have special screenings with the filmmakers and I’ve been lucky enough to have seen Quentin Tarantino and Peter Weir speak — simply amazing.
If you appreciate cinema for all that it is, I really recommend you head to the Hayden Orpheum.

A trip to Hayden Orpheum may leave you a loyalist for life, abandoning the likes of Hoyts and Greater Union for the history and grandeur of this 1930s ‘movie palace’.
Built in 1935 Hayden Orpheum was once a proper theatre built for live performance or film. You may feel as if you have stepped back in time as you meander through the former ballroom (The Lounge) or sit in the old dress circle (The Orpheum) which is home to a grand old organ. Of course these days you can catch the latest release films here (adult $ 18,50) but the whole is experience is more akin to going to the theatre which makes it a totally unique experience. As a throwback to the history of Hayden Orpheum concerts are still held here as special events, such as Q&A sessions with best selling authors. Overall a totally romantic, enchanting experience that takes ‘catching a movie’ to another world.

I adore the Orpheum. It’s not just because they favour independent movies. So many wonderful, rich, emotional films that I can’t choose which to see first. I often sneak here during the day to peel the crinkly wrapping off a choc-​top and drape myself in another world. The movie go-​ers here are altogether more civilised. They are well versed in cinematic etiquette. No chatting once the ads are over. No excessive crinkly of sweeties. No slurping of drinks. It’s lovely.
The theatre itself is beautifully restored and the seating in the cinemas is generous and comfortable. The smaller screens are delightfully intimate with beautiful sculptures on the walls and not a whiff of old cinema must. The largest theatre is grand and befitting of the Premieres which it often houses. I’ve been ‘treated’ to Neil Jensen on the Wurlizter on a few occasions and boy is that a flash to a bygone era — anything more than a few minutes of the macabre shrieking of his organ though and you might want to flash forward again.
I saw one of my favourite films of all time here ‘As It Is In Heaven’, which ended up being the longest running film in Australian history at more than 100 weeks! Row upon row of weeping men and women, young and old, who stood to applaud at the end of the screening. I will never forget it.
Cheap Tuesdays and Movie Luncheons where you can watch a film accompanied by a light lunch and tea and coffee for $ 13! LOVE, LOVE this unique treasure. Long may it be supported by its loyal community.

It seems one could write a biography on this place it’s had so many patrons through its door and incarnations through the years. Opened in 1935 it would stage live theatre and musicals for a packed out auditorium and at one point boasted that it was Sydney’s only suburban movie theatre. Refurbished as a gym and shopping centre (of course) it was nearly lost, but in 1986 Mike Walsh OBE began buying it back and transforming what was left into screens. It’s now got 6 screens which sport names inspired by cinemas from the Golden Age like ‘The Arcadia’ and ‘The Rex.‘
What did I think of it? Well, joining the queue for a film on a wet Sunday afternoon it could easily have been mistaken for the queue for a hip replacement. So perhaps this place isn’t the height of trendy, but I liked its old school theatre feel with thick red carpets, signed photos of stars and the odd Art Deco decoration. Even if all I’d done was sit on my arse and eat ice-​cream that afternoon, I left the warmth of The Orpheum with the smug feeling of having indulged in some culture and sophistication. Highly recommended if you’re becoming a bit disillusioned by sticky floors and booming blockbusters.

Gorgeous. This art deco theatre is lush, and a joy just to be in. There’s lots of red velvet and ornate wall decorations. Everything’s soft and dark, just like cinemas when I was a kid. Uniformed ushers take your tickets. You can buy a bottle of wine to share during the film.
A lot of the theatre is from a 1987 restoration, but they’ve certainly kept the feel of the 1935 original build. It’s not a tacky homage to a grand age of cinema, it’s a proper immersion in it. A great cinema.

Das überwältigendste Kino, das ich kenne, bietet ein unglaubliches Spektakel der Neonlichter. Derartige Art Deco Juwele wird man in Europa kaum noch finden, das Programm wird hier fast zur Nebensache