Exterior view of the Orpheum (circa March 2000) Photo courtesy of Ian GrundyThe Orpheum is one of the oldest Cinema Treasures in the country. Opened in 1852, the theater has hosted everything from vaudeville to symphony to movies and is now a rock concert venue. The original entrance was on Washington Street (just down the street from the old Paramount and RKO Keiths/Opera House), in the heart of Boston's downtown shopping district, but that entrance was turned into a retail store and patrons now must walk down a back alley to get in. The Orpheum was host to a now-famous U2 concert and has hosted innumerable acts over the years. It has remained one of the most popular concert venues in all of New England.