It's been a week since the Orpheum Theatre opened its doors to the public once again after a devastating flood and sewer backup last fall shuttered the business. Patrons have returned to enjoy the movies they've been waiting to watch on the big screen. Before you sit in your seat, you probably approach the concession first to grab popcorn and some drinks. That's where you would've met Kegan Littlefield, who carries a bit of legacy on his shoulders.
He's one of a long line of Littlefields who have made it a tradition to work at the famed local theatre.
"When my oldest brother finally was able to get a job, he decided to work at the Orpheum Theater. He was, I think, 14 at the time as well, ninth grade, I believe. And then my second eldest brother soon followed, Nathan. He was a year younger than Marshall, so he was [working here] near the same time. And then Jeremy, after him, had also applied for the theatre. He made it in as well. And then I came here in the last few days that Jeremy worked here, because he was moving at the time. He was moving out. And yeah, we just all wanted to work here. We all loved it here."
Kegan was 14 years old when he started working for the theatre. However, his fondest memories of the place came way before.
"I do remember watching Monsters University in here, which is the Monsters, Inc. sequel. I watched it with my kindergarten class. We were all up front and everything. It was just a great experience. That's probably the oldest movie I remember, but I do have one fond memory. It's more like a horrified thing. But when the basement was still not quite renovated yet, it was almost scary to go down there as a kid. I just remember always needing somebody to come with me, because I wasn't brave enough to go down there."
He confirmed that he's no longer scared of the Orpheum's basement.
"Jocelyn and Alan [Dougherty], they've always been so supportive of us. And they wanted us to succeed as a family. They treated me, my brothers and my entire family with so much respect. So, we had to give that back to the theatre as a sign of mutual respect."
The bond between the Littlefield lineage and Al and Jocelyn Dougherty, who own the Orpheum, has always been strong. Kegan shared that they're good people and that he's hoping for the theatre's success in the long run, especially after being closed for so long.
"I want to keep their business flowing as they've gone through a few hardships the last few months. We want to keep them going because we don't want to lose the theatre here, right? And a lot of people will back me up on that. Treating the owners with respect, treating the entire building with respect, even just coming in [and] buying some extra popcorn to go. Like, the experience of the building itself is an experience in itself, I should say."
Since its closure last fall, the Orpheum has gone through a lot of changes. The basement, where the washrooms are located, was rebuilt. The hallway was also given a new breath of life, as new artwork was installed. The Orpheum opened their doors to the public once again on May 30.