Artcraft Theatre facts for kids
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 Artcraft Theatre
Location in Indiana
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| Address | 57 N. Main St Franklin, Indiana United States |
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| Coordinates | 39°28′52″N 86°03′18″W / 39.481161°N 86.055017°W |
| Owner | Franklin Heritage, Inc. |
| Designation | National Register of Historic Places |
| Type | Movie theater |
| Seating type | Festival Seating |
| Capacity | 625 |
| Screens | 1 |
| Current use | Movie theater and concert venue |
| Construction | |
| Opened | November 1st, 1922 |
| Renovated | 1936, 1940, 1948-1952 |
| Closed | May, 2000 |
| Reopened | 2004 |
| Years active | 1922 - present |
| Architect | Roy C. Bryant |
| Structural engineer | Arsee Engineering |
The Historic Artcraft Theatre is a famous movie theater located in Franklin, Indiana, United States. This theater showed movies for 78 years without stopping. It was also the main office for the Syndicate Theatre's movie network from 1936 to 2000.
A group called Franklin Heritage Inc. saved the Artcraft Theatre from being torn down. Now, the theater shows classic movies and holds concerts. It is also a great example of an Art Deco style theater in Indiana.
Contents
History of the Artcraft Theatre
How the Artcraft Theatre Began
The Artcraft Theatre first opened its doors on November 1, 1922. It was the very first theater in Franklin built just for movies. The building was designed in the neo-classical style. It did not have a large sign (called a marquee) outside at first.
The theater was built across from the interurban railway station. This made it a perfect spot for vaudeville shows to visit. Vaudeville was a popular type of entertainment with different acts like comedy, music, and dance.
From 1922 to 1929, the Artcraft also showed silent movies. These movies had no sound, so musicians played music in the orchestra pit to go along with the film. Many local high schools and Franklin College used the Artcraft stage for plays and graduation ceremonies during the 1920s and 1930s.
Changes Over the Years
In 1928, the Rembusch family started leasing the Artcraft. They bought the theater in 1936. The Rembusch family added sound to the Artcraft on October 28, 1929. The first "talkie" (a movie with sound) shown was Fox's Follies of 1929.
In 1935, they added the first air-conditioning system in Franklin. It used a "swamp cooling system," which was an early way to cool buildings. During the Great Depression, many families went to cheap movies for fun and to feel normal. The Artcraft even had a lottery game called "Bank Nite," which continued into the 1950s.
In 1940, the Rembusches added a new marquee and a tall blade sign. They also put fancy walnut and agate-colored glass on the front of the building. LIFE Magazine chose Franklin for a photo story in 1940. They featured the town's Saturday night, and the Artcraft Theatre was part of the pictures.
World War II and Art Deco Renovation
During World War II, the Artcraft Theatre helped support the war effort. They collected scrap metal and held events to sell War Bonds. People who bought bonds sometimes got a free movie ticket.
From 1948 to 1953, the Artcraft got a big makeover in the Art Deco style. This style was very popular for movie theaters. The front of the building and the lobby were updated. Workers added neon lights, shiny mirror tiles, and made all the sharp corners rounded. The new marquee had a cool "waterfall-light" pattern.
The orchestra pit was filled in, and a new curved screen was put in place. These changes made the Artcraft focus more on showing movies and less on live events. The Artcraft was the only theater in Franklin that stayed open from the 1960s to 2000.
Closing and Reopening
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, new theaters with many screens (called multiplexes) started to appear. The owner, Michael Rembusch, decided he could not compete with these new theaters. He built a new multiplex in Franklin called Canary Creek Cinemas.
Rembusch then decided to close and sell the Artcraft. The last movie shown at the Artcraft was Gone with the Wind in May 2000. It had been open for 78 years.
A local businessman, Bob Schofield, bought the Artcraft. He hoped to bring young people back to downtown. He opened an ice cream shop and held concerts. In May 2001, part of the ceiling in the auditorium fell down. After repairs, the theater was used again for a short time. However, in August 2003, engineers said the building was unsafe due to electrical and structural problems. Bob Schofield agreed to sell the Artcraft to Franklin Heritage Inc.
Franklin Heritage, Inc. Restoration
Saving the Theatre
In 2001, a group called Franklin Heritage, Inc. (FHI) started renting the Artcraft. They wanted to raise money to fix up the theater. Their "Classic Film on a Classic Screen" project began on September 13, 2001. They showed the movie From Here to Eternity. This patriotic film was especially meaningful to people after the September 11 attacks that had just happened. FHI continued to show movies once a month.
Restoration Efforts
After buying the Artcraft, FHI started a big project to restore the theater to its beautiful Art Deco look. They raised $500,000 to renovate the building. In 2006, FHI received a special grant to help with the restoration. The Artcraft's restoration is part of FHI's larger effort to save other historic buildings in the area. The Artcraft celebrated its 100th birthday on November 1, 2022.
The Artcraft Today
Today, the Artcraft Theatre shows classic films that are at least 10 years old. The staff carefully chooses movies that are famous, well-made, or "cult-classics" that they think people should see. The Artcraft also works with local groups to bring great events to the area. This includes showing films from the Heartland International Film Festival.
Architecture
The Artcraft building has a full stage and an orchestra pit. These were originally designed for vaudeville shows. The theater was first built in the neoclassical style and did not have a marquee. Two original stage backdrops with a forest design are still kept backstage.
Trueman Rembusch bought the theater in 1936 and oversaw its first renovation that year. In 1948, it had a second major renovation. This changed its look to the Art Deco style, which was very common for American movie theaters.
Awards and News
- In 2015, the theater was named one of the "4 Favorite Restored Small-Town Cinemas" by Midwest Living magazine.
- Franklin was given the "Best Main Street in Indiana" award in 2019. The Artcraft Theatre's restoration helped bring new life to the downtown area.
Images for kids
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The newly added marquee in the 1940s.
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The auditorium of the Artcraft following the art deco renovation.
