Indiana Theatre (Indianapolis) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Indiana Theatre
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Front of the theater
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 Location in Indianapolis
Location in Indianapolis
Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 140 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, Indiana |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | Rubush and Hunter; William P. Jungclaus Company, Inc. |
| Architectural style | Spanish Baroque |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000035 |
| Added to NRHP | January 29, 1979 |
The Indiana Theatre is a super cool place in Indianapolis, Indiana. It's a big building where you can watch shows and plays. It was built way back in 1927. Back then, it was a fancy movie theater and a huge ballroom for dancing!
Today, it's the home of the Indiana Repertory Theatre. This is where amazing actors perform. This special building was added to a list of important historical places in the U.S. in 1979. It's part of the Washington Street-Monument Circle Historic District.
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Discovering the Indiana Theatre
This building is six stories tall. It's made of strong concrete. The front of the building shines with white terra cotta. Terra cotta is a special type of baked clay. It looks like fancy tiles.
The Amazing Outside Look
The most eye-catching part is the front. It has a big, curved arch above the main entrance. This arch has lots of fancy decorations. They are in a style called "churrigueresque."
The original sign, called a "marquee," is still there. It lights up the street.
Inside the Theatre
When the theater first opened, the basement had fun things. There were bowling alleys and rooms for billiards. The upper floors had offices and theater spaces.
The main entrance leads to a huge lobby. The main lobby is two and a half stories tall! The auditorium could seat 3,200 people. It had amazing plaster decorations. These designs were inspired by old Spanish buildings. This style is called Spanish Baroque.
The Indiana Roof Ballroom
The very top of the building holds the Indiana Roof Ballroom. This is a huge dance hall. It's designed to look like a town square. It has fake buildings around the edges. There's a stage at one end.
The ballroom also has a special ceiling. It's shaped like a dome. It's decorated to look like the sky! This makes it an "atmospheric ballroom." The Indiana Theatre is a great example of a grand movie palace from the past.
In 1979 and 1980, the building was fixed up. The auditorium was changed to fit the needs of the Indiana Repertory Theatre.
