Indiana Theatre (Terre Haute, Indiana) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Indiana Theatre
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
Indiana Theatre Event Center in Terre Haute, Indiana
|
|
 Location in Vigo County, Indiana
Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 683 Ohio St., Terre Haute, Indiana |
|---|---|
| Built | 1921 |
| Architect | John Eberson |
| Architectural style | Spanish Baroque, Atmospheric theater |
| MPS | Downtown Terre Haute MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 83004578 |
| Added to NRHP | November 13, 1997 |
The Indiana Theatre is a famous old theater in Terre Haute, Indiana, USA. It opened its doors on January 28, 1922. A local resident named T. W. Barhydt built it, and John Eberson designed it. Eberson was a well-known architect who later created the unique "atmospheric theater" style. This style made it feel like you were watching a movie outdoors under the stars! The Indiana Theatre was one of the first places where Eberson tried out these special design ideas. He even said he put his "very best efforts" into designing it.
Over the years, the theater has hosted many different kinds of events. These include old-fashioned variety shows called vaudeville, movies, live performances, and community parties. Famous entertainers like Frank Sinatra, Red Skelton, Lucille Ball, and the Marx Brothers performed here. The Indiana Theatre was also chosen for the world premiere of Disney's McFarland, USA in 2014.
Starting in May 2013, the theater went through a big restoration. This helped keep its history alive. Now, the Indiana Theatre is a modern event center with 1,600 seats. It can host many types of gatherings, including live shows, movies, weddings, and fundraisers.
Contents
Building the Indiana Theatre
The John Schumacher Company of Indianapolis built the Indiana Theatre. It cost $1,000,000 in 1922, which was a huge amount of money back then! Building it took over 18 months. Workers used 1,665,000 bricks and 283 tons of steel. All the fancy plaster work was done right there on site. The theater's lighting system was considered one of the most advanced in the country at the time.
The Indiana Theatre was first built for vaudeville shows and silent movies. Later, it was changed to show "talking movies" as vaudeville became less popular. The outside of the building originally had a giant peacock made of 3,000 lights. It lit up the corner of 7th and Ohio Street like nothing else!
Grand Opening Night
On January 27, 1922, important guests were invited to a special preview of the theater. T.W. Barhydt received telegrams from famous Hollywood stars like Rudolph Valentino and Gloria Swanson. The Indiana Theatre officially opened to the public the next day, on January 28, 1922.
Movie tickets cost 25 cents before 6 PM and 40 cents after. A special box seat was 50 cents, and kids under 12 could get in for just 10 cents! The theater staff dressed in Spanish costumes for the opening. Live peacocks even roamed around inside the theater! A 30-piece orchestra played music before the first silent movie, Cappy Ricks. The first talking movie was shown at the Indiana Theatre on March 13, 1929. The opening night also featured a fashion show, five Broadway vaudeville acts, and short films.
The Man Behind the Theatre
The person who started the Indiana Theatre was T.W. Barhydt. He was the main reason the theater was built. His family had a history with opera, theater, and vaudeville. Mr. Barhydt was a very important businessman in Terre Haute. He was connected to other famous places like the Terre Haute House Hotel and several other theaters.
John Eberson, the architect, also designed Mr. Barhydt's home and another theater called the Hippodrome. Mr. Barhydt built the Indiana Theatre as a special gift to Terre Haute. He wanted to show that the city was more than just a "One Street Town."
Theatre Design and Style
The Indiana Theatre was designed to feel like the warm, relaxed lifestyle of Andalusia in Spain. The ceilings have designs inspired by Moorish art, and the statues in the lobby are influenced by Southern Italy. The theater's design takes visitors on a journey through a "Lifecycle Of A Day."
- The Rotunda (a round hall) has light, bright colors that look like a vibrant sunrise.
- The Lobby Ballroom uses softer colors and images, like daytime. It has 38 statues and many faces on the ceiling, making the lobby feel full of life.
- The Auditorium represents the mystery of nightfall. It has deep red, blue, and brown colors. The original lighting system had 6,000 bulbs that scattered light across the ceiling. Special crystal covers made it look like a starry sky, fitting the "atmospheric" design.
The auditorium was built without a traditional balcony. This was meant to make it feel like an ancient Roman amphitheater built on a hillside. This design helped everyone have a better view. The lighting system was very advanced. Lights could be dimmed to create any color. The opening night program said the lighting made the outer lobbies feel like "Andalusian sunshine" and the main auditorium feel like "mystic twilight."
The Theatre Today
Today, the Indiana Theatre has been carefully restored. Much of the paint and plasterwork has been repaired. Some of the theater seats were removed to create a flat, open space in the auditorium. The orchestra pit was also covered. This new open space makes the auditorium more flexible. It can now have tables for events, seating 175 people on the terrace and 25 on the orchestra deck. The lobby can hold 200 people.
The theater has also been updated with modern technology. It now has digital projectors, a new sound system, and LED lighting. Future plans include new theater seats and more space for events and amenities.
See also
- Movie palaces
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Vigo County, Indiana
- Atmospheric theater
- John Eberson
