The Crump Theatre facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Crump Theatre
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
Location	423 Third Street, Columbus, Indiana
Built	1889, 1941
Architect	Charles Franklin Sparrell, Alden Meranda
Architectural style	Romanesque Revival, Art Deco
Part of	Columbus Historic District (ID82000059)
Added to NRHP	December 10, 1982

The Crump Theatre is a historic building in downtown Columbus, Indiana. You can find it at 425 Third Street. It's part of the Columbus Historic District, which is a special area listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the Columbus Capital Foundation owns the theatre. It's sometimes used for fun events like concerts, comedy shows, and even investigations into spooky mysteries!

The Crump Theatre: A Look Back

The Crump Theatre first opened its doors in 1889. A man named John Smith Crump hired architect Charles Franklin Sparrell to add a theatre to a building that was already there. Later, in 1941, another architect named Alden Meranda updated the building. He gave it the cool, modern Art Deco style you see today.

How the Theatre Began (1871-1889)

Before it was a theatre, the building was known as Keith's Arcade. It was built in 1871 by a lawyer named Colonel John A. Keith. The building had a unique design with many arches, which is why it was called an "arcade."

For 18 years, Keith's Arcade was home to many different businesses. The local newspaper, The Republic, even started there in 1872! You could find restaurants, law offices, and clothing shops inside.

In 1889, John Smith Crump bought the building. He wanted to turn it into a grand theatre.

Crump's New Theatre Opens (1889-1920)

After buying the building, John Crump quickly started his plans. He hired Charles Sparrell to design the new theatre. They even visited another opera house in Madison, Indiana, for ideas.

Famous artists were brought in to decorate the theatre. Sosman & Landis Scene Painting Studio created amazing backdrops. Thomas G. Moses painted the main stage curtain. These artists were known as some of the best in the country!

The old Keith's Arcade building was also updated. The middle arch became the main entrance to the theatre. The words "Keith's Arcade" were replaced with "Crump's New Theatre." The Crump's New Theatre officially opened on October 30, 1889, with a performance by the Norcross Opera Company.

A Hit with the Community

The opening of Crump's New Theatre was a big deal for Columbus. It was the first theatre in town built specifically for traveling shows. The stage was large enough for the big, hand-painted scenes that popular touring groups used.

For about 30 years, the Crump Theatre was a popular spot for opera and Vaudeville shows. Even when "moving pictures" (movies) became popular around 1908, the Crump mostly stuck to live performances.

Updates and First Movies

In 1903, the theatre got a fresh new look. The inside was repainted with green, rose, and gold colors. A new stage curtain was also created.

The first movies were shown at the Crump Theatre on September 12, 1905. One movie was even filmed right in Columbus! It showed workers leaving the Reeves and Company factory and the fire department driving down Washington Street. By the late 1910s, movies became the main attraction at the Crump.

Big Changes in the 1920s

After John Crump passed away in 1920, his children decided to continue his vision. They started a huge renovation of the theatre. The front part of the building was completely rebuilt. What used to be two separate buildings became one large theatre.

The remodel added stronger supports for the balcony. A new area called a mezzanine was added on the second floor. The ticket booth was moved to the front center. New seats and carpeting were installed.

The theatre was closed for five months during this work. When it reopened on October 3, 1920, over 3,000 people came to see the changes! The Crump Theatre could now hold many more people.

More Updates in the 1930s

By 1929, a company called F. J. Rembusch Enterprises leased the Crump Theatre. They quickly installed new equipment to show movies with sound. The first "talking movies" were shown at the Crump on March 11, 1929.

In 1934, Truman Rembusch (Frank Rembusch's son) took over the lease. Another renovation began, focusing on the interior. A new, high-quality sound system and a new movie screen were installed. The seating was made more comfortable, and new carpeting was added in the lobby.

After the inside was finished, Truman Rembusch wanted to update the outside. In November 1934, they even held a contest to rename the theatre! Over a thousand names were suggested. The winning name was "Von Ritz," but many people felt it was wrong to change the founder's name. So, the name "Crump Theatre" stayed.

In 1935, a new, electric marquee was added to the front of the theatre. It had hundreds of lights that flashed on and off, making it very eye-catching.

The Modern Art Deco Look (1941-1942)

In late 1941, the Crump Theatre got its most famous makeover. Truman Rembusch wanted the Crump to look as modern as his other theatres in Columbus. He hired architect Alden Meranda, who had designed other Art Deco theatres.

Meranda added a sleek, new front to the building. The old marquee was replaced with a new, two-piece one. Tall letters spelling "Crump" were placed vertically, and a long horizontal marquee lit up with hundreds of bulbs.

Inside, the ticket booth was moved outside. The main lobby was made larger, and the restrooms were moved upstairs. They even installed cool new water fountains that turned on magically when you bent over!

The Crump Theatre's Journey (1942-2013)

After World War II, Columbus grew a lot, and the Crump Theatre became very popular. But by the late 1960s, its popularity started to fade. More shopping centers opened outside downtown, and new movie theaters with multiple screens appeared.

In 1979, a fire next door caused smoke damage to the Crump. Later, in 1987, there was talk of tearing the theatre down. But a man named Vernon Jewell bought it to save it. Then, in 1994, the Columbus Capital Foundation bought the theatre.

The building was in rough shape, with parts of the roof collapsed. A group called "Save The Crump" raised money to help fix it. They raised enough to put on a new roof and repair the heating system.

In 1997, the Crump Theatre stopped showing movies. It closed for more repairs, including a new roof.

Recent Events and Activities

Even though it stopped being a regular movie theatre, the Crump has hosted special events. In 2008, famous musician John Mellencamp held a concert there for a TV show. He had last played there in 1976!

Local musicians have also performed at the Crump, including New Year's Eve events. Other concerts have featured music by artists like Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. The theatre has also been used for plays, like "Arsenic and Old Lace (play)" in 2010.

The Crump Theatre has even been investigated by paranormal research groups! In 2006, they recorded strange sounds, known as Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVPs). It was later found that a mortuary (a place where bodies are prepared for burial) used to be next door and was later joined with the theatre. The EVPs were recorded in that area.

Today, the Crump Theatre is not regularly open, and its doors are locked.

Future Plans for the Crump Theatre

Over the years, many studies have been done to figure out how to keep the Crump Theatre going. In 2013, a company called Jones & Phillips Associates was hired to study the theatre's future.

In March 2014, they shared their findings. They pointed out that the theatre had some structural problems and needed to stay closed for safety. The Fire Chief agreed, saying it couldn't reopen.

Jones & Phillips offered several ideas for the theatre's future. These ideas ranged from remodeling it to hold about 300-350 people, to tearing it down and building a much larger theatre that could seat 1,000-1,200 people.

A special committee decided to try to get funding to remodel the theatre for about 350 people. They presented their ideas to the Columbus City Council, asking for about $10.8 million. The City Council asked for a detailed business plan.

In 2014, a plan was developed by Danielle McClelland, who runs another theatre in Bloomington, Indiana. This plan aimed to help guide the Crump Theatre's future.

On the Endangered List

In April 2019, the Crump Theatre was placed on Indiana Landmarks' "Top 10 Most Endangered List." This means it's considered a very important historic building that needs help to be saved. This listing brought a lot of attention to the theatre and renewed interest in its future. Many people see it as a key part of making downtown Columbus even better.