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Also known as Indiana Theatre

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Buskirk-Chumley Theatre

Bloomington, IN

114 East Kirkwood Avenue

, Bloomington, IN 47408 United States

(map)

812.323.3022

Status:	Open
Screens:	Twin
Style:	Art Deco, Atmospheric, Spanish Renaissance

Function:	Live Performances, Movies
Seats:	640
Chain:	Independent

Architect:	Unknown
Firm:	Unknown

Located in the heart of downtown Bloomington, this theatre originally opened in 1922 as the Indiana Theatre, with an Atmospheric style interior that contained castle buildings on the side-walls. It was a vaudeville and movie house, built by Harry and Nova Vonderschmitt. In 1933, the Indiana Theatre was severely damaged by fire and was rebuilt in 1934 in an Art Deco style. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Vonderschmitt's family operated the theatre until 1975 when it was sold to Kerasotes Theatres. Kerasotes twinned the theatre by converting the balcony into a second theatre.

Kerasotes donated the theatre to the Bloomington Area Arts Council in 1995 for a performing arts center. It reopened in 1999 after a $3 million dollar renovation making it a state of the art performance center showcasing regional and national acts. Seating is now at 640.

Related Websites

Buskirk Chumley Theatre (Official)

Contributed by Chuck Van Bibber

YOUR COMMENTS

The lobby is truly elegant. As the theater was not open for performances during my recent visit, I could only surmise what the interior might offer. The performance schedule for April includes a dance group, a chamber concert, some classic films, folksingers, an original play, stand-up comics, and a talk by the wonderful Amy Goodman. Since the seating capacity is small, I gather that the stage must be small as well: how might it accommodate a dance group? The variety of uses from such a troup to Amy Goodman is broad indeed.

Around the corner on Bloomington's town square is the remnant of another theater building, call the Princess Theater building, now housing commercial businesses.

posted by BoxOfficeBill on Apr 11, 2005 at 11:15am

Photos and history of Buskirk-Chumley Theater can be seen here:
http://www.buskirkchumley.org/photoshistory.htm

posted by Lost Memory on Jun 4, 2005 at 7:33pm

There is some additional information about the Indiana on this page:
http://tinyurl.com/hg33v

posted by ken mc on May 22, 2006 at 2:57pm

This is a recent photo of the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.

posted by Lost Memory on Mar 19, 2007 at 1:47pm

Here is a night view of the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.

posted by Lost Memory on Aug 6, 2007 at 7:22pm

A more recent photo can be seen here.

posted by Lost Memory on Aug 29, 2007 at 11:48am

Buskirk-Chumley website should be added as a related websites link. This is a nice recent photo.

posted by Lost Memory on Nov 5, 2008 at 8:08am

Another photo is here.

posted by Lost Memory on Jan 23, 2009 at 5:10pm

Here is a 2009 photo.

posted by Lost Memory on Jan 30, 2009 at 9:28am

This is another 2009 photo.

posted by Lost Memory on Mar 9, 2009 at 6:31pm

1976 Photo

1981 Photo

1983 Photo

posted by Lost Memory on Apr 22, 2009 at 5:37pm

A May 2009 photo is here.

posted by Lost Memory on May 12, 2009 at 7:16pm

This is a nice recent photo.

posted by Lost Memory on Aug 12, 2009 at 4:39pm

Another nice photo from September 2009 is here.

posted by Lost Memory on Sep 25, 2009 at 9:55am

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