Lyric Theater

I was the last manager of the Lyric. It was part of a group, Indianapolis Amusement, that included the Circle and Indiana theaters which still stand. When I arrived it was ahard ticket house. “Shoes of the Fisherman” and “Where eagles dare” we’re the last two films played there. It was a regal beauty. The basement still housed rehearsal areas and dressing rooms. Those rooms had the names of cities on the door but I never knew why. Any organ was long since gone.

I just saw that ad somewhere.

My great aunts were in vaudeville and played the Lyric during the week of Christmas, 1921. How sad that it has been long gone…

I’m happy to read that you enjoyed the photo. Some of these photo links don’t last very long. Not much information is given for the theater organ. The Marr & Colton organ was a size 4/15 and no status is given for it.

The year given for this photo is 1955. It replaces the photo in the Related Websites above.

Here is another vintage view of the Lyric Theater.

I am currently looking for someone to help with the cost of publishing The Complete History of the Lyric Theatre of Indianapolis.
My late Uncle Gene Gladson was a theatre historian in Indianapolis and the Lyric was his pet project, trying to save it plus gathering any and all information on it, along with every performance that ever took place there!
I also have the orginial book entitled “Indianapolis Theatres A – Z for sale.You can contact me at or go by the website at www.lyric-theatre.com and purchase it online.

The information the I submitted came from a book at the Indianapolis Library published in 1976 by Hilltop Press, Indianapolis, In. titles Indianapolis Theatre. There were five pages of history with architecual sketches.

The first Lyric was built on this site in 1906. It was located on the Northeast corner of the lot. It was just a room with folding chairs nailed in rows. Seating capacity for the first Lyric was around 200.
Construction of the second Lyric started in April, 1912, it was erected by Central Amusement Co. at a cost of $75,000.
The new building was of fireproof materials throughout and total seating capacity of 1400. The exterior was of concrete, brick and steel. The exterior finish was artistic brick with white terra cotta trim. The main entrance was located in the center of the building with a spacious lobby. The lobby was finished in marble and illuminated by large massive cluster lighting.
The building was designed by Herbert L. Bass Company, Halstead & Moore were the building contractors.
The elaborate furnishing in the auditoriuim was done by the German artist William Kock in 1912 and also the remodels that were done in 1927 and 1935.
The new Lyric opened on Monday evening October 14, 1912. The theatre then went through a remodel that started on April 20, 1919. A new lobby was built to the south of the theatre. It was a major remodel with only three walls left stanging. When the theatre reopened the new stage faced south whereby the old one faced west. It had its grand reopening on September 1, 1919.
In 1926 the Lyric went through another remodel at a cost of $185,000.00. The work included construction of a new four story building, a new main entrance, lobby and executive offices for Central Amusement Co. The pitch in the auditorium was changed and 300 more seats were added. At this time a new ventilated system and cooling plant was installed. A new projection booth and new master switchboard were installed also. The entire inside of the theatre was redecorated, with the lobby being done in Ivory and Gold. The lobby aand auditorium were wainscoted with Italian marble and the lobby was lined with French mirrors and six French crystal chandeliers.
With this remodel came the largest changeable marquee in the state which was 10 foot high 50 foot long and 16 foot deep. It could hold up to 440 letters.
On March 20, 1927 a new Marr-Colton pipe organ was dedicated with the organ being the largest in the state, the 4 manual organ cost $30,000.00
The theatre closed again on May 24, 1956 for the summer for a remodel and clean up and reopened on August 29, 1956 and it boasted as the finest theatre in Indiana. The opening film was “Oklahoma” which played for six months. The theatre had been equipped with two norelco 70-35 MM projectors.
The Lyric was also the first theatre in Indianapolis to be equipped with the Todd-AO sound and projection system. The new screen that was installed measured 50 foot by 25 foot on the curve. The feature “Sound of Music” held the record for the longest run for a motion picture at the Lyric. It opened on March 31, 1965 and ran through January 17, 1967.
Some Lyric notables: Frank Sinatra made his debut with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra on the Lyric stage on February 2, 1940. The first time Elvis Presley played Indianapolis was December 14, 1955 at the Lyric.