Lerner Theatre
410 South Main Street,
Elkhart,
IN
46516
410 South Main Street,
Elkhart,
IN
46516
3 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 27 comments found
The installation of the kimball theater organ started this week! It is up and running, but needs final finishing which could take an additional 4 weeks. I’ve been watching for this since the 90’s and now here it is, finally!!!!
As mentioned on this site’s listing for the South Bend (Ind.) Granada theater, the architect for both theaters was K.M. Vitzhum, who also designed several buildings in Chicago, including a bank, and another building 24 stories tall.
Bryan, one correction to your excellent description at the top of this page: the 4 tall center columns and the frieze are Ionic, rather than Doric. The pilasters to each side are Renaissance Doric inspired. Not that this makes one whit of difference. Does this make me the architectural equivalent of one of the “grammer police?”
Here is a nice early view
Activating Sam’s link: lernertheater
The Lerner Theater had it’s grand re-opening in June. It’s expanded facility includes a new ball room, and larger lobby. It has had a complete restoration, and everything I have seen online and in local media shows a job nicely done. As far as I am aware, the only thing missing is the Lerner’s Kimball theater organ, which was sent for rebuilding, and was not expected to be ready for the main re-opening. I hope to post here when that happy event happens. It will make the Lerner one of a lucky group of theaters to have their original organ playing in it’s original setting. Makes you think of the glory days of the N.Y. Roxy, which had not one, but 3 Kimballs! The Lerner Theater website is : lernertheater.org. C-y'all l8r! ==Sam==
This article about the ongoing restoration work and the official website both indicate that this theater is again being referred to as the Lerner Theater: View link
trying to contact ms. kathy burns as john joseph burns is my great-grandfather on my father’s side – is this “aunt kathryn” or a different kathy I am unaware of – I’m just starting my research on J J Burns – I would greatly appreciate any info you could provide me –
Here are some 1982 photos:
Photo1
Photo2
Photo3
Photo4
Photo5
Photo6
A close-up photo is here.
Here is another recent photo of the Elco Theater.
This is a recent photo of the Elco Theater.
I think strongly that there is only one firm and that the name is Karl Martin Vitzthum. I have letterhead with his signature dated May 16,1927. K M Vitzthum & Co. Inc., K M Vitzthum Architect. At that time their office address was 307 N Michigan, Chicago, IL.(aka the Bell Building, built by them in 1923 for Herbert E Bell) In the upper left corner: K M Vitzthum, President and John Joseph Burns, Vice-Pres & Treasurer. They were partners from about 1923 to 1956 when J J Burns died.
I also have a copy of the 1918 WWI draft registration in Chicago of Karl Martin Vitzthum with his signature again
It is unfortunate that somewhere along the line, the name was misspelled and has been repeated. I have seen it misspelled in a number of articles and will try to contact them all.
Aside from skyscrapers, they built banks, churches (see St Peter’s in downtown Chicago), theaters, court houses, jails, and commercial buildings. Also before becoming partners, they both worked for 15 to 20 odd years for Eames and Young of St Louis.
The question that we have been trying to answer is, who was the architect of this theater. Was it K.V. Vitchum or was it K.M. Vitzthum? A number of websites have information on both of these names but most give the architects name for this theater as K.V. Vitchum. Do you know if your grandfather’s partner Karl Vitzthum designed this theater?
I believe that you have misspelled the architects name for the Lerner Theatre in Elkart, In. You have the name as Vitchum, K. V and it should be VITZTHUM. My grandfather was John J Burns, who later was a partner to Karl Vitzthum in Chicago. I have lately been doing research of my own about my grandfather and I have been researching his partner at the same time, since he was more well known. J J Burns was a silent partner for years, when he died in 1956, Vitzthum continued with another partner named Kill.
Probably the best know building by Vitzthum and Burns is 1 North LaSalle, which also has landmark status. It was built in Chicago, in 1930. They also built the county courthouse in Sheboygan, WI .which is on the National Register.
Here is one more source naming K.V. Vitchum as architect of the Lerner Theater. I found the following about Vitzthum & Burns, Although Vitzthum & Burns are not a well known name in Chicago architecture, they did design several important skyscrapers during the 1920s and 1930s. Typical of many of the buildings of this era, the Old Republic Building (Bell Building) is clad in terra cotta with classical ornamentation.
I don’t rule out anything. If Vitzthum & Burns did design the Lerner Theater, I can’t find another source to corroborate the information given in the link posted by Ken MC.
Well, the National Register has the name as Vitchum,K. V. and this link claims that the Lerner Theater was designed for vaudeville by K.V. Vitchum, a Chicago architect. Scroll down on that link to page 9 for the Elco Theater.
There is also a Chicago architect and firm of K.M. Vitzthum & Company (earlier Vitzthum & Burns), which I understood was responsible was the Lerner Theatre (it also mentions this firm in Kenmc’s article above).
Lost Memory; You are correct. K.V. Vitchum was an architect based in Chicago.
Shouldn’t the spelling of the architects name be K. V. Vitchum?
Here is an interesting site concerning the Elco:
http://tinyurl.com/3xyy5q
Here is a vintage photo of the Warner Theater.
Added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1980
Lerner Theatre (added 1980 – Building – #80000036)
Also known as Elco Theatre
410 S. Main St., Elkhart
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event
Architect, builder, or engineer: Vitchum,K. V., Lerner,Harry E.
Architectural Style: Beaux Arts
Area of Significance: Performing Arts, Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture
Period of Significance: 1900-1924
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Theater
A Kimball organ Size 2/8 was installed in the Lerner (Elco) Theater in 1924.
A photo of the Elco Theater can be seen here.