Luna Theatre
113 W. Fourth Street,
Marion,
IN
46952
113 W. Fourth Street,
Marion,
IN
46952
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Additional Info
Previous Names: Orpheum Theatre, Luna-Lite Theatre
Nearby Theaters
Opened around 1910 as the Orpheum Theatre. By 1916 it had been renamed Luna-Lite Theatre. In the 1920’s it was renamed Luna Theatre. It was demolished in 1952.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
I’ve found the Luna Lite Theatre mentioned in The Moving Picture World as early as 1916.
This PDF listing theaters that have operated in Indiana lists a total of 19 houses in Marion, and two of them are called the Orpheum. One is listed simply as the Orpheum Theater, and the other as the Orpheum Theater; Luna-Lite Theater.
I have found references to a New Orpheum Theatre operating at Marion as part of the Gus Sun circuit in 1910, and I have also found an Orpheum Theater at Marion operating in 1922. As the Luna-Lite was mentioned in The Moving Picture World in 1916, my guess would be that it was the old Gus Sun house, renamed.
One reference to the other Orpheum is on this page at BoxRec, listing a match between local boxer Vaughn Treber and Joe Lohman at the Orpheum on August 7, 1922. The only other reference I can find is on this page, which says that the Denishawn Dance Company appeared at the Orpheum in Marion, Indiana, on November 30, 1923. It’s possible that the second Orpheum never operated as a movie theater.
Google Street View is currently set to the wrong block. The Luna-Lite Theatre was on West Fourth Street, probably just past the alley behind the seven-story bank building at Fourth and Washington Streets. It was almost across the street from the Lyric Theatre, which was at 116-118 W. Fourth, about where the driveway of the modern building with the maroon awnings is now.
My mom met my dad at the Luna. Their 1st date. Thomas clemons and Normadean Kirby. 1942.
The Luna-Lite building was constructed sometime between 1887 and 1890, as a saloon and restaurant. It was a three story brick structure, originally only extending about 2/3 of the depth of the lot. Between 1896 and 1901, a two story brick extension was added to the rear. By 1905, the first floor was a ‘concert hall’ and the rear was used as a stage and scenery.
A final note: The 1952 Sanborn shows both this and the Lyric operating. The entire half block past the alley has become a parking lot.
It looks like the name was shortened to Luna at some point past 1920.