Arlington Theatre
1025 N. Arlington Avenue,
Indianapolis,
IN
46219
1025 N. Arlington Avenue,
Indianapolis,
IN
46219
1 person
favorited this theater
This 1949 Art Moderne style theater was opened by a independent operator in the Eastside neighborhood of Indianapolis. The opening night program on October 6, 1949 was “You’re My Everything” starring Dan Dailey. All seating was on a single floor.
In 1953, the theater was renovated with an extension out the back of theater for the installation of the Cinemascope screen and the sound upgrade to four-track magnetic. The theater became a showcase for Walt Disney movies until the early Seventies when another theater began outbidding the Arlington for the Disney movies.
Struggling, the owner leased out his concession stand to a nationally known food service company. Borrowing funds to keep the theater alive, the owner eventually gave up the theater to the concession company. The concession company ran the theater itself for a number of years before leasing to an independent operator 1982. The independent operated tried discount and sub run films. With the backing of the concession company, a bid was made for “The Empire Strikes Back”, the operator was hoping to salvage the theater.
When the operator lost the bid, and having found revelations that a possible violation of state blind bidding laws may have been violated, the operator filed suit against the film’s distributor. The suit was settled and the operator gave up, closing the theater in 1983. The theater never reopened and became an Ace hardware store.
Contributed by
Titusquire
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Recent comments (view all 20 comments)
It is interesting that there were dozens of lawsuits over JEDI all over the country. It’s a story that hasn’t been told but an anti trust conspiracy was suspected between Fox and General Cinema Corporation where GCC theatres were awarded the movie in markets that didn’t show the movie with stereo sound (can you imagine seeing JEDI in mono sound?), where in the same markets there were theatres that played STAR WARS and EMPIRE with stereo sound, and some in 70mm. Made me wonder where George was then when he was complaining a few years ago about bad presentations in today’s theatres.
5, and
For history sake, JEDI played at 4 locations in Indy. The Eastwood, The Glendale 4 5 6 (aud. 5 was mono), and I believe Loews on the westside and GCC on the south side.
I should point out that the current owner of FOX was not the owner at the time of the original release of JEDI.
Arlington was first a 1949 dump. The independent operator should have had to money to bid. Possible violation of state blind bidding laws may have been violated, um if not getting this one movie caused them to close then they should have not took it over. YOU BID FOR MOVIES AND WHY WOULD FOX WANT A DUMP TO SHOW THEIR FILM IN.
My name is Jeff and I just came across a whole bunch of info on the Arlington theatre at a local Dallas, Texas estate. 75 negatives, 30 black and white photos, blue prints and letterhead and other papers concerning the planning, construction, and opening night of this incredible theatre. If anyone is interested in these items, please coantact me at
Galoux, your post is very old, but we almost certainly were at the Arlington watching the same Saturday afternoon movies. I’ll add Mothra, Zotz, Three Stooges Meet Hercules, Rear Window, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and Giant to the list, to name just a few.
God I loved that place.
I loved it too! We probably were there at the same time, indeed. I’m pretty sure I was there for Journey to the Center of the Earth. Mothra is also a likely bet. (Dang, I was crazy about big ol' rubber-beast-suit movies.)
I wonder if anyone has contacted Jeff, in the post above yours, Rib 51. Sounds fascinating! Perhaps he can post some items to the site. Shall you contact him or shall I? :–)
Galoux
This was the Arlington in 1985.
Here is a 2009 photo. Function should be retail.
Cinema5, Theatre Confections provided me with the advance money to bid on JEDI. The plan was to install 70mm projection (that was part of the bid offer) and replace the carpet.