Colfax Theatre
213 W. Colfax Avenue,
South Bend,
IN
46601
213 W. Colfax Avenue,
South Bend,
IN
46601
2 people
favorited this theater
This theater was built as a vaudeville and movie house, opening on August 5, 1928, with 2,100 seats. It was one of the first theaters in the United States to be built for sound films. It was accoustically a great theater, but it was unfortunately demolished in 1994.
Contributed by
Phil Patnaude
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Recent comments (view all 16 comments)
Knute Rockne All American was released in October of 1940.
A Wurlitzer theater organ opus 1903 style BAL 2 was installed in the Colfax Theater on 6/30/1928. Status: Sold.
Here is an updated link for the photo posted on Oct 12, 2005.
1982 Photo
I saw “War and Peace” shown on two different nights at the Colfax theater… a marathon event. It literally had a cast of thousands.
There’s irony here. The Google Map picture topping this page shows the current South Bend Tribune building squatting on the site. The SBT demolished the lovely and historic Colfax Theatre, listed in the National Registry of Historic Places, to put up its brick hulk. Sic transit gloria mundi….. Sigh!
I’d like to know if anyone rescued the projection equipment that was moved into the lobby before the place was demolished. There was a very old special effects machine amonst the pieces. It had a color wheel, glass slide transport(for announcements and sing-alongs) and a cloud tank.
The WurliTzer from the Colfax was sold in 1963 to Gunther H. Hille of Canfeild Ohio.He installed it in his home, and played it until he passed away. His family then donated it to the American Organ Institute, of the University Of Oklahoma, Norman,Ok. More information is available on their website . There are some photos of the console and pipes included in the article. == Sam ==
State of Indiana photo uploaded here.
I grew up in Mishawaka/South Bend. I remember seeing “Earthquake” at the Colfax in 1974, probably shortly before it was closed for good. The movie was in “Sensurround” which meant that there were bass reflex speakers on the stage pounding out vibrating waves of sound which also loosened some plaster in the old theater’s ceiling! I remember thinking ‘Wow this is really realistic – I feel like the building is coming down!’
Though not quite the showplace that the Granada or State theaters were, I do remember the lobby of the Colfax as being quite cozy. I would love to see more pictures from the heyday if anyone has any.