I recall driving around this area immediately following the riots, but I don’t remember seeing the theater. It looks like it was demolished shortly thereafter.
Here is an item dated 12/20/56 from the Anderson Herald:
INDIANAPOLIS (UP) â€" The Esquire Theater Wednesday announced it will not show the controversial movie “Baby Doll”, the picture recently denounced by Francis Cardinal Spellman as “immoral.” The management of the theater said it has cancelled the movie, scheduled to open next Wednesday. No other bookings have been made here.
A spokesman for the theater said the cancellation resulted from a difference of opinion with Warner Bros., distributors of the film. He said the controversy was over “conditions under which the picture would playâ€.
Here is a 1983 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/d6ymkf
The function should be changed to restaurant, which it is, arguably, even if it serves bad fried chicken.
The UA is on the right in this 1962 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/c7evrz
The Inglewood can be seen on the right in this 1950 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/d2f3yb
Here is a 1975 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/dl774p
Here is a 1972 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/dl9yan
Here is a 1984 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/cplnee
Here is a 1984 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/cepmgk
Here is a 1944 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/cdvpsx
Here is another photo from the same date:
http://tinyurl.com/cztlm7
Here is a 1981 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/djkwz7
Here is a 1986 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/cdx6we
Here is a 1946 photo from Life magazine:
http://tinyurl.com/dcjn46
Here is a B&W marquee shot:
http://tinyurl.com/d52hfp
Here is an undated B&W photo:
http://tinyurl.com/cfalc7
Here is a 1936 photo:
http://sclee.library.ucla.edu/003/09/i0030901.jpg
This was the Ritz in 1983:
http://tinyurl.com/cg2bkg
Here is a 1982 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/cq9gdy
I took these photos today. Walking around inside, you get a feel for how immense this place is. There is certainly no sign of redevelopment, just the usual swap meet chaos.
http://tinyurl.com/dgj9xk
http://tinyurl.com/c4mzps
http://tinyurl.com/de29rc
http://tinyurl.com/c55wda
http://tinyurl.com/d88bt8
http://tinyurl.com/cxfhyw
http://tinyurl.com/d6ahjc
http://tinyurl.com/cz6trh
http://tinyurl.com/cehksz
http://tinyurl.com/c34vqy
http://tinyurl.com/cffkuh
Here are some photos taken today:
http://tinyurl.com/c695jq
http://tinyurl.com/cqp9ar
http://tinyurl.com/cpr98s
http://tinyurl.com/dl7kpn
http://tinyurl.com/cggwv2
The link didn’t work for me.
Here is a photo taken today:
http://tinyurl.com/c5wmnf
From the Library of Congress:
http://tinyurl.com/cswesr
I recall driving around this area immediately following the riots, but I don’t remember seeing the theater. It looks like it was demolished shortly thereafter.
Here is an item dated 12/20/56 from the Anderson Herald:
INDIANAPOLIS (UP) â€" The Esquire Theater Wednesday announced it will not show the controversial movie “Baby Doll”, the picture recently denounced by Francis Cardinal Spellman as “immoral.” The management of the theater said it has cancelled the movie, scheduled to open next Wednesday. No other bookings have been made here.
A spokesman for the theater said the cancellation resulted from a difference of opinion with Warner Bros., distributors of the film. He said the controversy was over “conditions under which the picture would playâ€.