The Orpheum Theatre opened its doors on September 23, 1913 with three films: “Tabeas Wants Out”, “The Hostage”, and “A Woman In The Ultimate”, along with musical performances by Frisco’s Golden Voiced Singers supported by the 14-piece Bartola Orchestra. Crawfordsville resident and former Warsaw College student Ned Smith was the Orpheum’s original manager.
Information about the Orpheum as of 1913 goes as follows: In technicolor, the original lobby and entrance was painted in dark green with the floor woodwork in mahogany finish as well as terra cotta walls. The carpet is also the same color as the walls but with a deeper shade. Starting at the base of the wall, the coloring is tan which merged into a cream finally resulting in a yellow ceiling. The panel system only adds to the attractiveness and the terra cotta raised decorations of the French renaissance cast off the high light of green from the revertible indirect system of lighting. A marble sanitary fountain also appears in the lobby, with two side entrances to the foyer are placed beside it. From the foyer, the steps to the balcony start on the left side and wind in a graceful sweep to the region above. As for the lobby and foyers, the walls are shader from dark at the base to a lighter variety towards the ceiling. All the windows and doors are draped with silk portieres and blended in the same dark green scheme.
Inside the auditorium contains a symmetrical slope of the seating arrangement. There are nine seats in a row and the rows are 26 deep, with all seats being dipped in mahogany. The two aisles on either side are carpeted with green velvet with the floor in the seating block of cork carpet. The overhead lighting system contains one large and three smaller inverted arcs which cast a soft glow. Also on the side walls contains concealed fixtures. The stage and screen resembles good view although I cannot find the measurement of both of those ingredients. The projectors in the booth were shipped from New York to Lafayette at the then-cost of $400, and the 14-piece orchestra costed the entirety of $3,000, which contains the following instruments: Piano, organ, violin, trombone, flute, base drum, snare drum, orchestra chimes, xylophone, marembaphone, symbols, autohorn, thundersheet, and a tom-tom.
Actual opening date is February 4, 1906 with multiple vaudeville acts, including a comedy sketch called “A Crazy Messenger” starring early comedians Zanfretta and Mansfield, plus a musical performance by Ms. Lilly Tudor.
Closed as a movie theater on August 30, 1990 with “Die Hard 2”, and was last operated by United Artists, who operated the theater since UA began leasing the Lafayette from Fourth Avenue Theatres in 1970. The reason of closure is Goodrich Quality acquiring all UA theaters in the area.
Later operated by USA Cinemas, then Loews, and finally Sony Theatres before its original October 29, 1995 closure. It reopened independently on December 6, 1996 and closed on October 28, 2001.
The Main Theatre opened its doors on March 31, 1946 with Gregory Peck in “The Valley Of Decision” along with an unnamed cartoon and a newsreel. The theater originally housed 295 seats, and was short-lived. The Main Theatre closed around a few years later, and was converted into a store in 1951.
This opened in the Spring of 1949 featuring a 30x40ft screen. Unfortunately that August comes tragedy after 70 MPH winds blew down the screen which also scattered pieces.
Once operated by USA Cinemas before Loews took it over. Loews closed the theater with “Rising Sun” and “Cliffhanger” on September 19, 1993.
Closed on September 7, 1987 with “Can’t Buy Me Love” and “Outrageous Fortune”. USA Cinemas was its last operator.
Actual closing date as a movie theater is October 31, 1993 with “The Beverly Hillbillies”.
This opened as the Loews Vestal Town Square 9.
United Artists last operated the Mars Theatre before closing as a movie house on August 8, 1978 with “The Norseman”.
The Orpheum Theatre opened its doors on September 23, 1913 with three films: “Tabeas Wants Out”, “The Hostage”, and “A Woman In The Ultimate”, along with musical performances by Frisco’s Golden Voiced Singers supported by the 14-piece Bartola Orchestra. Crawfordsville resident and former Warsaw College student Ned Smith was the Orpheum’s original manager.
Information about the Orpheum as of 1913 goes as follows: In technicolor, the original lobby and entrance was painted in dark green with the floor woodwork in mahogany finish as well as terra cotta walls. The carpet is also the same color as the walls but with a deeper shade. Starting at the base of the wall, the coloring is tan which merged into a cream finally resulting in a yellow ceiling. The panel system only adds to the attractiveness and the terra cotta raised decorations of the French renaissance cast off the high light of green from the revertible indirect system of lighting. A marble sanitary fountain also appears in the lobby, with two side entrances to the foyer are placed beside it. From the foyer, the steps to the balcony start on the left side and wind in a graceful sweep to the region above. As for the lobby and foyers, the walls are shader from dark at the base to a lighter variety towards the ceiling. All the windows and doors are draped with silk portieres and blended in the same dark green scheme.
Inside the auditorium contains a symmetrical slope of the seating arrangement. There are nine seats in a row and the rows are 26 deep, with all seats being dipped in mahogany. The two aisles on either side are carpeted with green velvet with the floor in the seating block of cork carpet. The overhead lighting system contains one large and three smaller inverted arcs which cast a soft glow. Also on the side walls contains concealed fixtures. The stage and screen resembles good view although I cannot find the measurement of both of those ingredients. The projectors in the booth were shipped from New York to Lafayette at the then-cost of $400, and the 14-piece orchestra costed the entirety of $3,000, which contains the following instruments: Piano, organ, violin, trombone, flute, base drum, snare drum, orchestra chimes, xylophone, marembaphone, symbols, autohorn, thundersheet, and a tom-tom.
Destroyed by an early morning fire on April 10, 1914, costing an estimate $70,000 in damages.
Now permanently closed according to Google.
Opened on November 20, 1913 by manager H.H. Johnson. It opened with an unnamed three-reel film but the title was completely unlisted.
Actual opening date is February 4, 1906 with multiple vaudeville acts, including a comedy sketch called “A Crazy Messenger” starring early comedians Zanfretta and Mansfield, plus a musical performance by Ms. Lilly Tudor.
Opened as the New Star Theatre around April 26, 1914. It was still open in December 1927, but most likely closed around 1928.
Closed as a movie theater on August 30, 1990 with “Die Hard 2”, and was last operated by United Artists, who operated the theater since UA began leasing the Lafayette from Fourth Avenue Theatres in 1970. The reason of closure is Goodrich Quality acquiring all UA theaters in the area.
Later operated by USA Cinemas, then Loews, and finally Sony Theatres before its original October 29, 1995 closure. It reopened independently on December 6, 1996 and closed on October 28, 2001.
This was first opened by Loews, and was taken over by Sony Theatres, then Loews Cineplex, and finally AMC.
First operated by CinemaNational, later USA Cinemas, later Loews, later Sony Theatres, later Loews Cineplex, and finally independent.
The actual redecorating date is August 31, 1939.
After closure.
After closure.
The original Alhambra was renamed the Vogue Theatre in 1930.
The Main Theatre opened its doors on March 31, 1946 with Gregory Peck in “The Valley Of Decision” along with an unnamed cartoon and a newsreel. The theater originally housed 295 seats, and was short-lived. The Main Theatre closed around a few years later, and was converted into a store in 1951.
This actually opened on December 31, 2004 as a replacement of the nearby Ready 4 Theatre.
Last operated with four screens, last known as Ready 4 Theatre.
Probably a 60s shot.
This opened in the Spring of 1949 featuring a 30x40ft screen. Unfortunately that August comes tragedy after 70 MPH winds blew down the screen which also scattered pieces.
Opened with “McHale’s Navy” and “The Quick Gun” (unknown if extras added).