My husband and I recently had the pleasure of visiting the historic Indiana Theatre during our short trip to Terre Haute, IN. The theatre is still fully functioning as a movie theatre and charges a mere $3 for admittance to the show. With a soda & popcorn deal for around $6 – you can have a really cheap date for only $12 (plus a free refill on the popcorn & soda)! They really need to raise their prices, because the building in itself is a main attraction worth paying admission to see!
The façade is beautiful, but the real beauty of this building overwhelms you once you step inside the front doors. Upon entering the front door you are compelled to look up at the 3 or 4 story high ceiling. The ornate carvings, paintings, and chandeliers instantly take you back in time to a place that was once graced by the wealthiest of patrons seeking extravagent entertainment and luxury. The lobby maintains your expectations of gradeur with carvings of naked ladies hanging from the ceilings, and a beautiful fountain gracing the grand stairs to the balcony.
Upon entering the actual theatre, you are overwhelmed by the grand size and have no trouble finding an excellent seat among the 1,600 offered. The acoustics are great, and perhaps a little too great considering the fact that you can hear others moving around in the squeaky old theatre seats- which the owners hope to raise funds to replace with more comfortable and less noisy seating. The ornate carvings are a little more subdued with dark paints inside the theatre so as not to distract from the actual movie- but are still intruiging and magnifent enough to keep you from watching the previews before the movie begins.
It is rumored that an organ guild is hoping to install a theate organ in the building for live performances that would mimic the old silent movies traditionally accompanied by theatre organists. However, it is also rumored that the building may be sold if there are not enough funds to support its preservation. The last building in downtown Terre Haute that underwent a failed preservation attempt was torn down (the Terre Haute House), and will be replaced by a newly built Hilton Garden Inn hotel.
The historic buildings of this area have had to rely heavily on governmental support, which has been insufficient, because there hasn’t been enough private donations to support the preservation and revitalization of these historic gems.
I suggest that anyone interested in seeing this theatre for yourself, call (812)232-8076 for the latest events and showtimes. I recently tried the website and found it to be inactive- though it could simply be undergoing an update. The phone number will produce the most up-to-date info.
My husband and I recently had the pleasure of visiting the historic Indiana Theatre during our short trip to Terre Haute, IN. The theatre is still fully functioning as a movie theatre and charges a mere $3 for admittance to the show. With a soda & popcorn deal for around $6 – you can have a really cheap date for only $12 (plus a free refill on the popcorn & soda)! They really need to raise their prices, because the building in itself is a main attraction worth paying admission to see!
The façade is beautiful, but the real beauty of this building overwhelms you once you step inside the front doors. Upon entering the front door you are compelled to look up at the 3 or 4 story high ceiling. The ornate carvings, paintings, and chandeliers instantly take you back in time to a place that was once graced by the wealthiest of patrons seeking extravagent entertainment and luxury. The lobby maintains your expectations of gradeur with carvings of naked ladies hanging from the ceilings, and a beautiful fountain gracing the grand stairs to the balcony.
Upon entering the actual theatre, you are overwhelmed by the grand size and have no trouble finding an excellent seat among the 1,600 offered. The acoustics are great, and perhaps a little too great considering the fact that you can hear others moving around in the squeaky old theatre seats- which the owners hope to raise funds to replace with more comfortable and less noisy seating. The ornate carvings are a little more subdued with dark paints inside the theatre so as not to distract from the actual movie- but are still intruiging and magnifent enough to keep you from watching the previews before the movie begins.
It is rumored that an organ guild is hoping to install a theate organ in the building for live performances that would mimic the old silent movies traditionally accompanied by theatre organists. However, it is also rumored that the building may be sold if there are not enough funds to support its preservation. The last building in downtown Terre Haute that underwent a failed preservation attempt was torn down (the Terre Haute House), and will be replaced by a newly built Hilton Garden Inn hotel.
The historic buildings of this area have had to rely heavily on governmental support, which has been insufficient, because there hasn’t been enough private donations to support the preservation and revitalization of these historic gems.
I suggest that anyone interested in seeing this theatre for yourself, call (812)232-8076 for the latest events and showtimes. I recently tried the website and found it to be inactive- though it could simply be undergoing an update. The phone number will produce the most up-to-date info.