Ritz Theatre
52 S. Broadway,
Peru,
IN
46970
52 S. Broadway,
Peru,
IN
46970
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SethG is correct concerning the address. The correct address is 52 and 54 South Broadway. The most current use included three retail businesses on the ground floor and second floor apartments. At one time the second floor housed a hair salon. My brother, and most recent owner, converted the basement into a restaurant. Building is currently vacant.
That may well be my uncle. He worked here in 41.
The correct address for the theater would have been 52. 56 was the third storefront from the corner. Since this was not the theater at 64, I’ll add a listing for that one. This building likewise dates to sometime before 1883, and this theater must have opened later, since the 1920 map shows an ‘auto accessories’ store there. I assume some of the smaller theaters must have closed shortly after 1920, since you now have 4 theaters within two blocks on the 1920 map, and this would have made 5, for what was not all that big a town. The building is in pretty good shape, although it has an ugly shingle awning, and the corner entrance was done away with when it went back to retail use.
The address is 52 and 56 S. Broadway.
The building that housed the Ritz is located at the southwest corner of Third and Broadway. The building has been owned by my family over 100 years. It was not torn down and is original. The reference to CVS is one block north.
I’d like to suggest an address of 64 S Broadway for this one. That would have been on a corner with the alley. The building dated to before 1883, and was a saloon in 1906. On the 1912 map, it has become a theater. This whole half block is a vacant lot, and has been since at least 2008.
If the address is correct (which I doubt, since the Ritz is clearly on a corner in the photo), this whole block was demolished many years ago, to be replaced by a CVS and a parking lot. The 1920 map doesn’t show a theater on this block, and no later maps are available.
It took quite a bit of research but we have confirmed that Mr. Barrett was correct about the Smith Organ, which appears to have been relocated to a church after the theatre closed its doors a final time in 1954. The old news image of the Ritz circa 1934 confirms the location was the Broadway address and was at least in part the building where Kruetzer’s was located. However the building was rebuilt in 1954 and gained a very different facia than it’s old movie days. As for the “Loomis” fan found in the attic storage area of the old GC Murphy’s store if finally makes sense. Based on the photo, and architectural clews, the end building incorporated into the GM Murphy’s was once linked to the theatre and served as storage. Sadly now the Old GC Murphy’s location appears from recent images on Google to be a desperate disrepair.. and in need of restoration. Our hope is that someone will wake up and take on the project before it is too late to do so. The old Wallace Grand Staircase and other clues of the era of the Ritz still exist in the upper floors of the old building that has housed everything from a clothing store to a dime store, to a pizza parlor. it would be sad to lose that too. As for the actual theatre, the side walls, and back wall still stand and much of the upper front remains the same as it did when the Ritz was alive and well.
I remember working as a youth as a stocker for GC Murphy 5&10 next door to the Kruetzers Office Supply. Old Mr. Kruetzer advised me that a theatre had been in the building long ago when I asked about the back layout. None of the others ever mentioned it. Oddly enough on the fourth floor of the building right next to Kruetzers I found a fan that had “Loomis” on it. I was only 12 back then and unfortunately didn’t realize the history it carried. I doubt any of the artifacts of the old theatre are left inside now, but I think the front of what used to be Kruetzers is the same front that was the “Ritz” based on the photos I have seen. Unfortunately the Photo History seems to be lost. Perhaps the Miami County Museum Archives may have more information.
Was the Ritz ever known as the “Loomis” Theatre, or was there another “Loomis” Theatre building located either on this site (I don’t know the address), or elsewhere in Peru, Indiana? I have a listing for a Smith theatre pipe organ installed at such a theatre in 1921, but don’t have a page to put it. Thanks!
Also, is this Ritz’s building still standing? The buildings in the Google Map view look old enough, but I’m not sure. Thanks!