Vondee Theatre
109 E. 2nd Street,
Seymour,
IN
47274
109 E. 2nd Street,
Seymour,
IN
47274
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The Vondee Theatre opened its doors on July 15, 1936 with Robert Montgomery in “Trouble For Two” along with the Happy Harmonies cartoon “Bottles” and a Universal Newsreel.
During the mid-1960s, the theater business in Seymour struggled following the closure of the Majestic Theatre in July 1966. At the time, the Vondee Theatre was operating only during the winter months (which began doing that in 1959). People who want to see movies indoors during the summer must travel to neighboring Columbus. However, that all changed when the Vondee Theatre relaunched as an all-season indoor movie house on October 4, 1967 with “The Sound Of Music”.
Charles W. Hawn operated the Vondee for its entire life until the theater closed for the final time in early-1976.
Additional history on the Hustedt Building.
Per Richard Ferguson: The building indeed was the Hustedt Undertakers and Furniture Makers before it became the theater. Per Charlotte Sellers: The Hustedt building on East Second Street, one of Seymour’s oldest and best known business blocks, has been sold to V.J. Allegro; property goes through to Third Street. The building, remodeled in recent years, was last occupied by S.F. Tower undertaking establishment. — Seymour Daily Tribune, 16 Mar 1929. Seymour directory shows 1927: J.W. Hustedt undertaker, 109 E 2nd; C.E. Kysar, 315 N Walnut. 1931: G.C. Beatty pool & V.J. Allegro fruits, 109 E 2nd; Tower Funeral Home, 315 N Walnut 1940: Vondee at 109 E 2nd; Tower Funeral Home, 315 N Walnut 1930 and 1940 census schedules show Simon F. Tower, funeral home proprietor, at 315 N Walnut. Richard Ferguson: And the Victor Burkholder bought it from the Towers family. Thanks for all the info.
American Classic Images link with a 2008 photo.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Search/IN283?txtSearch=Seymour+Indiana
Demolition of former Vondee Theatre building, photo added credit Dean Weasner.
The New Vondee Theatre in the vintage photo uploaded by Eastwood was definitely at 109 E. Second Street. The adjacent buildings are still standing (though the theater building has been demolished) and are recognizable (especially the one to the left) in Google street views. My guess would be that the Vondee that opened in 1936 was the one on Second Street, and the Chestnut Street address is for an earlier theater of that name.
A house called the New Vondee Theatre had reopened under new management on May 31 following renovations, according to the July 8, 1974, issue of Boxoffice. However, the item gave the New Vondee’s address as 109 E. Second Street, Seymour. If that address is correct, and it needed renovation in 1974, then the theater must have moved from its Chestnut Street location some years previously, but I haven’t been able to discover when.
This opened on July 15th, 1936. Grand opening ad in photo section.