Arlington Theatre
1025 N. Arlington Avenue,
Indianapolis,
IN
46219
1025 N. Arlington Avenue,
Indianapolis,
IN
46219
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Grand opening ad posted.
According to Newspapers.com, which includes the Indianapolis Star, Return of the Jedi opened on May 25, 1983 at the Glendale, Lafayette Square, Greenwood, and Eastwood theaters. When it went into second run, it did play at the Arlington in December 1983 and January 1984.
No it didn’t. It opened at the Eastwood, Glendale 3 and 2 other locations west and south of town.
Moviemad, I have an incredibly vivid memory of seeing Return of the Jedi at The Arlington. I really can’t believe I’m mistaken. Especially since I live in the neighborhood.
Historic Indianapolis has an article on the theater.
Cinema5, Theatre Confections provided me with the advance money to bid on JEDI. The plan was to install 70mm projection (that was part of the bid offer) and replace the carpet.
I loved it too! We probably were there at the same time, indeed. I’m pretty sure I was there for Journey to the Center of the Earth. Mothra is also a likely bet. (Dang, I was crazy about big ol' rubber-beast-suit movies.)
I wonder if anyone has contacted Jeff, in the post above yours, Rib 51. Sounds fascinating! Perhaps he can post some items to the site. Shall you contact him or shall I? :–)
Galoux
Galoux, your post is very old, but we almost certainly were at the Arlington watching the same Saturday afternoon movies. I’ll add Mothra, Zotz, Three Stooges Meet Hercules, Rear Window, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and Giant to the list, to name just a few.
God I loved that place.
My name is Jeff and I just came across a whole bunch of info on the Arlington theatre at a local Dallas, Texas estate. 75 negatives, 30 black and white photos, blue prints and letterhead and other papers concerning the planning, construction, and opening night of this incredible theatre. If anyone is interested in these items, please coantact me at
Arlington was first a 1949 dump. The independent operator should have had to money to bid. Possible violation of state blind bidding laws may have been violated, um if not getting this one movie caused them to close then they should have not took it over. YOU BID FOR MOVIES AND WHY WOULD FOX WANT A DUMP TO SHOW THEIR FILM IN.
I should point out that the current owner of FOX was not the owner at the time of the original release of JEDI.
For history sake, JEDI played at 4 locations in Indy. The Eastwood, The Glendale 4 5 6 (aud. 5 was mono), and I believe Loews on the westside and GCC on the south side.
It is interesting that there were dozens of lawsuits over JEDI all over the country. It’s a story that hasn’t been told but an anti trust conspiracy was suspected between Fox and General Cinema Corporation where GCC theatres were awarded the movie in markets that didn’t show the movie with stereo sound (can you imagine seeing JEDI in mono sound?), where in the same markets there were theatres that played STAR WARS and EMPIRE with stereo sound, and some in 70mm. Made me wonder where George was then when he was complaining a few years ago about bad presentations in today’s theatres.
5, and
It was the Eastwood Theatre, operated by Y & W that put the end to Disney movies at the Arlington.
The historic lawsuit with 20th Century Fox in 1983 was actually for THE RETURN OF THE JEDI. The theatre was owned at the time by Theatre Confections, Inc out of New York state, which ran the theatre into the ground.
A major city like Indy should have a restored historical theatre!
It saddens me so that the Arlington closed. I haven’t lived in Indy in many years, but family remain there, and I do get back into the neighborhood sometimes. I frequented the Arlington as a child in the fifties and sixties, first living around 32nd and Arlington and later around Tenth and Graham. I watched Bambi there and criiiiiiiiiied. I watched who knows how many Disney films. I also remember watching my first scary movie there: the original of The Fly, burying my fave in my friend’s coat when the poor scientist bought it (both times, I think!). And I saw some of the old Price/Poe flicks and so forth there. I sure hope someone has and will post some pics. They just don’t make theatre architecture like that any more.
This is the second theatre that I have come across in my research that is now an Ace Hardware store. The other one is in Hartwell GA.
Some of my earliest movie memories are of the Arlington. I attended the theatre in ‘49 and '50 as a small child, seeing many Saturday matinee double features when the theatre was a brand-new and beautiful art deco showplace. It was an easy walk from my family’s home in the Windsor Village neighborhood. In the late 80s I searched out the theatre on a visit to Indy, and was somewhat shocked by the changes to the area and to the condition of the long-closed Arlington. Some times, I think you really shouldn’t try to find your childhood – but I keep trying.
The Grand Opening film was “You’re My Everything”.
The Arlington Theatre opened October 6th, 1949 and the architect was F & Y Building Services Theatre Division for the owners Capital City Theatre Corp.