Columbia Theatre
310 S. Walnut Street,
Muncie,
IN
47305
310 S. Walnut Street,
Muncie,
IN
47305
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The Columbia Theatre opened September 1, 1913 on a 15-year lease. It had a Moller pipe organ that impressed audiences. It was closed on March 20, 1926. On January 7, 1927 it was reopened by Associated Theatres of Ohio. It was closed in December 1927. It got new owners on March 1, 1928 but closed in June 1928.
Just two months later, a dime store is ready to move in. The Moller organ got moved to the local Christian Science Church. In the 21st Century, the Muncie Children’s Museum was in the former Columbia Theatre Building.
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dallasmovietheaters
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August 31st, 1913 grand opening ad in the photo section.
2 images added, one with additional history.
On November 1, 1925, the Andrews Producing Company, owned by brothers C. Ray, Forrest and George Andrews, sold the Columbia, Star and Lyric theaters to Chicago-based Fitzpatrick-McElroy. The Star was remodeled and reopened on November 26, 1925, Thanksgiving Day. The Columbia operated weekends only, and even though the lease didn’t expire until December 31, 1926, Fitzpatrick-McElroy closed the Columbia on March 20, 1926.
Associated Theaters of Ohio signed an 18-month lease and reopened the Columbia on January 7, 1927. It’s likely that the Columbia closed again in December 1927 as there are no ads for the theater in 1928. Thomas C. Lacey, operating the Vaudelle theater located “just across the street,” inked a short-term lease with Silverman Brothers, Cleveland, and launched the New Columbia on March 1, 1928. It closed for good at the end of June. F&W Grand Company took over the space in July, remodeled it and opened a 5-10-25 cent store on October 31, 1928.