Sheldon Theatre

The Sheldon Theatre was downtown Sheldon’s movie theatre for more than 30 years. There were two iterations of the Sheldon Theatre. The first was the Sheldon Opera House run by Hummer & Warrick in a 19th Century structure. The 500-seat live venue was renamed by Hummer as the Sheldon Theatre which split live shows with early silent motion pictures. The Sheldon Theatre eventually closed and the townspeople had to travel seven miles into Indiana for motion pictures to the nearby Kentland Theatre.

Clayton E. Jones changed that when he launched the Family Theatre as a 275-seat silent motion picture house in 1927 on a 10-year leasing agreement. Jones converted the theatre to sound within two years and then purchased the building outright as the lease expired. He gave the theatre a streamlined makeover complete with Johns Mansville panelling to modernize the auditorium and lobby, chromium metal detail work, new Deco style interior lighting, and new illuminated signage. Working rest rooms were also said to be an innovation. It reopened as the Sheldon Theatre now with 250 seats on July 21, 1938.

During World War II, George Anderson purchased and operated the theatre from 1943 until his death in 1947. Under new operators, the Sheldon Theatre continued until 1955. After closing, Nort Johnson of Chicago gave the theatre a final upgrade with widescreen projection reopening it in 1957 operating it into the 1960’s. Apartments now stand on the site.

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