Lido Theatre

J.B. Doolittle operated a meat market next door to this venue in a late-19th Century commercial block. In 1904, he opened the Little Doo Theater, a 350-seat family theater with orchestra soon operated by John B. Hubert and John A. Victor. Hubert and Victor programmed live acts and films and laid claim to creating Indianapolis' first movie theater. And while that can certainly be argued, there was no doubting the fact that this location was the first Indianapolis African American movie theater beating out other silent-era venues including but not limited to the Columbia Theater and its Airdrome, the Pioneer Theater (turned Hortense), the Crown Garden Theater (turned Washington) and the Indiana Theater.

The Johns - Hubert and Victor - would change the name of the venue to the Two Johns Theatre. Additionally, they created an Airdrome for the summer months called the Two Johns East End Moving Picture Airdome Show opening on May 22, 1913. Brisk business outstripped the 350-seat hardtop venue. In 1915, the commercial block was reimagined and arguably became the most important African American business block in World War I-era Indianapolis.

The new Two Johns Theater doubled in size to 800 seats and was housed in both 784 and 786 Indiana Avenue. It likely opened on a 20-year lease. Next to it was the Dr. J. Rhodes and Guy C. Hall who operated Rhodes-Hall Cut Price Pharmacy (formerly Johns Cut Price Drug Store followed by the singular Guy C. Hall Pharmacy, followed by J.R. Erganbright Pharmacy, followed by Frantz Drug Store… well you get the picture). Dr. Rhodes had an upper floor office and was one the few African American physicians in the area. His pharmacy installed a state-of-the-art Bishop-Babcock and Becker soda fountain that served as the de facto concession stand for the Two Johns Theater. A bakery, a fruit stand, and a barber rounded out the business block.

The Two Johns Theater converted to sound to remain viable and operated to the end of its lease despite the death of Hubert John in 1916. In 1935, the venue under new lessee James Williams is renamed as the Lido Theatre. That refresh includes an in-house concession stand. In 1936, it is updated to a more modern facility at its relaunch on May 24, 1936 with James Cagney in “Ceiling Zero”.

New manager Otis Bell refreshes the venue in 1941 reducing seat count with new seating to 500. The New Walker Theatre Company, operators of the New Walker Theater that replaced the older Walker/Union Theater venue in 1928, took over the Lido Theatre. The Walker Theatre, Park Theatre, Douglas Theatre and Lido Theatre served as the main African-American theaters.

During World War II, Larry Gaines operates the Lido Theatre. By 1947, the Lido Theatre is going so well that a new streamlined look designed by Burns and James prepares the theatre for its next post-War phase of operation. It receives new E7 Simplex projection but - as upgrade preparations are beginning - two high profile murders inside the theatre first take a patron and then an employee. The exterior refresh plans are dropped and the Lido Theatre operates as a 17 cent admission discount grind house likely operating to the 1955 expiry of lease and at least through 1955. In 1956, the venue is used by the Greater Southern Baptist Church as a house or worship.

The once-vibrant Indiana Avenue area fell into blight and the Urban Renewal plans in 1983 leading to the area’s demolition two years later. A comprehensive rebuilding plan announced in 1984 for the Pan American Games of 1987 doesn’t quite appear to have reached full fruition.

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