Roxy Theatre

The Roxy Theatre was a diminutive, Streamline Moderne style movie house opened in the sound era in Downtown Elkhart. The operators were trying to offer a lower cost, local option to the chain theaters of Elkhart. As Goshen’s Joe Czingey was preparing to open the new Roxy Theatre in 1934 at 507 South Main Street, he and his partner bought out the tiny 200-seat Ban-box Theatre on Second Street closing it October 16, 1934. He opened the Roxy Theatre on October 25, 1934. He tore out much of the Ban-Box to keep it out of competition. And they laid claim to having the only locally run movie house in town.

The opening show for the Roxy was “Dance, Girl, Dance” supported by Chapter 1 of the Tom Tyler serial, “The Phantom of the Air” along with two comedies. Pricing was 10 cents for matinees and 15 cents at night with kids getting in a five cents less. The cinema ran on a grind policy running continuously from 1pm to around just prior to midnight.

Cornell Baker and silent-era veteran showman Basil Coscarelly Pechorell took over operation of the Roxy Theatre operating it until April 21, 1938. They posted a “Closed for Repairs” sign while the building owner claimed that backrent of $135 was owed. Ultimately, the Roxy Theatre was successful enough to warrant being bought out by the Chicago-based chain operating the town’s other venues.

In May of 1938, the Elkhart Amusement Company aka Indiana-Illinois Theatre Company (aka Warner Bros.) took over the Roxy Theatre there now owning the Elco, Bucklen, and Orpheum. Their launch of the new streamlined State Theatre in August of 1940 was not good news for the Roxy Theatre. It lasted another five months closing February 2, 1941 with “Island of Lost Men” and “Hullabaloo.” The building was demolished and replaced with a single-story structure.

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