Overview

Exterior in 1922

The Indiana Theatre was the second of architect John Eberson’s three proto-Atmospheric theatres, all built prior to his self-proclaimed first Atmospheric theatre, the Majestic Theatre in Houston, Texas.

Following Eberson’s first proto-Atmospheric theatre, the Majestic Theatre in Dallas, Texas, at the Indiana Theatre we see a move towards Moorish styles, with false balconies added to the sidewalls and the organ grilles designed to look like backlit village windows.

Eberson would followup the Indiana Theatre with his third and final proto-Atmospheric theatre, the Orpheum Theatre in Wichita, Kansas.

The Indiana Theatre opened in late January 1922 with the silent movie Cappy Ricks (1921) , preceded by an overture played by the 30-piece Indiana Symphony Orchestra.

Auditorium in 1922, showing the projection booth in foreground at bottom-left of photo

As the original owner and Terre Haute resident Theodore W. Barhydt put it, the Indiana Theatre is “more than a theatre, more than a picture show, more than a great orchestral concert, more than a building of architectural beauty and comfort”, it was an experience all its own. As a guest enters and walks through the theatre, he is embraced by lighting and colors that emulate the lifecycle of the day created through patterns and colors inspired by seventeenth century Spanish Andalusia. In the rotunda the colors shift from light pastel in the Churrigueresque style plasterwork, to fierce reds and golds of a sunrise in the railing, leaving the remnants of dawn in the deep burgundies of the dome sky.

The Indiana Theatre was originally built for vaudeville and silent movies but was adapted for talkies as the popularity of vaudeville faded. The theatre was notable for having its projection booth originally located in the middle of the balcony, situated at the rear of the balcony cross aisle separating the Loge (front Balcony) from the main Balcony seating. The projection booth was flanked on both sides with private boxes.

Following the sale of the theatre to Rob Lundstrom in 2013 , restoration efforts commenced and saw the Indiana Theatre reborn as a 1,600 seat full service event center, capable of hosting a wide range of community gatherings that include live entertainment, performing arts, cinema, wedding events, and fundraisers.

In mid-August 2021 it was reported that  Terre Haute businessman Greg Gibson had purchased the theatre, including paying back property taxes owed. Gibson wanted to keep the theatre in the hands of someone in tune with the best interests of the community in mind.

Auditorium in the mid-2010s

In March 2023 it was announced  that Gibson would donate the theatre to Vigo County’s Capital Improvement Board  (CIB). Under the CIB’s leadership, KJB Theaters  would manage the daily operations of the theatre, an agreement established under Gibson’s ownership and which transferred directly to the CIB.

In December 2023, the Vigo County CIB unanimously voted that a feasibility study be carried-out on the theatre, working with Indianapolis-based architectural firm studioAXIS  headed by Terre Haute native Kevin Cooper.

In late July 2024, studioAXIS published their feasibility study which found that fully renovating the theatre would cost around $28 million. Their 25-page presentation is posted in the documents below.

In February 2025 it was reported  that the Vigo County CIB discussed two options for the theatre: (1) investing roughly $4 million in a bare-bones renovation; or (2) razing the building. Chris Switzer, the CIB’s president, said of the latter option “I don’t think anybody wants that”.

As of early 2025 the building is closed.

Information in part sourced from Cinema Treasures .