Indiana+Theatre+History

=Indiana Theatre History=

The historic [|Indiana Theatre] located in downtown Terre Haute opened officially on January 28, 1922 at the cost of over $750,000.

The brainchild of renown theater architect, John Eberson, the theater is Spanish Baroque in style and seats approximately 1,670 people. John Eberson created an atmospheric theater where the purpose was to take the theater-goer away from their mundane life and whisk them away to an exotic locale. The Paramount Theater in Anderson is another of the dozen remaining atmospheric theaters designed by Eberson.

The Indiana Theatre was originally affiliated with Paramount Studios. The company's mascot was a peacock. At the top of the marquee, rose a peacock which was lit by over 3,000 bulbs. At the opening in 1922, peacocks intermingled with opening night attendees to further reinforce the connection.

Documents and photographs of the construction and notable events of the theater still adorn the lobby area.

Growing up in Terre Haute, I have many fond memories of going to the Indiana Theatre. - Saw my first live magic show there - Listening to the working fountain on the landing leading to the balcony would cause frequent trips to the ornate restrooms. Viewing the women's restroom was worth the price of admission with the velvet upholstered fainting couches and the elaborate stonework. - In college, going to the Indiana on a Friday night and participating in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (My roommate was president of the local fan club.). My husband and I were able to take our two teenagers there in 2004 to witness the last showing of the TRHPS at the Indiana prior to the owners restoring the auditorium. - According to a good friend who worked there in high school, they use to make all the popcorn on Tuesday night and box it up. Then they would sell it the rest of the week. It was not unusual to attend on a Sunday and for them not have any popcorn. - Apparently there were 7 underground levels under the building, though in the late 1970s, it was only safe to enter the top 4 levels. These levels housed the numerous dressing rooms and store rooms. - It is rumored that in 2002, when the employees were cleaning out one of the underground store rooms, a leather-bound cylindrical tube was found, still enclosed with its original wax seals. A call went out to a dealer in Chicago who chartered a private jet to Terre Haute and then brokered a deal for the contents. Selling what was in the tube garnered the owners more money than what they originally paid for the theater. What the employees found: uncirculated movie posters for "Gone With The Wind".

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Created by Bonnie McNair

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