The Indiana Theatre is a multiple use performing arts venue located at 140 W. Washington Street in

Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis ( ), colloquially known as Indy, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Indiana, most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana, Marion ...

. It was built as a

movie palace A movie palace (or picture palace in the United Kingdom) is a large, elaborately decorated movie theater built from the 1910s to the 1940s. The late 1920s saw the peak of the movie palace, with hundreds opening every year between 1925 and 1930. Wi ...

and ballroom in 1927 and today is the home of the

Indiana Repertory Theatre Indiana Repertory Theatre, frequently abbreviated IRT, is a professional regional theatre in Indianapolis, Indiana that began as a genuine repertory theatre with its casts performing in multiple shows at once. It has subsequently become a Regiona ...

. It was added to the

U.S. National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of sites, buildings, structures, districts, and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

in 1979. It is located in the

Washington Street-Monument Circle Historic District Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A m ...

Description

The building is six stories and is of concrete frame construction. The front of the building is sheathed in white

terra cotta Terracotta, also known as terra cotta or terra-cotta (; ; ), is a clay-based Vitrification#Ceramics, non-vitreous ceramicOED, "Terracotta""Terracotta" MFA Boston, "Cameo" database fired at relatively low temperatures. It is therefore a term used ...

. The main feature of the facade is the curving triangular arch with churrigueresque framing that fills the central bay above the marquee. The original marquee is still in place. The basement originally contained

bowling alley A bowling alley (also known as a bowling center, bowling lounge, bowling arena, or historically bowling club) is a facility where the sport of bowling is played. It can be a dedicated facility or part of another, such as a clubhouse or dwelling ...

s and billiard rooms. Upper floors were divided between office space and theater space. The interior included an entrance lobby, -story main lobby and a 3,200-seat auditorium. The auditorium was distinguished by elaborate plaster ornamentation based on

Spanish Baroque Spanish Baroque is a strand of Baroque architecture that evolved in Spain, its List of provinces of Spain, provinces, and former Spanish Empire, colonies. History The development of the style passed through three phases. Between 1680 and 1720, ...

motifs. The building is topped by the Indiana Roof Ballroom, a large atmospheric ballroom decorated to resemble a square surrounded by buildings with a stage at one end. The ballroom has an

elliptical dome An elliptical dome, or an ''oval dome'', is a dome whose bottom Cross section (geometry), cross-section takes the form of an ellipse. Technically, an ''ellipsoidal dome'' has a circular cross-section, so is not quite the same. While the cupola c ...

with sky effects. The theater is a major example of the American motion picture palace. ''Note:'' This includes and Accompanying photographs The building was restored and the auditorium was extensively remodeled in 1979–80 to accommodate the needs of the Indiana Repertory Theatre. Publix theatre Indiana Repertory Theatre

Publix theatre Indiana Repertory Theatre

References

External links

* * Information about Building -
Indiana Theatre from Indianapolis, a National Park Service ''Discover Our Shared Heritage'' Travel Itinerary
{{Historic Places in Indianapolis Movie palaces Cinemas and movie theaters in Indiana Former cinemas in the United States Historic American Buildings Survey in Indiana Individually listed contributing properties to historic districts on the National Register in Indiana Theatres on the National Register of Historic Places in Indiana Event venues established in 1927 Buildings and structures in Indianapolis National Register of Historic Places in Indianapolis 1927 establishments in Indiana

Description

See also

References

Further reading

External links