Behind the Scenes

I've always had an infatuation with the Indiana Theatre.  Last night, I went 'behind the scenes' after hours on a tour.  It fascinates me even more so now.


In 1920, Theodore W. Barhydt sold the Hippodrome Theatre(located at 727 Ohio Street) and founded the Indiana Theatre Corporation.   Mr. Barhydt was a prominent Terre Haute business man with ties to the Terre Haute House, Grand Opera House, Varieties Theatre, and the Hippodrome.  The Hippodrome still stands today.  It is now the home of the AASR.
The Hippodrome as it stands today.  It is the oldest remaining vaudeville theater in America.  It was built at the cost of $100,000
The John Schumacher Company of Indianapolis was the builder.  Cost of Construction was $1,000,000 in 1922 dollars.  That would be roughly $13,671,965.32 today.  Construction consisted of:
  • 1,665,000 bricks
  • 7,250 yards of excavation
  • 24.500 square feet of cement floor
  • 283 tons of steel
  • all fabrication and plaster work were prepared on site
  • a most modern lighting system in the nation
  • an enormous peacock on the original building facade consisting of 3,000 lights that "lit up the corner of 7th & Ohio like nothing seen before"
On January 27, 1922, a mere 18 months after breaking ground, the Indiana Theatre,  dignitaries were invited for a sneak peak.  The Theatre officially opened on January 28th, 1922.  Theatre staff dressed for the opening in authentic Spanish attire and live peacocks roamed around.  Tickets were sold for 25 cents before 6PM and 40 cents after.  Tickets to sit in one of the boxes was 50 cents, and children under 12 were admitted for 10 cents. A thirty piece orchestra , directed by Raymond B. Townsley, played on overture before the opening silent movie "Cappy Ricks".  (the first 'talking' movie wasn't played until March 13, 1929)  A fashion show with clothing from Siegel's department store was part of the activities, as were 5 acts of Broadway Vaudeville, short subjects and a prologue.

The design of the Indiana Theatre was created by John Eberson.   Mr. Eberson was the premier theater designer in the USA.  He was "The Man" for theatre design.  He pioneered the design concept of "atmospheric theater", which incorporates imagery and sensory elements to create a larger than life experience.  The Indiana Theatre was his first 'partial' atmospheric design.  It became the first prototype for one of the nation's most important architectural styles.  The Hippodrome is also a Eberson design, making Terre Haute the only place with 2 Eberson designs in existence.  

The Indiana Theatre was designed to emulate the warmth and carefree lifestyle of the Spanish Andalusia and the spirit of its people.  The ceiling styles were drawn from Moorish designs with the lobby figurines and other building features influenced by Southern Italy.  The design concept was to take visitors through the life cyle of a day, with vibrant daybreak, daytime warmth and the mystic nightfall.  

The rotunda colors and tile arrangement simulates the birth of morning to begin the life of a new day.

The colors of the rotunda.  

The lobby ballroom simulates the more subdued colors and imagery of daytime to transition visitors from morning to nightfall.

More red & Gold leading into the main ballroom lobby
Vibrant Fountain in the Lobby Ballroom
The Auditorium represents the mystic mystery of nightfall with the nation's most advanced lighting available in 1922.
Amazing lights behind the windows
The dark blue of the 'night sky'
Behind the scenes, you'll find an array of things most would never get to see.  The original stage, lighting panel, changing rooms, old doors, heating system, among other things.  I'm amazed.  I'm fascinated.  And thank you to the current owner, Rob Lundstrom, for the 'behind the scenes' tour and history lesson into what will hopefully always remain a landmark in Terre Haute for many generations to come.

Some more photos 'behind the scenes':

Chandelier in the 'ballroom'

One of the ceiling adornments 

the male ceiling adornment

Grand Organ will be here when it's finished

Check out all those switches!  Original Lighting Control Box. 


Excellent shape for the original floor 

if you were a 'grade B' actor this was your elevator to your dressing room.  

Musicians entrance to the 'orchestra pit'

Original Water Fountain

Wind Machine.  ok... basically... HUGE fan


Original heating system.  Picture a long hall way with 6 of these.  

More heating.  This one is a bit 'more modern'  and HUGE.  likely 6ft long

Stairway to the basement

Ladies only.  

Ceiling of the 'ladies room'

Long hall in front of of the Auditorium doorways

The Lobby Ballroom looking towards the entrance











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