Thanks! Greenwood is so tiny I think the map was only 2-3 sheets, and this was the only theater operating in 1916. I assume that any remodel of the front was restricted to the ground floor.
The building was constructed sometime before 1885, and had been a billiard room with a hall on the third floor. Sometime after it closed, it received an attractive white glazed tile facade, and is today a law office.
The Alhambra appears on the 1909 Sanborn with a capacity of 2,300. The balcony was a massive squared-off ‘U’, and extended all the way to the back wall. The stage seems to be a square centered on the back wall. By 1916 the building is a furniture store. This is either demolished, or the bottom floor was given a revolting dryvit remodel and is the current bank. The proper address was 205 W Sycamore.
If it opened in 1909, it was after July, when the map shows this as a saloon. The structure was originally built sometime before 1885, but was modified over the years. With a hideous remodel, the building is now incorporated into the jewelry store on the corner.
The building at 217 is the same one, but I would guess it was remodeled in the ‘20s, maybe for a bank. The 1916 Sanborn shows an oriel on the building, which is clearly not there now. There was a building on this lot sometime before 1885, but between 1909 and 1916 it was either replaced or extended in the rear.
I’m going to guess at a replacement, because the building at 219 once shared a facade, although it is now missing an oriel as well. So as a theater, it would have been roughly a mirror of 219, with an oriel and a large square awning over the entry. The first 10 or so feet of the wall separating the two buildings was actually a few feet further north than the rest. There are 1927, 1934, and 1965 maps, but they are not digitized.
The Indiana was obviously much older than the 1920s. It appears on the 1901 Sanborn, with the note ‘From Plans’. At that point it was called the Indiana Opera House. By 1911, it is the Indiana Theatre, with a capacity of 1,300. By 1920, the original balcony, which was an angular C-shape which ran up to the stage, has been cut back, and given a concave curved front. Between 1920 and 1952, the appearance is unchanged.
The naming sequence is backward. It was the Grand before it was the Royal Grand. As Esteyman says, the building was first the Allen Opera House, before becoming the Grand Opera House by 1901. By 1920, it’s called the Royal Grand. It is very likely that there was an extensive reconstruction. On the 1920 map, the building is two feet shorter, the east wall has been straightened, and a U-shaped balcony appears.
In both iterations, this was a fairly large 1-2 story brick building, with a large fly tower at the rear. Stage and scenery are shown up to its last appearance on the 1931 map. By 1947, it has been replaced by a parking lot and the little hot dog stand which is there today. The correct address was 122-124 W 5th.
The Paramount was built in 1929, and was a huge theater. It took up most of the quarter block it was on, and was 2-3 stories tall. It’s shown on the maps as ‘fireproof construction’, with the auditorium being brick. The balcony was large, with a concave front. There was a large stage, and scenery is noted even on the 1952 map. It’s now a parking lot for the ugly bank on the corner.
I’m not exactly sure what the Lyric looked like before the 1930s remodel, but it appears on the 1920 and 1931 Sanborns as a brick building of one story with the entrance into a small lobby on the east side under a small square metal awning. The exit was on the far west side, and was simply a narrow hallway. The space between these was a ladies' clothing store. The theater widened to the east just past the front of the auditorium, to fill the space left by the building next door, which was wider at the front.
On the 1920 and 1931 maps, stage and scenery are noted, and there is a dressing room on the NE corner, behind the building next door. This is gone on the 1947 map, and I assume it was removed when the theater was modernized sometime in the second half of the ‘30s.
The Luna-Lite building was constructed sometime between 1887 and 1890, as a saloon and restaurant. It was a three story brick structure, originally only extending about 2/3 of the depth of the lot. Between 1896 and 1901, a two story brick extension was added to the rear. By 1905, the first floor was a ‘concert hall’ and the rear was used as a stage and scenery.
A final note: The 1952 Sanborn shows both this and the Lyric operating. The entire half block past the alley has become a parking lot.
Address is wrong. Should be 113 N Washington. Address was originally 114, but between 1913 and 1919 this block switched odds and evens. There is only one building left on either side of this block. The original building was constructed before 1892. By 1908, it had a one story extension in the rear. Most recent map is 1919, when it was a pool room as in the photo.
Not demolished, the address is wrong, and not converted from another business. It’s obviously a theater in the older photo. The address is 206 N Washington, and the building is an office supply business. We parked right next door, but I skipped taking a picture.
Note that the address is a best guess for something on the third lot north of 2nd street on the east side of Main.
Thanks for finding a name for this!
That would explain the new facade, which definitely looks early ‘20s.
Thanks! Greenwood is so tiny I think the map was only 2-3 sheets, and this was the only theater operating in 1916. I assume that any remodel of the front was restricted to the ground floor.
Just to help with dating, the 1902 map shows small wooden shops on this lot.
The address was originally 11, then the 1909 map shows it as 107, then the 1916 map has 111.
As I understand Joe Vogel’s research, this can’t have been the Fairview. The theater on E Sycamore was still operating at this point.
This theater was open by at least 1916, but the 1909 map shows a small repair shop on the lot.
The building was constructed sometime before 1885, and had been a billiard room with a hall on the third floor. Sometime after it closed, it received an attractive white glazed tile facade, and is today a law office.
By 1905, the Cahn guide calls it the Sipe Theatre. It disagrees slightly on capacity, giving it as 1,100. G.W. Sipe was the manager.
The Alhambra appears on the 1909 Sanborn with a capacity of 2,300. The balcony was a massive squared-off ‘U’, and extended all the way to the back wall. The stage seems to be a square centered on the back wall. By 1916 the building is a furniture store. This is either demolished, or the bottom floor was given a revolting dryvit remodel and is the current bank. The proper address was 205 W Sycamore.
The 1902 Sanborn shows this as Sipe’s Opera House, and the 1916 map shows it with a capacity of 1,000.
If it opened in 1909, it was after July, when the map shows this as a saloon. The structure was originally built sometime before 1885, but was modified over the years. With a hideous remodel, the building is now incorporated into the jewelry store on the corner.
The building at 217 is the same one, but I would guess it was remodeled in the ‘20s, maybe for a bank. The 1916 Sanborn shows an oriel on the building, which is clearly not there now. There was a building on this lot sometime before 1885, but between 1909 and 1916 it was either replaced or extended in the rear.
I’m going to guess at a replacement, because the building at 219 once shared a facade, although it is now missing an oriel as well. So as a theater, it would have been roughly a mirror of 219, with an oriel and a large square awning over the entry. The first 10 or so feet of the wall separating the two buildings was actually a few feet further north than the rest. There are 1927, 1934, and 1965 maps, but they are not digitized.
Address is a guess counting up from the city hall at 112.
The Indiana was obviously much older than the 1920s. It appears on the 1901 Sanborn, with the note ‘From Plans’. At that point it was called the Indiana Opera House. By 1911, it is the Indiana Theatre, with a capacity of 1,300. By 1920, the original balcony, which was an angular C-shape which ran up to the stage, has been cut back, and given a concave curved front. Between 1920 and 1952, the appearance is unchanged.
The naming sequence is backward. It was the Grand before it was the Royal Grand. As Esteyman says, the building was first the Allen Opera House, before becoming the Grand Opera House by 1901. By 1920, it’s called the Royal Grand. It is very likely that there was an extensive reconstruction. On the 1920 map, the building is two feet shorter, the east wall has been straightened, and a U-shaped balcony appears.
In both iterations, this was a fairly large 1-2 story brick building, with a large fly tower at the rear. Stage and scenery are shown up to its last appearance on the 1931 map. By 1947, it has been replaced by a parking lot and the little hot dog stand which is there today. The correct address was 122-124 W 5th.
The Paramount was built in 1929, and was a huge theater. It took up most of the quarter block it was on, and was 2-3 stories tall. It’s shown on the maps as ‘fireproof construction’, with the auditorium being brick. The balcony was large, with a concave front. There was a large stage, and scenery is noted even on the 1952 map. It’s now a parking lot for the ugly bank on the corner.
I’m not exactly sure what the Lyric looked like before the 1930s remodel, but it appears on the 1920 and 1931 Sanborns as a brick building of one story with the entrance into a small lobby on the east side under a small square metal awning. The exit was on the far west side, and was simply a narrow hallway. The space between these was a ladies' clothing store. The theater widened to the east just past the front of the auditorium, to fill the space left by the building next door, which was wider at the front.
On the 1920 and 1931 maps, stage and scenery are noted, and there is a dressing room on the NE corner, behind the building next door. This is gone on the 1947 map, and I assume it was removed when the theater was modernized sometime in the second half of the ‘30s.
It looks like the name was shortened to Luna at some point past 1920.
The Luna-Lite building was constructed sometime between 1887 and 1890, as a saloon and restaurant. It was a three story brick structure, originally only extending about 2/3 of the depth of the lot. Between 1896 and 1901, a two story brick extension was added to the rear. By 1905, the first floor was a ‘concert hall’ and the rear was used as a stage and scenery.
A final note: The 1952 Sanborn shows both this and the Lyric operating. The entire half block past the alley has become a parking lot.
Note that on the 1920 Sanborn, the address was 65 (the Crest next door was originally 63).
Constructed sometime after 1919, when the map shows a house on the lot.
Address is wrong. Should be 113 N Washington. Address was originally 114, but between 1913 and 1919 this block switched odds and evens. There is only one building left on either side of this block. The original building was constructed before 1892. By 1908, it had a one story extension in the rear. Most recent map is 1919, when it was a pool room as in the photo.
Not demolished, the address is wrong, and not converted from another business. It’s obviously a theater in the older photo. The address is 206 N Washington, and the building is an office supply business. We parked right next door, but I skipped taking a picture.