Wabash Theater

727 Ohio Street,
Terre Haute, IN 47807

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Related Websites

Valley of Terre Haute AASR -- Hippodrome Theater

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Fourth Avenue Amusement Co.

Architects: John Adolph Emil Eberson

Functions: Fraternal Hall, Museum

Styles: Colonial Revival

Previous Names: Hippodrome Theater

Nearby Theaters

Wabash Theater

Designed by John Eberson, the Hippodrome Theater opened in 1915. This theater started out as a vaudeville theater, switched to motion pictures later in 1915 when the first film screened was Edmund Breese in “The Walls of Jericho”. In 1948 it was remodeled and reopened September 11, 1948 as the Wabash Theater. It later became a community theater and finally returned to motion pictures. Around 1956 the Wabash Theater closed.

A year later it was acquired by the Scottish Rite. It is used as their cathedral and museum. Tours of the building are given by appointment. The building was ‘For Sale’ in November 2022.

Contributed by Lost Memory

Recent comments (view all 9 comments)

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on November 1, 2009 at 11:04 pm

The Hippodrome was remodeled and renamed the Wabash in 1948, according to an item in Boxoffice, October 2 that year, which said the house had recently opened. Currently, the theater’s official web site gives 1949 as the year the Wabash opened.

The July 24, 1948, issue of Boxoffice had said that the remodeling was to cost about $250,000. The renovated house was to be operated as a first-run theater by Fourth Avenue Amusement Company, a Louisville-based circuit then operating several theaters in Kentucky and Indiana. The item also said that the Hippodrome had been dark for years.

A June 4, 1940, Boxoffice item mentions a Wabash Theatre in Terre Haute, operated by J.B. Stine. As later Boxoffice items mentioned the Hippodrome being renamed the Wabash in 1948, either this must have been a different theater, or Boxoffice made an error. Stine is most often mentioned in Boxoffice as the operator of the Garfield Theatre in Terre Haute.

DavidAE
DavidAE on October 19, 2013 at 6:09 am

Link to a photo and history site: http://terrehautehousenet.homestead.com/hippodrome.html

DavidAE
DavidAE on December 26, 2013 at 9:42 pm

The stage in 1935 http://images.indianahistory.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/P0129&CISOPTR=174&CISOBOX=1&REC=8

rivest266
rivest266 on July 31, 2015 at 9:23 am

This opened on September 11th, 1948.

rivest266
rivest266 on July 31, 2015 at 9:23 am

Grand opening ad in photo section

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on April 5, 2019 at 8:54 pm

Opened with “The walls of Jericho”.

Jake Bottero
Jake Bottero on December 28, 2022 at 5:37 am

$400,000. the link above has great pics inside, and it looks to be in great shape.

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