Strand Theatre

MarkWitt on October 28, 2005 at 4:21 pm

The photo is not attached that I can see. I think the name isn’t a problem, seems it could have been named that. If you can get the photo to me at or successfully post it I can verify the building. I spent a lot of time changing the marquee and working in the poster windows. Where did you get the photo?

pagoda on November 28, 2006 at 8:00 am

I saw my very first Disney movie at this theater! That was back when it was only one screen. It was sad when it became two screens. As a teenager I worked here for 4 years as a projectionist and janitor. We used to love going into the bowels of the theater and finding old posters, etc. Of course, as a teenager the historical significance doesn’t really hit you. I also remember tanning on the roof during the summer. :)

pagoda on June 18, 2007 at 11:40 am

Greetings Aaron,

Just got around to your note- better late than never! :) Inside the lower theater (and possibly the upper, I cannot remember) the walls were the same as when it was one large theater, before it was split into two. Those original (at least since as far back as when I saw my first Disney movie- which must have been around 1975 or so) walls were red cloth that was sort of rippled. The only reason I remember that the walls in the lower theater stayed this way is because when I was cleaning it after shows there were these huge floodlights we could turn on and the then it was quite obvious. This was not the case in the upper theater where the after-show lighting was very inadequate, so I simply do not remember. I am almost positive that I could track down either the owner or manager that I worked under in the late 80’s. It is entirely possible that this owner was the owner when the Strand collapsed- though I couldn’t be certain. His name just came to me! Amazing! He was Doug Cullins or Cullings I believe. Also, I happen to be an avid journaler since my first journal in May of 1980, so I’m pretty sure I might be able to scour those journals and find some more information since that place was a big part of both my work and social life in the late 80’s.

As far as when the theater collapsed, it was in December of 1998 (see this URL: http://www.crawfordsville.org/citytime.htm)) I also found some more information about the early history here: http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/6199.html which says in part (quoting from that website):

“The Strand was built in 1919, contracts signed by H.P. Vonderschmitt.
It seated 1113, had stores and apartments attached, and was located at 126 S. Green St. It was part of the Publix chain and one of the larger theatres in the area.

The organ was installed in 1927 and is a Kilgen 3/5, Opus 3911. Original color appears to be a silver/gold and green mottled finish. Also appears the organ was worked on in 1959 by O.E. Shuler Co. and received some new parts around that time. That is possibly the time it was painted with the mottled finish. Location of the original pipes is unknown. Possibly demolished with the theatre."

I might be able to gather some additional comments from my mother the next time I talk with her as she still lives there and should, obviously, remember more about it earlier on than I do.

Cheers!

Patrick

Maxxarcade on May 14, 2009 at 11:46 pm

Wow, that must have been taken in it’s final years of operation. Great to see it in color though!

Here’s the interior in the 1920’s.

View link

I have some other pictures, but they are from the Theatre Historical Society, so I don’t think I can post those.

Mike Rogers on November 24, 2010 at 2:46 pm

Admission for adults in 1927 was 25 cents Balcony or 40 cents lower floor.“SIAMESE TWINS”.Born Joined together,Playing .with picture program.