Muncie Civic Theatre

Opened as the Star Theatre on September 5, 1904 within the Boyce Block Building built in 1880. It became known as the Popular Star Theatre – big shows at popular prices – from 1906 to 1925. It reverted to the Star Theatre adding sound. A contest held by new operator to rename the theatre led to the revamped Hoosier Theatre launching May 6, 1935 on a 20-year lease. The Hoosier Theatre expanded to widescreen but closed on July 20, 1955 after a double feature of “Gangbusters” and “Outlaw Treasure.” The building had sporadic sermons, political rallies and meetings until being taken on as the Civic Center.

On November 1, 1925, Chicago-based Fitzpatrick-McElroy acquired the Columbia, Star and Lyric theaters from the Andrews Producing Company, owned by brothers C. Ray, Forrest and George Andrews. The Star was remodeled and reopened on November 26, 1925, Thanksgiving Day.

In April 1929 Publix Theaters Corp., the exhibition arm of Paramount-Famous-Lasky, acquired control of Fitzpatrick-McElroy creating Publix-Fitzpatrick-McElroy. The Star went dark after March 1928, except for occasional boxing matches and other special events. In January 1933 Publix-Fitzpatrick-McElroy was placed into receivership, followed by bankruptcy. As a result, the Star lease was cancelled. On April 1, 1934, the new Star Theater opened “Under the Original Ownership and Management of C. Ray Andrews,” noting further that it was “Home Owned – Home Managed.”

On April 9, 1935, Andrews transferred the Star Theater’s $5000/year lease to the Muncie Theater Realty Corporation, which assigned it to Theatrical Managers, Inc. (Muncie Theater Realty owned the Rivoli Theater Building.) Howard Webster was named manager. The Star became the Hoosier Theater on May 6, 1935.

On April 25, 1937, the Strand, Uptown, Rivoli, Wysor Grand, and Hoosier (old Star) became part of a city cooperative. The pooling agreement was signed by Sowar (for the Strand and Uptown); the Muncie Theater Realty Corporation; Theatrical Managers, Inc.; and George Challis (Wysor Grand lessee). For the five theaters Theatrical Managers, Inc., already operating the Wysor Grand, Rivoli and Hoosier theaters, agreed to handle from its Indianapolis office film buying, communication with motion picture exchanges, vaudeville and road show booking, and accounting. Sowar was named city manager replacing Ray Howard, who relocated to Bloomington, Ind., to handle southern Indiana operations for Theatrical Managers. In February 1940 Y&W Management Corporation entered the scene. Sowar ran the Muncie cluster until his death on January 2, 1945.