Columbia Theatre

310 S. Walnut Street,
Muncie, IN 47305

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Denverpalace
Denverpalace on November 5, 2025 at 2:07 pm

On November 1, 1925, the Andrews Producing Company, owned by brothers C. Ray, Forrest and George Andrews, sold the Columbia, Star and Lyric theaters to Chicago-based Fitzpatrick-McElroy. The Star was remodeled and reopened on November 26, 1925, Thanksgiving Day. The Columbia operated weekends only, and even though the lease didn’t expire until December 31, 1926, Fitzpatrick-McElroy closed the Columbia on March 20, 1926.

Associated Theaters of Ohio signed an 18-month lease and reopened the Columbia on January 7, 1927. It’s likely that the Columbia closed again in December 1927 as there are no ads for the theater in 1928. Thomas C. Lacey, operating the Vaudelle theater located “just across the street,” inked a short-term lease with Silverman Brothers, Cleveland, and launched the New Columbia on March 1, 1928. It closed for good at the end of June. F&W Grand Company took over the space in July, remodeled it and opened a 5-10-25 cent store on October 31, 1928.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on November 21, 2018 at 6:20 pm

2 images added, one with additional history.

rivest266
rivest266 on January 24, 2017 at 5:51 pm

August 31st, 1913 grand opening ad in the photo section.