Airdome Theater

The manager of the Bucklen Theatre in downtown Elkhart decided to open a seasonal open-air theater as an alternative to the air condition-less theater options. H.E. Bucklen allowed Fred S. and Metta Timmons to build a 1,500 seat Airdome at his vacant lot at 500 South Main. A minimum of 5,000 feet of film would be shown nightly. The floor was covered in sawdust to give the appearance of a circus. A concession stand and smokers compartment were included.

The Airdome ran just three seasons. It opened for Season 1 on June 2, 1913 with five reels of films and the Willis Band for a nickel. 1,800 people turned out. The Airdome made money with advertisements on screen prior to and during the show, as well as billboards pasted on its outer wall.

Season 2 launched on Decoration Day (Memorial Day), May 30, 1914. The opening film was “Cupid Incognito” with Wallace Reid. Around 1,500 people turned out. The Elkhart Athletic Club Football team practices and did exhibitions at the Airdome. The Airdome closed for the season following its third season in 1915.

The Airdome was demolished in March of 1916. It housed an auto service area until being cleared for a 1920 groundbreaking for the new Elkhart Hotel. Designed by C.W. Nicol of Nicol, Scholer & Hoffman, the hotel opened in 1923.

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