Strand Theater
117 E. Jackson Street,
Muncie,
IN
47305
117 E. Jackson Street,
Muncie,
IN
47305
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Y. & W. Management Corp.
Architects: Cuno Kibele
Styles: Art Deco
Nearby Theaters
The Strand Theater was opened May 29, 1916, and was located right across the street from the Rivoli Theater on Charles Street.
As a kid I remember attending many film festivals at the Strand Theater. One that I remember well is “The Planet of the Apes”. For one ticket price you could stay and see all five films.
The independent theater chain of Malliers sold the theater to a bank, closing on February 4, 1979.
It was demolished in August 1979 and a parking lot is now in its place.
Contributed by
Jerry Monde
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
From 1970 to 1976 (the years I lived in Muncie), the Strand ran a lot of United Artists product including the Bond films. I remember seeing a sold out DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER where the management was selling SRO tickets and setting up folding chairs in the aisles and back of the house!
CORRECTION, seats is listed as 1, but it states “The auditorium seated in the neighborhood of 500.”.
The Rivoli was located on Mulberry Street and East Jackson approximately one quarter of a mile from the Strand. Here is a 1930 photo of the Strand.
Small photo of front of Strand, Boxoffice magazine, January 6, 1951:
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The Strand was open prior to 1925 with early seating listed at 400 and was open into the 1970’s.
The Young Block Building housing the former Strand Theatre was a hardware store in 1884. The Strand Theatre moved in launching on May 29, 1916. The theatre closed on February 4, 1979 with the adult film, “Little Orphan Dusty. It was torn down six months later in 1979.
1978 demolition photo added credit Jeff Koenker. Courtesy of the Lost Muncie Facebook page.
It’s likely that Muncie architect Cuno Kibele drew the plans for the Strand Theater. There is a February 3, 1916, plate-and-girder drawing in the Ball State University archives. Kibele also designed plans for the extensive 1917 remodel of the Wysor Grand Theater.
Arthur Bennett and George Davis opened the Cuno Kibele-designed Strand Theater on May 29, 1916, with Clara Kimball Young in “The Feast of Life.” On April 1, 1923, Bennett sold the Strand to Leonard Sowar, who operated it until December 21, 1925, at which time it was leased to the Chicago-based Fitzpatrick-McElroy circuit. In April 1929 Publix Theaters Corporation, the exhibition arm of Paramount-Famous-Lasky, acquired control of Fitzpatrick-McElroy creating Publix-Fitzpatrick-McElroy. Publix closed the Strand on June 2, 1930, coincident with its takeover of the nearby Wysor Grand Theatre. In January 1933 Publix-Fitzpatrick-McElroy was placed into receivership followed by bankruptcy. Sower repossessed the idle Strand in February 1933 after the lease was cancelled. He reopened it on March 24, 1933.
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 Leonard 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.