Not that I think the address is correct, but on the off chance that it fell between the 1920-1940 gap in maps, I’ve added a 2015 picture of the Fisher Block. The ground floor has been run together with half of the neighboring building, and it is a Hallmark store.
I’m not sure why this is described as being small. The theater was huge, or at least the structure was. It was three stories tall, fairly wide, and ran the entire depth of the lot to the alley. The auditorium and stage were about 2/3 of that depth. An elaborately curved balcony, rather like a lyre in shape, appears up to the 1940 map (when it is noted that the rear wall is cracked). There was a long, wide central hallway leading between two storefronts to what appears to be a two-story lobby. The upper two floors of the front section were variously used as a hotel, offices, apartments, and a fraternal hall.
Found a bad copy of the 1940 update of the 1931 map, and it appears that at the very least, the theater was a substantial remodel of the old building. The central wall and stair are gone, although the height of the building and the footprint are identical. Still has the addresses 234-236.
The Rosenbush Block was constructed sometime between 1901 and 1911. The 1920 map shows 236, then the western portion, as a barber shop. The central stair is gone, and the entire building seems to be using the 236 address. The map marker is several blocks too far to the west.
The Miami was not in the Kerr Block, which is 202-208 N Columbia. It was in the J.A. Rosenbush Block, which was at 234-236 W Pearl. The building still exists, with a disgusting modern facade perhaps from around 1960. It appears to perhaps be depressing apartments. The structure has all the charm of a prefab building at a Soviet mining camp.
If the address is right, which is always a dubious proposition, then this has not been demolished. 237 was historically the southern storefront of the Fisher Block. It appears as though a building of two storefronts was constructed sometime before 1885, and the northern half of that was then unified with a new building on the corner by 1890. Trying to line up what seem to be 3-4 buildings with two fronts is a bit confusing, but 237 on the 1920 map is a grocery store one down from the corner. This building is now all one unit with an address of 239. The park seems to be where 227 and 229 were. The NRHP listing for downtown is exceptionally poor for a recent effort, and has almost no information about all but a select few structures. Most of the little information there is is very vague.
Actually, it seems that the address should be 115. The NRHP listing dates that structure to 1924, so the organ must have been installed during construction. The building is offices. In the blurry postcard above, it was hard to tell what building had the Lyric sign on it.
Probably open long before 2009, when there was a remodel. Was called the Towne Square before 2013. The building was constructed between 1886 and 1892 as an extension of the original W.E. Miller department store next door to the west. Both buildings were extended to the rear in 1899. Still a department store on the 1914 map, and likely for many years after that.
Address given is wrong. The building is 113 S Main. It’s a bridal shop today. Facade has been modernized and changed, but generally matches the postcard. The current building does not match that on the lot on the 1914 map, which is the ‘newest’ available online.
Thanks Joe, I’ll add the opera house. I think the Elks thing is a red herring, unless they perhaps built the replacement in 1915, and then had lost it by 1917.
Another possibility is the Baxter Block, which was built between 1896 and 1902. Address was 107-109 E Washington, and on the 1902 map, the Elks hall is on the 2nd floor. By 1909, it’s an Owls ‘nest’, and today it is the site of yet another ugly little modern bank (but which doesn’t really look like something built after 1994).
I don’t think the address is right. I suspect this might have been the old opera house. On the 1909 Sanborn, which is unfortunately the ‘newest’ available, 111 N Harrison is a one-story newsstand just south of the alley (where the fake colonial bank is today). The Elks met in a basic two story commercial building at 202 N Harrison, above a drugstore (where yet another ugly modern bank is today). The present 111 is a third ugly modern bank, which looks more ‘70s in its design.
The Alexandria Opera House was at 121-125. It was built around 1892. The front was 3 stories with a peaked roof. The auditorium was 1-2 stories. The stage was sharply bowed out, and the balcony had a concave front mirroring the curvature of the stage. The entry was a wide hallway between two small stores. The location is currently one of those little parks that dwindling towns put where buildings used to be.
In the picture now used as the main photo, the old Superba/Colonial/Baby Grand is visible as the Circle Pizza building.
The Odd Fellows Hall was built sometime before 1892 (probably not very long at all, given the architecture). The hall was on the third floor but the ground floor was home to a huge variety of businesses before its conversion, including briefly the Indiana Union Traction Co. (an interurban line) streetcar depot.
The correct address was 1526. This theater was in an old two story brick building which was built sometime before 1892. The Feb. 1910 map shows it as the Record Printing Co. It was probably a very basic conversion. The location of the building was just east of the mid-block alley, and at least as long ago as 2008 was a vacant lot. It’s now yet more surface parking for the few remaining businesses downtown. Should be changed to demolished.
Address is wrong. Correct address was 302-306 S Anderson. There’s currently an abandoned gas station on the lot.
The building was a very large 3 story brick building with a peaked roof. Storefronts flanked the entry. The balcony was quite deep, with a concave front. The 1916 Sanborn still shows the name as the Kramer Grand Opera House.
The 1905 Cahn guide lists the Grand as a ‘New Theatre’, and gives the manager as J.A. Kramer. Charles Kramer (perhaps no relation) is the stage carpenter.
Stupidly neglected to get a picture of this building, which has a certain scabby charm.
Not that I think the address is correct, but on the off chance that it fell between the 1920-1940 gap in maps, I’ve added a 2015 picture of the Fisher Block. The ground floor has been run together with half of the neighboring building, and it is a Hallmark store.
This building later became the Miami, using the 236 address which originally belonged to the western half.
Ohio has a poor copy of the 1940 update to the 1931 Sanborn, which shows this as a store with a lodge room above.
Ohio has a poor copy of the 1940 update to the 1931 Sanborn, which shows this as a store.
The Ohio library has a rather poor copy of the 1931 map, updated for 1940. No theater is shown anywhere on N Columbia. 237 is still a store.
I’m not sure why this is described as being small. The theater was huge, or at least the structure was. It was three stories tall, fairly wide, and ran the entire depth of the lot to the alley. The auditorium and stage were about 2/3 of that depth. An elaborately curved balcony, rather like a lyre in shape, appears up to the 1940 map (when it is noted that the rear wall is cracked). There was a long, wide central hallway leading between two storefronts to what appears to be a two-story lobby. The upper two floors of the front section were variously used as a hotel, offices, apartments, and a fraternal hall.
Found a bad copy of the 1940 update of the 1931 map, and it appears that at the very least, the theater was a substantial remodel of the old building. The central wall and stair are gone, although the height of the building and the footprint are identical. Still has the addresses 234-236.
The Rosenbush Block was constructed sometime between 1901 and 1911. The 1920 map shows 236, then the western portion, as a barber shop. The central stair is gone, and the entire building seems to be using the 236 address. The map marker is several blocks too far to the west.
The Miami was not in the Kerr Block, which is 202-208 N Columbia. It was in the J.A. Rosenbush Block, which was at 234-236 W Pearl. The building still exists, with a disgusting modern facade perhaps from around 1960. It appears to perhaps be depressing apartments. The structure has all the charm of a prefab building at a Soviet mining camp.
If the address is right, which is always a dubious proposition, then this has not been demolished. 237 was historically the southern storefront of the Fisher Block. It appears as though a building of two storefronts was constructed sometime before 1885, and the northern half of that was then unified with a new building on the corner by 1890. Trying to line up what seem to be 3-4 buildings with two fronts is a bit confusing, but 237 on the 1920 map is a grocery store one down from the corner. This building is now all one unit with an address of 239. The park seems to be where 227 and 229 were. The NRHP listing for downtown is exceptionally poor for a recent effort, and has almost no information about all but a select few structures. Most of the little information there is is very vague.
Actually, it seems that the address should be 115. The NRHP listing dates that structure to 1924, so the organ must have been installed during construction. The building is offices. In the blurry postcard above, it was hard to tell what building had the Lyric sign on it.
You didn’t give me time to get to this one! ;)
Probably open long before 2009, when there was a remodel. Was called the Towne Square before 2013. The building was constructed between 1886 and 1892 as an extension of the original W.E. Miller department store next door to the west. Both buildings were extended to the rear in 1899. Still a department store on the 1914 map, and likely for many years after that.
Address given is wrong. The building is 113 S Main. It’s a bridal shop today. Facade has been modernized and changed, but generally matches the postcard. The current building does not match that on the lot on the 1914 map, which is the ‘newest’ available online.
Thanks Joe, I’ll add the opera house. I think the Elks thing is a red herring, unless they perhaps built the replacement in 1915, and then had lost it by 1917.
Another possibility is the Baxter Block, which was built between 1896 and 1902. Address was 107-109 E Washington, and on the 1902 map, the Elks hall is on the 2nd floor. By 1909, it’s an Owls ‘nest’, and today it is the site of yet another ugly little modern bank (but which doesn’t really look like something built after 1994).
The 1905 Cahn guide gives the capacity for the opera house as 754.
I don’t think the address is right. I suspect this might have been the old opera house. On the 1909 Sanborn, which is unfortunately the ‘newest’ available, 111 N Harrison is a one-story newsstand just south of the alley (where the fake colonial bank is today). The Elks met in a basic two story commercial building at 202 N Harrison, above a drugstore (where yet another ugly modern bank is today). The present 111 is a third ugly modern bank, which looks more ‘70s in its design.
The Alexandria Opera House was at 121-125. It was built around 1892. The front was 3 stories with a peaked roof. The auditorium was 1-2 stories. The stage was sharply bowed out, and the balcony had a concave front mirroring the curvature of the stage. The entry was a wide hallway between two small stores. The location is currently one of those little parks that dwindling towns put where buildings used to be.
220 is the left side.
It’s open again. Website is: http://alexmovietheatre.com/
I think this was probably demolished at the same time as the Elwood in 2000, maybe 2001.
In the picture now used as the main photo, the old Superba/Colonial/Baby Grand is visible as the Circle Pizza building.
The Odd Fellows Hall was built sometime before 1892 (probably not very long at all, given the architecture). The hall was on the third floor but the ground floor was home to a huge variety of businesses before its conversion, including briefly the Indiana Union Traction Co. (an interurban line) streetcar depot.
The correct address was 1526. This theater was in an old two story brick building which was built sometime before 1892. The Feb. 1910 map shows it as the Record Printing Co. It was probably a very basic conversion. The location of the building was just east of the mid-block alley, and at least as long ago as 2008 was a vacant lot. It’s now yet more surface parking for the few remaining businesses downtown. Should be changed to demolished.
Address is wrong. Correct address was 302-306 S Anderson. There’s currently an abandoned gas station on the lot.
The building was a very large 3 story brick building with a peaked roof. Storefronts flanked the entry. The balcony was quite deep, with a concave front. The 1916 Sanborn still shows the name as the Kramer Grand Opera House.
The 1905 Cahn guide lists the Grand as a ‘New Theatre’, and gives the manager as J.A. Kramer. Charles Kramer (perhaps no relation) is the stage carpenter.