The address was 53 N 8th. Strangely, the 1901 Sanborn shows the Gennett Opera House to be nearly identical to the Grand Opera House shown on earlier maps. I think ‘burned down’ did not really reflect what happened.
The 1909 map shows an extensive interior remodel of what is now called the Gennett Theatre. The ground floor storefronts appear to have been removed, and the balcony is now a large ‘horse collar’ shape rather than the previous flared ‘U’. The front of the stage appears to have been straightened. The notes say that it has two balconies, and give the capacity as 900.
It is on the 1909 map that a three story building at the rear appears, with the first floor serving as offices and prop storage, and the upper stories being labeled ‘Theatre Flats’. This portion of the building remains.
There was a later map, probably from the ‘20s, but the only copy online was heavily modified starting in 1937, with bits of paper pasted over buildings as they changed or were replaced. What can be seen through the overlays indicates that the capacity of the Washington was unchanged, although a more extensive metal canopy across the front replaced the small wooden canopy seen in the postcard.
Address was 621 E Main. Little storefronts were 619 and 623. The theater and everything west of it were destroyed for an ugly monstrosity of a department store, probably sometime in the ‘70s.
Petersburg is pretty sad and shabby. This is already gone by the 2007 streetview. The style looks a bit old-fashioned for 1932, but it’s still an empty lot on the 1921 map.
The insurance office is still on the 2018 streetview, and is an ugly little thing that looks like it was built to replace the theater and neighboring building.
The 1907 Sanborn shows a large one-story brick building on the corner of Main and 6th. The corner storefront is a cobbler. The larger portion to the south is labeled ‘Moving Pictures’. A two story section at the rear is used as a warehouse with entry from 6th. A note over the theater space says ‘To build opera house here’.
By 1921, the Lyric occupies the same space as before, but the warehouse space behind the theater is now incorporated (although a wall is still shown between the two spaces). The capacity is shown as 200. The height of the structure has changed from 14 to 24 feet. The address is shown as 518-520. The corner space at 522 is now a restaurant and confectionery.
More confusion caused by bogus addresses. This contributor routinely gives bad addresses, which combined with a stupid modern paint job, made finding this theater hard. The correct address is 615-621 Main, in the Joseph Gutzweiler building.
Kunkel’s Hall was a wooden building of two stories, including a house. For some reason, even though there are (or were) several large factories in town, Jasper’s downtown even on the 1909 map is mostly crude wooden buildings and lots of empty lots. Schneider’s was originally at 505 Main, so they didn’t expand into it so much as move. This also explains ads from the 70s saying they were ‘on the square’.
The building has been painted an ugly brown, and has characterless new windows. The front, where the soda fountain presumably was, is a cafe, and the auditorium space is a gift shop.
If the theater opened in 1913, it had to have moved. There are three theaters on the 1913 map. One is an airdome, and one has a note that it will shortly be vacating the premises.
I suppose the airdome could have been the original Gem, but it doesn’t seem likely. The theater that was moving doesn’t make too much sense, since the new building wouldn’t have been ready for about 7 years. The last theater was identified for me as the Empire, presumably by Ken, who has resources I don’t, and can often come up with names.
Anyhow, if a Gem opened in 1913, it can’t have been this one, so we still should change the listing to reflect that.
Here’s what we can say for sure:
Nov. 1913 Sanborn shows an old wooden store on this lot.
Mar. 1921 Sanborn shows the theater, with 200 seats.
Jun. 1949 update still shows the theater, but adds the canopy on the front (which may have existed in 1921, since it looks pretty old fashioned).
For some reason, the top of the building has been modified to make it look older than it is, with a fake or salvaged tin cornice stuck on.
dallasmovietheaters' comment is for the wrong city. He’s talking about a Gem in Jasper, which is up the road. All of that information needs to be removed, and his comment should either be reposted under the Jasper theater or removed to avoid confusion. This building didn’t even exist in 1913.
A very early view with buggies parked alongside can be seen here: https://indianaalbum.pastperfectonline.com/photo/CBCB3546-0150-4E4A-8784-229897618370
A mid ‘20s view is here:
https://indianaalbum.pastperfectonline.com/photo/FA8295B0-2178-4EF0-89AA-288568497420
The historical address was most likely 103, and a photo from the mid-20s shows a ‘Cash Grocery’ in this location. The Amuzu was across the street and likely replaced it.
This is obviously not the Princeton, but a much older theater. There is a Walsman appliance store in Batesville, which is all the way on the other side of the state.
SethG
commented about
Airdomeon
Mar 26, 2021 at 3:23 pm
Note that the index for the map calls this the ‘Airdome Theatre’. The buildings listed by name are almost always the actual business name, so ‘Airdome’ may not have been a generic title.
After closing as the New Star, this may have become the Grand, or less likely the Noble, both of which are listed from 1926 through at least 1931 in information provided by Ken. The capacity given for the Grand matches that listed for this theater.
Found a slightly different photo from possibly the same day, and the plaque reads ‘J.W. Shuel 1902’.
SethG
commented about
Theateron
Mar 26, 2021 at 1:07 pm
From Ken Roe, there was a theater called the Theatorium listed in the 1914-1915 edition of American Motion Picture Directory at 108 N Main. That may have been a bad address for this theater, or it’s possible it was a brand new opening. The 1914 Sanborn shows that 106-108 are a dry goods store in a still extant building, but the map was issued in January.
Based on information from Ken Roe, this was originally called the New Star (possibly carrying the Star name from one of the early attempts to open a theater?), but is not listed in 1926. May have sat dormant before reopening as the Roxy?
The address and likely most of the rest of the information is wrong. There has never been an address higher than 232, and this is obviously on the wrong side of the street.
I suggest this is the theater shown at 229-231 on the 1914 Sanborn. It’s obviously an older building that has been remodeled, and the 1907 map shows a 1-2 story livery stable there. I wish we could read the little stone plaque up top in the photo to be sure.
At any rate, the entire south side of the block has been destroyed. There is a drive through bank on the corner now, which before a remodel appeared to be roughly the right age to have replaced the theater right after it closed.
The city (presumably) has made a real effort to undo the godawful remodel, and this has been open as a performing arts venue since at least 2016. It is home to the Broadway Players. When I came through, the marquee was advertising ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’, but I’m not sure if that was the film or a stage production.
Note that the interior picture is of the wrong theater. It is obviously not an auditorium built after WWII. Probably belongs with the previous Princeton.
Before the street was renamed sometime after World War I, the address was on rue de la Gare, quite natural as the railway station was located at the end.
SethG
commented about
Voxon
Feb 25, 2021 at 2:15 pm
Not sure why this is the only picture I took, since we walked past at least twice. Blank area used to say ‘Casino’.
The address was 53 N 8th. Strangely, the 1901 Sanborn shows the Gennett Opera House to be nearly identical to the Grand Opera House shown on earlier maps. I think ‘burned down’ did not really reflect what happened.
The 1909 map shows an extensive interior remodel of what is now called the Gennett Theatre. The ground floor storefronts appear to have been removed, and the balcony is now a large ‘horse collar’ shape rather than the previous flared ‘U’. The front of the stage appears to have been straightened. The notes say that it has two balconies, and give the capacity as 900.
It is on the 1909 map that a three story building at the rear appears, with the first floor serving as offices and prop storage, and the upper stories being labeled ‘Theatre Flats’. This portion of the building remains.
There was a later map, probably from the ‘20s, but the only copy online was heavily modified starting in 1937, with bits of paper pasted over buildings as they changed or were replaced. What can be seen through the overlays indicates that the capacity of the Washington was unchanged, although a more extensive metal canopy across the front replaced the small wooden canopy seen in the postcard.
Address was 621 E Main. Little storefronts were 619 and 623. The theater and everything west of it were destroyed for an ugly monstrosity of a department store, probably sometime in the ‘70s.
One other note: This lot in 1899 is partially empty, with a two-story saloon on the corner, which may have been incorporated into the larger complex.
Petersburg is pretty sad and shabby. This is already gone by the 2007 streetview. The style looks a bit old-fashioned for 1932, but it’s still an empty lot on the 1921 map.
Description needs to be rewritten.
The insurance office is still on the 2018 streetview, and is an ugly little thing that looks like it was built to replace the theater and neighboring building.
The 1907 Sanborn shows a large one-story brick building on the corner of Main and 6th. The corner storefront is a cobbler. The larger portion to the south is labeled ‘Moving Pictures’. A two story section at the rear is used as a warehouse with entry from 6th. A note over the theater space says ‘To build opera house here’.
By 1921, the Lyric occupies the same space as before, but the warehouse space behind the theater is now incorporated (although a wall is still shown between the two spaces). The capacity is shown as 200. The height of the structure has changed from 14 to 24 feet. The address is shown as 518-520. The corner space at 522 is now a restaurant and confectionery.
It could have been the one right next door. 200 seats, assuming chairs on the floor, might have been too big for this one.
More confusion caused by bogus addresses. This contributor routinely gives bad addresses, which combined with a stupid modern paint job, made finding this theater hard. The correct address is 615-621 Main, in the Joseph Gutzweiler building.
Kunkel’s Hall was a wooden building of two stories, including a house. For some reason, even though there are (or were) several large factories in town, Jasper’s downtown even on the 1909 map is mostly crude wooden buildings and lots of empty lots. Schneider’s was originally at 505 Main, so they didn’t expand into it so much as move. This also explains ads from the 70s saying they were ‘on the square’.
The building has been painted an ugly brown, and has characterless new windows. The front, where the soda fountain presumably was, is a cafe, and the auditorium space is a gift shop.
Oh, I hope you aren’t. That sounds like a great amenity.
As can just be made out from the street, the building was built in 1886.
If the theater opened in 1913, it had to have moved. There are three theaters on the 1913 map. One is an airdome, and one has a note that it will shortly be vacating the premises.
I suppose the airdome could have been the original Gem, but it doesn’t seem likely. The theater that was moving doesn’t make too much sense, since the new building wouldn’t have been ready for about 7 years. The last theater was identified for me as the Empire, presumably by Ken, who has resources I don’t, and can often come up with names.
Anyhow, if a Gem opened in 1913, it can’t have been this one, so we still should change the listing to reflect that.
Here’s what we can say for sure: Nov. 1913 Sanborn shows an old wooden store on this lot. Mar. 1921 Sanborn shows the theater, with 200 seats. Jun. 1949 update still shows the theater, but adds the canopy on the front (which may have existed in 1921, since it looks pretty old fashioned).
For some reason, the top of the building has been modified to make it look older than it is, with a fake or salvaged tin cornice stuck on.
dallasmovietheaters' comment is for the wrong city. He’s talking about a Gem in Jasper, which is up the road. All of that information needs to be removed, and his comment should either be reposted under the Jasper theater or removed to avoid confusion. This building didn’t even exist in 1913.
A very early view with buggies parked alongside can be seen here: https://indianaalbum.pastperfectonline.com/photo/CBCB3546-0150-4E4A-8784-229897618370
A mid ‘20s view is here: https://indianaalbum.pastperfectonline.com/photo/FA8295B0-2178-4EF0-89AA-288568497420
The historical address was most likely 103, and a photo from the mid-20s shows a ‘Cash Grocery’ in this location. The Amuzu was across the street and likely replaced it.
This is obviously not the Princeton, but a much older theater. There is a Walsman appliance store in Batesville, which is all the way on the other side of the state.
Note that the index for the map calls this the ‘Airdome Theatre’. The buildings listed by name are almost always the actual business name, so ‘Airdome’ may not have been a generic title.
After closing as the New Star, this may have become the Grand, or less likely the Noble, both of which are listed from 1926 through at least 1931 in information provided by Ken. The capacity given for the Grand matches that listed for this theater.
Found a slightly different photo from possibly the same day, and the plaque reads ‘J.W. Shuel 1902’.
From Ken Roe, there was a theater called the Theatorium listed in the 1914-1915 edition of American Motion Picture Directory at 108 N Main. That may have been a bad address for this theater, or it’s possible it was a brand new opening. The 1914 Sanborn shows that 106-108 are a dry goods store in a still extant building, but the map was issued in January.
Based on information from Ken Roe, this was originally called the New Star (possibly carrying the Star name from one of the early attempts to open a theater?), but is not listed in 1926. May have sat dormant before reopening as the Roxy?
The address and likely most of the rest of the information is wrong. There has never been an address higher than 232, and this is obviously on the wrong side of the street.
I suggest this is the theater shown at 229-231 on the 1914 Sanborn. It’s obviously an older building that has been remodeled, and the 1907 map shows a 1-2 story livery stable there. I wish we could read the little stone plaque up top in the photo to be sure.
At any rate, the entire south side of the block has been destroyed. There is a drive through bank on the corner now, which before a remodel appeared to be roughly the right age to have replaced the theater right after it closed.
The city (presumably) has made a real effort to undo the godawful remodel, and this has been open as a performing arts venue since at least 2016. It is home to the Broadway Players. When I came through, the marquee was advertising ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’, but I’m not sure if that was the film or a stage production.
Note that the interior picture is of the wrong theater. It is obviously not an auditorium built after WWII. Probably belongs with the previous Princeton.
Photo of the building in the late ‘50s. Seems to be a grocery at this point: https://tinyurl.com/nrh6xsvx
The gorgeous Masonic building in the foreground is long gone.
Before the street was renamed sometime after World War I, the address was on rue de la Gare, quite natural as the railway station was located at the end.
Not sure why this is the only picture I took, since we walked past at least twice. Blank area used to say ‘Casino’.