Wabash Theater
727 Ohio Street,
Terre Haute,
IN
47807
727 Ohio Street,
Terre Haute,
IN
47807
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Related Websites
Valley of Terre Haute AASR -- Hippodrome Theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Fourth Avenue Amusement Co.
Architects: John Adolph Emil Eberson
Functions: Fraternal Hall, Museum
Styles: Colonial Revival
Previous Names: Hippodrome Theater
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Designed by John Eberson, the Hippodrome Theater opened in 1915. This theater started out as a vaudeville theater, switched to motion pictures later in 1915 when the first film screened was Edmund Breese in “The Walls of Jericho”. In 1948 it was remodeled and reopened September 11, 1948 as the Wabash Theater. It later became a community theater and finally returned to motion pictures. Around 1956 the Wabash Theater closed.
A year later it was acquired by the Scottish Rite. It is used as their cathedral and museum. Tours of the building are given by appointment. The building was ‘For Sale’ in November 2022.
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
The Hippodrome was remodeled and renamed the Wabash in 1948, according to an item in Boxoffice, October 2 that year, which said the house had recently opened. Currently, the theater’s official web site gives 1949 as the year the Wabash opened.
The July 24, 1948, issue of Boxoffice had said that the remodeling was to cost about $250,000. The renovated house was to be operated as a first-run theater by Fourth Avenue Amusement Company, a Louisville-based circuit then operating several theaters in Kentucky and Indiana. The item also said that the Hippodrome had been dark for years.
A June 4, 1940, Boxoffice item mentions a Wabash Theatre in Terre Haute, operated by J.B. Stine. As later Boxoffice items mentioned the Hippodrome being renamed the Wabash in 1948, either this must have been a different theater, or Boxoffice made an error. Stine is most often mentioned in Boxoffice as the operator of the Garfield Theatre in Terre Haute.
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Link to a photo and history site: http://terrehautehousenet.homestead.com/hippodrome.html
The stage in 1935 http://images.indianahistory.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/P0129&CISOPTR=174&CISOBOX=1&REC=8
This opened on September 11th, 1948.
Grand opening ad in photo section
Opened with “The walls of Jericho”.
For sale on LoopNet: Listing
$400,000. the link above has great pics inside, and it looks to be in great shape.