Town Theatre
8616 Kennedy Avenue,
Highland,
IN
46323
8616 Kennedy Avenue,
Highland,
IN
46323
4 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 26 comments
5 demolition photos added credit Noran Warot.
I have photos of the building the night before it was torn down as well as some bricks from then that are in my garage, I’m a part of the video that Joe shared.
Here is video of the Town Theatre shortly before its demolition.
Town Theatre to be demolished December 12th 2017.
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/the-final-act-highland-s-historic-town-theatre-to-be/article_d420ce07-792d-51f8-8f0a-a7138c5860e8.html
This opened on July 20th, 1946. Grand opening ad in the photo section.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-highland-town-decision-st-0201-20170131-story.html
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kate Jacobs Marketing and Public Relations Director Pathway to Adventure Council, BSA (847) 271-7906 | LOCAL TEENS INVITED TO HELP ADVANCE THE ‘TOWN THEATRE’ PROJECT Highland, Ind. (May 4, 2016) —Young men and women ages 14-20 are invited to go behind the scenes to help the Town Theatre restoration project become a reality and gain valuable knowledge in a variety of career fields. Participants will join the newly established Town Theatre Exploring Post – part of the nationwide Exploring program that offers young men and women the chance to discover their futures through hands-on experience and mentorship from industry professionals. Focus areas will include architecture, engineering, marketing, publicity, volunteer management, filmmaking, history, archiving and entertainment. “This is your chance to help make the theatre your own, to be sure the theatre is serving everyone, including the youth of our community,” said Town Theater Board President Dawn Diamantopoulos. The Town Theatre is a beloved local cinema building that opened in 1946 and served its community for generations. Unfortunately, the theater deteriorated after it was closed by private owners in 2008. Now, the Town Theatre has become a municipally owned and funded redevelopment project in its first phase of redevelopment. Exploring Post participants will serve as the youth outreach and advisory group for the project through its phases of design, fundraising, construction and programming. “We are excited to help build an Exploring program where young people who want to help bring the Town Theatre back to life may have an outlet for their interests and enthusiasm,” said Cecile Petro, director of redevelopment for the Town of Highland. “This is once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see what it takes to renovate a theatre and what it can mean to the spirit and livelihood of our community is happening right now. It is a great way for young people to learn about real-world challenges,” Petro said. Young men and women age 14-20 who are interested in getting involved should attend an open house at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11 at the Highland Town Hall, 3333 Ridge Road. Questions regarding the open house or the Exploring program should be directed to Exploring Director Andy Pierce at (630) 796-4221 or Begun in 1935, Exploring is an affiliate program of the Boy Scouts of America. Exploring seeks to provide positive and meaningful real-world career experiences and leadership development opportunities for all teenagers and young adults in their chosen field of interest. For more information, please visit www.exploring.org.
#
I drive by there every so often. The last time was about two weeks ago. It doesn’t look like anything is going on. The marquee on one side has been stripped to almost nothing thanks to last winter’s brutal weather combined with age. I hope they do get the theater back up and running but I imagine because of the years of inactivity a ton of repairs will need to be done. Plus the fact they will have to convert to digital as well. It will be costly but I think the Town can be a viable theater again.
Has there been any progress?
Good news…Town Theatre to re-open…
http://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/the-show-will-go-on-at-the-town-theatre/article_69aea7bf-6b5d-592f-a8f6-52e86338de53.html
So what’s the status of this movie theater now, Does anybody know? My wife and I both would like to help get get the theater running like it was before, frugally priced excellent eccentic films with an intermission. Does the town of Highland on it now? Any info would be appreciated! Thanks
I and the owner’s son go way back… since middle school. I remember going to their house with another friend on the weekends. They had a popcorn popper in their basement just like the one in the theater. He had it popping every time we went over to hang out. Good ole days. Anyway, they took pride in that place and understand why they wouldnt hand over their legacy to some strangers. Dont blame them.
hoosiergal. I tried contacting you on that email a few times and never heard anything back. you can try me at
Dear behfilm. Please contact me at: I would like to help.
I’m a 30 year old film school graduate and a lover of classic, foreign, and independent cinema. My inspiration for going to film school was Alfred Hitchcock and other films as far back as the silent era. I prefer classic black and white films more than most of the modern stuff that gets churned out these days. There are a few diamonds in the rough but in my opinion most new films are classless trash. I have been described as an old soul, and my dreams of running a movie theater like the Town are genuine and I would never turn it into a X-rated theater. I even considered adding filmmaking lessons using the theater as a classroom for kids and adults during the day then running the theater as it has been at night. I have been working in Management for the past 10 years up until being laid off this last January. With this economy my options are limited and I’m only qualified in 2 fields. Film and Management. Owning/Running a theater like the Town would be a dream come true finally getting to do something I am passionate about.
Greg1 since you live in the area certainly you know the theater has never had a problem showing R rated films and since XXX rated films would never be allowed in Highland on public display I think that excuse is silly. Perhaps 35 years ago but not now. And I am sure the Janowski’s could sell the theater with contractual specificities in it that would ease any worry they have. Theaters like this are too few and far between and the fact that it could go back to showing art films exclusively would undoubtedly make it a success yet again. They would be stunned at the love the people would throw their way to keep that theater going. For anything else to happen to it would be a tragedy for Northwest Indiana.
I think the Janowski’s would be surprised by how much help we would give if they would just ask. I hope they reopen.
So their beloved “baby” should sit there and deteriorate?? That’s ridiculous indeed. And self-important. Sheer hubris.
I don’t feel that is so ridiculous. They probably feel that nobody could care about their baby, the Theatre. like they do. They are probably afraid that it will turn into another R or X rated Theatre. The owners are Ted and Vern Janowski and I was introduced to them twenty five years ago by an area physician. I understand that their son is seeking to reopen it and may be overwhelmed by the work involved. I wish he would contact me at with questions. I live locally, love that Theatre as much as he or his parents do and am an experienced businessman.
Thank you.
If that is the position the family has than they don’t really care about the theater. Why would they rather see it torn down than run by a true movie lover? That’s ridiculous.
I spoke with the owners son last year hoping they would let me run the place for them or consider selling it to me. They said they would rather see it torn down then run/owned by anyone else. It is sad. I really love the theater and would like to keep it going the same way they have been running it.
I was just there on Friday, 08/21/09, and there were several handmade signs stating that the theater is closed due to illness but will reopen. No dates are posted, but it seems to me that things may have been this way for a while, and I’m wondering if there’s more to the story. When I walked around back, I saw that there were very tall weeds outside both of the rear emergency exits, indicating disuse. I’m ASSuming the fire department wouldn’t allow those exits to be so overgrown. I am saddened if this is the end of the Town. It’s an odd little theater w/ a charming way of doing business.
Thanks for posting such cool pictures. It’s great to document the current movie playing as well. I miss the place. What an asset to NW Indiana. Great memories of the Town Theatre!!
It’s great to know that the Town is still operating much as it did in the ‘70s, when I regularly went there for foreign and art films otherwise unavailable in the area.
I have so many fond memories of the Town Theatre. What a treasure to Highland and Northwest Indiana! It should be preserved.
We would go to Highland from neighboring Munster, Indiana (probably in the 80’s). Mostly to see foreign and independent films. I also remember our foreign language teachers taking us there to watch films…and also offer extra credit if we saw things at the Town.
The intermission was incredible! Just thinking about it makes me want a Black Forest Cake!