Mars Theatre
4824 Alexander Avenue,
East Chicago,
IN
46312
4824 Alexander Avenue,
East Chicago,
IN
46312
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Gollos Brothers
Previous Names: Twin City Theatre, Midtown Theatre, Midway Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Twin City Theatre opened in March 1926. It was closed in February 1934. It reopened in September 1934 as the Midtown Theatre. From March 1936 to November 1946 it operated as the Midway Theatre. Following a month closed while it was refurbished it reopened on December 10, 1946 as the Mars Theatre. The reopening program was a triple bill consisting of Carmen Miranda in “Something for the Boys” plus “Robert Young in "Lady Luck & Roy Rogers in "Rainbow Over Texas”. It was closed in May 1951.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
On this day in 1939, the theatre was listed as the MIDWAY in the Hammond Times (playing “Prison Break” and “Carnival Queen”.)
I WAS IN THIS THEATER ONE TIME,IN ABOUT 1954, AFTER IT WAS CLOSED. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW LONG IT HAD BEEN CLOSED. TED MYJEWSKI, WHO OWNED THE CALUMET THEATER IN HAMMOND, INDIANA HAD PURCHASED THE SEATS AND I WAS THERE TO HELP REMOVE THEM FROM THE MARS THEATER AND INSTALL THEM IN THE CALUMET. AS I RECALL WE MUST HAVE ARRIVED THERE AROUND NINE AM ON A WEEK DAY AND FINISHED REMOVING THEM AND LOADING THEM INTO A RENTED CARGO VAN AROUND FOUR AM THE NEXT DAY. THERE WERE ABOUT FIVE OF US NOT COUNTING MR. MYJEWSKI. MR. M BOUGHT US LUNCH AND DINNER. AS I RECALL BURGERS, FRIES, AND FOUNTAIN POP. THREE PEOPLE RODE IN THE CAB AND THREE OF US RODE IN THE BACK ALONG WITH THE SEATS. IT’S A WONDER THE LOAD DIDN’T SHIFT AND INJURED ONE IF NOT ALL OF US.
John (Spirovich) Alex
I was born and raised in East Chicago, Indiana in 1932. As a young boy I grew up in my Grandmother’s house at 4920 Alexander…………about a half a block from the Midway Theater. I spent many hours going to the movies there while growing up…… The owner’s mane was Mr. Whitehead……….I remember that he wold always stand in front of the theater, he always had one of his hands in his trouser pocket shaking the coins in his pocket…During those late 1930’s and early 1940’s the Midway Theater gave dinner wear to patrons who bought admission into the theater………
Seating was segregated in the theater with Negros’s seating on the left side seating and the white’s seating in the middle and right side seating of the theater…
There were ushers directing patrons to their seats and kept order in the theater during showing of the movie….
I did have a job working for the Midway Theater…I handed out ‘Handbills" around the neighborhood informing them what movies were to be playing…….. my pay was free admission into the theater and a box of popcorn…………
If any members of your website has any photo’s of the Midway, and once called the Mars Theater I would appreciate getting copies of them
This is a really special Website..thanks for all you do for movie buffs like me………
I enlisted in the military in 1953……Visited back in 1958………..Things had really changed but my memories of the old days there have never changed…
John in Montana
This opened on December 10th, 1946 (or at least the first ad bought). Ad in the photo section.
The theater at 4824 Alexander Avenue in the Indiana Harbor side of East Chicago, IN, had several names. It was listed in the phone directory as the Twin City Theatre from March 1926 through February 1934. In September 1934 it was advertising as the Midtown Theatre. From March 1936 until November 1946 it was the Midway Theatre. In December 1946 it became the Mars Theatre. I didn’t find any ads placed after May 1951.