Lerner Theatre
410 South Main Street,
Elkhart,
IN
46516
410 South Main Street,
Elkhart,
IN
46516
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Broan’s link to the drawing of the Lerner Theatre is dead, so here is a fresh link. A photo of the Lerner appears at the bottom of this page of a promotional booklet published in the late 1920s by the Federal Cement Tile Co. of Chicago.
A lot of the voicing for the Kimball organ was done by Clark Wilson, house organist at the Ohio Theater in Columbus.He is an excellent musician, and last March he played this instrument, accompanying a silent movie presentation. He preceded that with a series of numbers on the organ to show off it’s capabilities. I hope he returns to play it again!
The installation of the kimball theater organ started this week! It is up and running, but needs final finishing which could take an additional 4 weeks. I’ve been watching for this since the 90’s and now here it is, finally!!!!
As mentioned on this site’s listing for the South Bend (Ind.) Granada theater, the architect for both theaters was K.M. Vitzhum, who also designed several buildings in Chicago, including a bank, and another building 24 stories tall.
Bryan, one correction to your excellent description at the top of this page: the 4 tall center columns and the frieze are Ionic, rather than Doric. The pilasters to each side are Renaissance Doric inspired. Not that this makes one whit of difference. Does this make me the architectural equivalent of one of the “grammer police?”
Here is a nice early view
The Lerner Theater had it’s grand re-opening in June. It’s expanded facility includes a new ball room, and larger lobby. It has had a complete restoration, and everything I have seen online and in local media shows a job nicely done. As far as I am aware, the only thing missing is the Lerner’s Kimball theater organ, which was sent for rebuilding, and was not expected to be ready for the main re-opening. I hope to post here when that happy event happens. It will make the Lerner one of a lucky group of theaters to have their original organ playing in it’s original setting. Makes you think of the glory days of the N.Y. Roxy, which had not one, but 3 Kimballs! The Lerner Theater website is : lernertheater.org. C-y'all l8r! ==Sam==
This article about the ongoing restoration work and the official website both indicate that this theater is again being referred to as the Lerner Theater: View link
trying to contact ms. kathy burns as john joseph burns is my great-grandfather on my father’s side – is this “aunt kathryn” or a different kathy I am unaware of – I’m just starting my research on J J Burns – I would greatly appreciate any info you could provide me –
I think strongly that there is only one firm and that the name is Karl Martin Vitzthum. I have letterhead with his signature dated May 16,1927. K M Vitzthum & Co. Inc., K M Vitzthum Architect. At that time their office address was 307 N Michigan, Chicago, IL.(aka the Bell Building, built by them in 1923 for Herbert E Bell) In the upper left corner: K M Vitzthum, President and John Joseph Burns, Vice-Pres & Treasurer. They were partners from about 1923 to 1956 when J J Burns died.
I also have a copy of the 1918 WWI draft registration in Chicago of Karl Martin Vitzthum with his signature again
It is unfortunate that somewhere along the line, the name was misspelled and has been repeated. I have seen it misspelled in a number of articles and will try to contact them all.
Aside from skyscrapers, they built banks, churches (see St Peter’s in downtown Chicago), theaters, court houses, jails, and commercial buildings. Also before becoming partners, they both worked for 15 to 20 odd years for Eames and Young of St Louis.
I believe that you have misspelled the architects name for the Lerner Theatre in Elkart, In. You have the name as Vitchum, K. V and it should be VITZTHUM. My grandfather was John J Burns, who later was a partner to Karl Vitzthum in Chicago. I have lately been doing research of my own about my grandfather and I have been researching his partner at the same time, since he was more well known. J J Burns was a silent partner for years, when he died in 1956, Vitzthum continued with another partner named Kill.
Probably the best know building by Vitzthum and Burns is 1 North LaSalle, which also has landmark status. It was built in Chicago, in 1930. They also built the county courthouse in Sheboygan, WI .which is on the National Register.
Lost Memory; You are correct. K.V. Vitchum was an architect based in Chicago.
Here is an interesting site concerning the Elco:
http://tinyurl.com/3xyy5q
The architect of the Lerner Theater was K.M. Vitzthum. It opened 12.30pm on Thanksgiving Day 1924 with 5 Acts of Vaudeville on stage and Buster Keaton in “The Navigator” on screen. The Film Daily Yearbook of 1941 gives a seating capacity of 2,200 which reduced to 2,063 in the 1950 F.D.Y.