Hammond Theatre
6153 Columbia Avenue,
Hammond,
IN
46320
6153 Columbia Avenue,
Hammond,
IN
46320
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The Rio Theatre closed November 3, 1946, with an announcement teasing about renovation and remodeling. The venue reopened November 15, 1946, as the “Newly Remodeled and Beautiful” new Hammond Theatre. Later ads called it the Hammond Theatre. (This was the city’s second Hammond Theatre. The first was downtown. It became the DeLuxe Theatre.) In November 1949 the name changed again, this time to Pix Theatre. There are no ads for the Pix after February 1950.
Gary Theatre Company, not to be confused with the Gary Theater in Gary, IN, took over the Maywood Theatre in April 1928. Gary Theatre Company was the holdco through which Indiana showmen V.U. Young and C.J. Wolf conducted much of their business. Young briefly undertook personal management of the Maywood Theatre, which didn’t fall under the umbrella of Young Amusement Company, Gary Theatre Company’s exhibition affiliate. The marriage was brief. In January 1929 Gary Theatre Company passed the Maywood to Jack Cooney. Jack and brother Ben Cooney were attempting to build a new circuit after the demise of their National Playhouse chain. The Cooneys would also briefly operate the Gary Theater, which they leased from owner Northern Indiana Investment Company.
Norm Kristoff was president of owner Maywood Theater Company. W. Scott Armstrong, Chicago, was the architect, engineer and builder. The theater was equipped with a Geneva organ.
Reopened as Rio on September 30th, 1936. Grand opening ad in the photo section.
Grand opening ad in the photo section