Kennedy Theatre
6735 Kennedy Avenue,
Hammond,
IN
46323
6735 Kennedy Avenue,
Hammond,
IN
46323
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Additional Info
Previous Names: Hess Theatre, Ace Theatre
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News About This Theater
- Jul 31, 2013 — Historic theaters struggle to make jump to digital
The Hess Theatre was opened in September 1937. On December 24, 1939 it was renamed Ace Theatre. On May 10, 1963 it was renamed Kennedy Theatre, named after the President. A picture of the President adorned the wall opposite the box office and candy counter. It was known (and still is) as the rocking chair theatre and could seat around 600. In the late-1960’s and early-1970’s the Kennedy Theatre was best known for showing second run double features.
Everything changed for the theatre in December of 1975 when “Jaws” opened and enjoyed a six month run. From then on the Kennedy Theatre became a first run theatre showing films either exclusive to Northwest Indiana “Midway”, “One on One”, and “Gray Lady Down” come to mind) or sharing a booking with one of the General Cinemas in the area. The theatre fell on hard times in the late-1980’s into the 1990’s so much so that the theatre could no longer afford to place advertisements in one of two major newspapers in the area.
In 1996 the theatre was closed and remodeled into a twin by cutting the theatre in half. The seating in each auditorium was now about 200 each. Apparently this failed and the theatre closed in 2001.
In early-2002 two families purchased the Kennedy Theatre and reopened it. The brick wall with the portrait of the President was removed and mirrors were added. The original seats remain and are badly in need of being replaced as many are broken or just plain uncomfortable. A skybox with around 10 seats were added upstairs for one theatre. If you purchase a ticket (at a higher price) to the skybox you get all the popcorn and soda you want for free and it is delivered to you.
Happily, the theatre was able to secure some first run films and appeared to be doing well. Sadly, it could not afford the switch to digital projection and was closed around 2015.
Contributed by
John
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Recent comments (view all 14 comments)
There is a photo of the Kennedy on this page, close to the bottom.
http://www.duneshore.com/
Kennedy Theatre.Wow,They must have really loved President Kennedy.Don’t think it would fly today with the country split like it is.“BUSH I and II theatres”? “OBAMA CINEMAS” ? .nope ,not today.
They could try to keep everyone happy. Since it’s a twin, maybe they should rename it the PRESIDENT, then call the left auditorium the OBAMA and the right one the BUSH.
Great! Rick. Love it.
Status should be closed. Unable to go digital.
This opened as the Hess Theatre in September 1937. No grand opening ad was bought for this theatre.
Reopened as Kennedy on May 10th, 1963. Grand opening ad in the photo section.
This was named the Ace Theatre in the mid `50s, which should be added to previous names. Circa 1956 photo added as Ace Theatre courtesy Michael Goodson‎.
Reopened as Ace on December 24th, 1939. another ad posted.
The Ace theatre is one of seven movie houses, two of which are drive-ins, listed in the 1954 Hammond area City Directory. One of them, the Hoosier, is in Whiting. In the 1941 directory, the Ace is one of nine houses listed, all of which are indoor operations. Two, the Hoosier and the Capitol, are in Whiting.