Ohio Theatre
100 N. Main Street,
Oakland City,
IN
47660
100 N. Main Street,
Oakland City,
IN
47660
No one has favorited this theater yet
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Settos Theaters
Architects: Robert B. Crow
Previous Names: Amuzu Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Amuzu Theatre was an early purpose-built theatre which opened by 1914, in a section of downtown that was rapidly expanding.
The structure was a simple but attractive two story brick building with a Prairie school façade. The entry was a wide square arch with the name in metal letters above, and two central windows covered with an eave on the second floor. There was some vertical ornamentation in stone on either side of the façade. Initially, seating was provided for 250.
By the mid-1920’s, there was a vertical bulb sign topped with a ‘peacock tail’ fan. The Amuzu Theatre was still open in 1932. By 1935 the seating capacity had been increased to 415, and by 1941 it was listed with 500-seats. In March 1941 it was re-named Ohio Theatre which was still open in 1957. While the local population has remained fairly stable, downtown has suffered a serious decline, and this entire block has been a vacant lot for decades.
Contributed by
Seth Gaines
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 2 comments)
A very early view with buggies parked alongside can be seen here: https://indianaalbum.pastperfectonline.com/photo/CBCB3546-0150-4E4A-8784-229897618370
A mid ‘20s view is here: https://indianaalbum.pastperfectonline.com/photo/FA8295B0-2178-4EF0-89AA-288568497420
A few updates in here including name of the architect, circuit affiliation, and year of name change.
An “Amusu Theatre” located in Oakland City was listed in the American Motion Picture Directory of 1914-1915, which was published in early 1915. However, information from later in 1915 and 1917 indicate this building possibly opened in 1916.
The earliest mention of an Amuzu Theatre in the trades came in September of 1915, when both the Motion Picture News and Moving Picture World announced that the Amuzu Theatre Corporation had been formed in Oakland City by A. G. Troutman, Carl Spillman and Eunice Troutman as directors, the company had $5,000 in capital stock.
In 1917, the May 19 issue of Motion Picture News had a writeup about the Amuzu which can be read here. The article does mention that the structure was “completed during 1916”, the architect was Robert B. Crow, of Columbus, Indiana. According to the article, the Azumu at this point had “500 comfortable opera chairs” supplied by the American Seating Company.
In July 1919, it was reported in Variety that the Amuzu Theatre Corporation had filed a certificate of dissolution with the secretary of state. This was probably due to the departure of A. G. and Eunice Troutman, leaving Carl Spillman as owner and operator, a position he held until 1941, when the January 20 issue of the Film Daily mentioned that he had sold to the Settos Circuit. Based in Indianapolis, this was the 15th theatre spread across Indiana and Kentucky operated by George Settos. The theatre was closed for upgrading and I’m guessing on reopening was renamed the Ohio. The name change was reported in the March 29 edition of Boxoffice