Ban-Box Theatre

The Ban-Box Theater opened as an alternative to the chain-run houses in Elkhart, Indiana in the 1930’s. E.O. Stuckman had teamed with Lerner Theatres to open on Christmas Day 1932 in the Equity Building. The Equity Soda Shop served as the de facto concession stand for the Ban-Box. The auditorium seated 200 and had a 9'x12' screen. The theater had the advantage of a parking lot near its entrance.

With programming consisting of third-run, continuous - aka “grindhouse” - runs all day and night showings, the Ban-Box tried to sneak under the radar with non-union projectionists. That stealthy move was uncovered by Day 4 when the Motion Picture Machines Union reps went behind the scenes and vandalized the sound system on December 28, 1932.

Harold J. Bowser took on the venue in 1933 to quell the situation. Goshen’s Joe Czingey was preparing to open the new Roxy Theatre in 1934 at 507 South Main Street. He and his partner bought out the Ban-Box closing it October 16, 1934. He opened the Roxy Theatre on October 25, 1934. He tore out much of the Ban-Box to keep it out of competition. That non-compete did not last long.

Winton Neal took on the venue and reseated it with his wife serving as cashier and Mr. Neal being the projectionist. It opened on April 13, 1935 with Joan Crawford as “Chained". They marketed as the only home-owned movie theater in the City. The Ban Box closed permanently on October 6, 1935. The space was converted to office use.

The Equity Building had been named that from 1930 to 1965. Previously it had been named the Worthy W. Haynes or W.W. Haynes Building in 1919 and had a brief run as the Bassier-Grossnickle Building in its original capacity as a multi-level service building for local doctors. The building was renamed the Communicana Building in 1965 where it housed the local media interests prior to its eventual demolition.

Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.