Artcraft Theatre

Last updated
Artcraft Theatre
Artcraft Theatre Franklin IN.jpg
USA Indiana location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Artcraft Theatre
Location within Indiana
Address57 N. Main St
Franklin, Indiana
United States
Coordinates 39°28′52″N86°03′18″W / 39.481161°N 86.055017°W / 39.481161; -86.055017
OwnerFranklin Heritage, Inc.
DesignationNational Register of Historic Places
Type Movie theater
Seating typeFestival Seating
Capacity 625
Screens1
Current useMovie theater and concert venue
Construction
OpenedNovember 1st, 1922
Renovated1936, 1940, 1948-1952
ClosedMay, 2000
Reopened2004
Years active1922 - present
ArchitectRoy C. Bryant
Structural engineerArsee Engineering
Website
Official website

The Historic Artcraft Theatre is a movie theater in Franklin, Indiana in the United States. The theater operated as a first-run movie theater continuously for 78 years before closing. It was the headquarters for Syndicate Theatre's cinema network from 1936-2000. Saved from demolition by historic preservation group Franklin Heritage Inc., the theater shows classic movies and hosts concerts as the group restores the Artcraft and other local buildings. [1] The Artcraft is one of the best examples of an art deco theatre in Indiana.

Contents

History

Opening its doors on November 1, 1922, the Artcraft was the first theater in Franklin built to show movies. It was built in the neo-classical style without a marquee or blade sign. Located across the street from the interurban railway station, the Artcraft was ideal to bring in vaudeville troupes. The Artcraft also showed silent movies from 1922-1929. [1] During that time the orchestra pit in front of the stage housed any musicians needed to accompany films. Many area high schools and Franklin College performed plays and hosted commencements ceremonies on the Artcraft stage throughout the 1920s and 1930s. [2] [3]

The Rembusch family from Shelbyville, Indiana leased the Artcraft in 1928 and bought the theater in 1936. The Rembusch family installed sound at the Artcraft on October 28, 1929. The first talkie was Fox's Follies of 1929. [4] In 1935 they added the first air-conditioning system in Franklin using a swamp cooling system. [5] [6] During the Great Depression, many American families turned to cheap entertainment at the movies to keep a sense of normality. The Artcraft joined the popular Cash or Bank Nite lottery. [7] Bank Nite continued at the Artcraft through the 1950s. The Rembusches added a 2 line A-framed marquee and blade sign in 1940. They added walnut and agate-colored vitrolite glass on the lower front façade around the poster cases. Because of Franklin's idyllic community and its appearance of recovery from the Great Depression, LIFE Magazine chose Franklin as the feature for its photo-essay on a small town's Saturday night. The issue was photographed in October 1940. [8] written by Bernard Hoffman, and published in the December 1940 edition. [9]

The newly added marquee in the 1940s. Artcraft Facade, 1940s.jpg
The newly added marquee in the 1940s.

During World War II, the Artcraft supported the domestic front of the war by conducting scrap metal drives and sponsoring War Bond drives and providing contributors with a free movie pass. [10] [11] Trueman T. Rembusch hired architect Alden Miranda to draw up plans for a fresh look at the Artcraft. Work began on the art deco renovation in 1948 and finished with a new screen installment in 1953. [12] The art deco renovation included streamlining the whole front façade and lobby. Crews installed neon lights, reflective mirror tile, and rounded every 90° angle in the building. The new marquee included a waterfall-light pattern as well as multiple illuminated lines. [13] The renovation ended with the orchestra pit being filled with sand and concrete and with a new curved screen being mounted to the stage floor. These projects changed the trajectory of Artcraft away from live events and toward primarily showing movies.

The auditorium of the Artcraft following the art deco renovation. Artcraft Auditorium.jpg
The auditorium of the Artcraft following the art deco renovation.

The Artcraft remained the only operating theater in Franklin during the 1960s-2000.

The late 1980s and early 1990s saw the introduction of multiplex theaters across the United States. Kerasotes Theatres began plans to build a multiplex in Franklin. Michael Rembusch decided that his mono-plex could not compete with a multiplex so he built Canary Creek Cinemas in Franklin to out-compete the Kerasotes planned theater. Rembusch decided he could not operate two theatres in the same city made the decision to close and sell the Artcraft. The Artcraft showed Gone with the Wind as its last movie after operating continuously for 78 years in May 2000. [14]

Bob Schofield, a local businessman and owner of the Willard Restaurant, bought the Artcraft with hopes of attracting a younger generation to come back to the downtown area. He operated an ice cream shop, hosted concerts, and began an under-21 dance club. [15] In May 2001, during one dance club night the southwest portion of the auditorium's ceiling collapsed. [16] After repairing the collapse, a brief period of normal activity returned. Structural engineers condemned the building for electrical and structural reasons in August 2003. Unable to launch a massive campaign to repair the Artcraft, Bob Schofield agreed to Franklin Heritage Inc.'s offer to buy the Artcraft. [17]

Franklin Heritage, Inc. Restoration

In 2001, the historic preservation group Franklin Heritage, Inc. (FHI). decided to start renting the Artcraft to provide extra funds for restoration work and upkeep. Franklin Heritage, Inc.'s "Classic Film on a Classic Screen" campaign started on September 13, 2001 with a showing of From Here to Eternity. [18] The patriotic film depicting America under attack at Pearl Harbor resonated with the recently shocked patrons following the terrorist attacks of September 11th. FHI continued to rent the building one Thursday and later one weekend a month.

After purchasing the Artcraft with the support of the Johnson County Community Foundation, FHI began their "Marquee Project" of restoring the Artcraft to the height of its art deco style. FHI launched a $500,000 campaign to renovate the building. [19] In 2006, FHI received a state historic preservation grant towards the restoration of the theater. [14] The restoration of the Artcraft occurs in tangent with other preservation projects that FHI undertakes. The Artcraft celebrated its 100th anniversary on November 1, 2022.

Today the theater hosts movie showings of classic films that are 10 years old or older. The staff pick a wide selection of films that are iconic, that are well made, that are cult-classics, and that they think people should see. The Artcraft partners with many local and regional organizations to bring the best programming to the area including its long-standing run of Heartland International Film Festival's "Best of the Fest" events. [20]

Architecture

The building includes a full stage and orchestra pit originally intended for vaudeville performances. The Artcraft was built in the neoclassical style and did not originally have a marquee. A set of two original stage flats in a forest motif are still housed backstage. The theater was purchased by Trueman Rembusch in 1936, who facilitated the theaters first renovation in 1936. In 1948, it underwent a second renovation in the Art Deco style that is representative of American movie theaters. [21]

Awards and news

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metro INOX Cinemas</span>

Metro INOX Cinemas is an Art Deco Heritage grade IIA multiplex Movie theatre in Mumbai, India built in 1938. It was built and originally run by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). The main architect of the cinema was Thomas W. Lamb of New York City, and D. W. Ditchburn of Mumbai was the associate architect. It was one of the main sites targeted in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pellissier Building and Wiltern Theatre</span> Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument

The Pellissier Building and adjoining Wiltern Theatre is a 12-story, 155-foot (47 m) Art Deco landmark at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue in Los Angeles, California. The entire complex is commonly referred to as the Wiltern Center. Clad in a blue-green glazed architectural terra-cotta tile and situated diagonal to the street corner, the complex is considered one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in the United States. The Wiltern building is owned privately, and the Wiltern Theatre is operated by Live Nation's Los Angeles division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">State Theatre (New Brunswick, New Jersey)</span>

State Theatre New Jersey is a nonprofit theater, located in New Brunswick, New Jersey. It has seating for 1,850 people. Designed by architect Thomas W. Lamb in 1921, it is one of the oldest theaters in the State of New Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fox Theater (Spokane, Washington)</span> Performing arts venue and former movie theater in Spokane, Washington, US

The Fox Theater in Spokane, Washington is a 1931 Art Deco movie theater that now serves as a performing arts venue and home of the Spokane Symphony. It was designed by architect Robert C. Reamer, notable for his design of the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park. It was part of the Fox Film Corporation Empire founded by studio mogul William Fox. The theater opened September 3, 1931, and showed films continuously until it closed September 21, 2000, after an engagement of the movie Gladiator starring Russell Crowe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fischer Theatre</span>

The Fischer Theatre was built in 1884 in Danville, Illinois, then known as the Grand Opera House. The grand opening was held on November 5, 1884. The lot on which it was built cost $6,000, and the building itself cost $28,000 including furnishings. In 1912, the theatre was remodeled and upon its reopening on March 13, 1913, it was known as the Fischer Theater, after a member of its governing board. In 1929, the theater added equipment to project movies, and the exterior was remodeled when apartments and commercial space were added to the front of the building. A large pipe organ was used to accompany silent movies. In 1971, the theater was sold to the Kerasotes Theatres chain. The original seating capacity was about 900, which included the main floor, mezzanine, balcony and boxes. New seating was installed in 1971 when it became a Kerasotes theatre, giving the main floor a capacity of 600.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Mainzer</span> Restaurant and theater in Merced, California

The Mainzer, also known as The Mainzer Theater or The Mainzer-Strand Theater, is a restaurant and entertainment center in downtown Merced, California, serving daily dinner service, weekday happy hour, and weekend brunch. Mainzer stands proudly in the center of downtown Merced and has for many decades. Renovated to the highest of standards, Mainzer flawlessly blends architectural features with today’s amenities that are essential for your 21st-century celebrations. Highlighted by a full restaurant, bar, and seasonal beer wall it’s the perfect place to eat, drink and be merry. The game room, cinema, and theater make the experience complete with live music, movies, and the big game on the big screen. Follow that up with a competitive game of skeeball, ping pong, or foosball and this total package makes Mainzer the place to be with friends and to meet new ones. It is also recognized by the Art Deco Society of California for the restoring and remodeling process which took place beginning in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Senator Theatre</span> United States historic place

The Senator Theatre is a historic Art Deco movie theater on York Road in the Govans section of Baltimore, Maryland. It is the oldest operating movie theater in central Maryland and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated Baltimore City Landmark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Normal Theater</span> United States historic place

The Normal Theater, also known as the Normal Theatre, is a cinema located in the downtown area of Normal, Illinois of the United States of America, which is located in McLean County. The theater closed for a time in the early 1990s but reopened in 1993 after being purchased and renovated by the town of Normal. It has since been in continuous operation, showing a mix of first run and classic films. The building has been on the National Register of Historic Places since July 25, 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somerville Theatre</span> Independent movie theater and concert venue in Somerville, Massachusetts

The Somerville Theatre is an independent movie theater and concert venue in the Davis Square neighborhood of Somerville, Massachusetts, United States. Over one hundred years old, the Somerville Theatre started off as a vaudeville house and movie theater. The theater has since transitioned and now operates as a live music venue and first-run movie theater. As a music venue, the theater has played host to many historic concerts, including the first of the two Last Dispatch concerts, two shows by Bruce Springsteen in 2003, and a performance by U2 in 2009. Recent live performances have included Ryan Adams & the Cardinals, Cursive, Norah Jones, The Jonas Brothers, Joan Baez, and the John Butler Trio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atmospheric theatre</span> Type of movie theater

An atmospheric theatre is a type of movie palace design which was popular in the late 1920s. Atmospheric theatres were designed and decorated to evoke the feeling of a particular time and place for patrons, through the use of projectors, architectural elements and ornamentation that evoked a sense of being outdoors. This was intended to make the patron a more active participant in the setting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">State Theatre (Ann Arbor, Michigan)</span> Movie theater in Ann Arbor, Michigan

The State Theatre is a movie palace in Ann Arbor, Michigan, designed by C. Howard Crane in the Art Deco style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broadway Theater District (Los Angeles)</span> United States historic place

The Broadway Theater District in the Historic Core of Downtown Los Angeles is the first and largest historic theater district listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). With twelve movie palaces located along a six-block stretch of Broadway, it is the only large concentration of movie palaces left in the United States. The same six-block stretch of Broadway, and an adjacent section of Seventh Street, was also the city's retail hub for the first half of the twentieth century, lined with large and small department stores and specialty stores.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia Theatre (Champaign)</span> Movie theater in Champaign, Illinois, United States

The Virginia Theatre is a live performance and movie theatre in downtown Champaign, Illinois. It has been providing theatrical and cinematic entertainment to the Champaign-Urbana community since its doors opened in 1921. Each year, the Virginia Theatre is host to movies from film reels, plays from various acting troupes, concerts, and Ebertfest, presented by the UIUC College of Media. It is currently owned by the Champaign Park District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rivoli Theatre (South Fallsburg, New York)</span> United States historic place

The Rivoli Theatre in South Fallsburg, New York, United States is located at the intersection of NY 42 and Laurel Avenue. It was built in 1923, renovated in the late 1930s and remains almost intact from that period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mississippi Lofts and Adler Theatre</span> United States historic place

The Mississippi Lofts and Adler Theatre is an apartment building and theater complex located in downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places by its original name, the Hotel Mississippi and RKO Orpheum Theater. The Hotel Mississippi was listed on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties in 2005. In 2020 the complex was included as a contributing property in the Davenport Downtown Commercial Historic District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kiggins Theatre</span> A single-screen theatre located in downtown Vancouver, WA

The Kiggins Theatre is a single-screen movie theater in Vancouver, Washington. Named for former Vancouver mayor and businessman John P. Kiggins, it opened in 1936. It is located at 1011 Main Street in downtown Vancouver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Crump Theatre</span> United States historic place

The Crump Theatre is located in downtown Columbus, Indiana, at 425 Third Street, is part of the Columbus Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The theatre is owned by the Columbus Capital Foundation and periodically used as an event space for a variety of acts, including musicians, comedians, and paranormal investigators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hollywood Theater (Minneapolis)</span> United States historic place

The Hollywood Theater is a historic theater building in Minneapolis which is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It is located in the Audubon Park neighborhood of Minneapolis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metro Theater (New York City)</span> Former movie theater in Manhattan, New York

The Metro Theater is a defunct movie theater at 2626 Broadway on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City. It was designed by architecture firm Boak and Paris and built between 1932 and 1933. The theater is designed in the Art Deco style and originally contained 550 seats. Although the theater's interior was demolished after it was closed in 2005, the original facade remains intact and is a New York City designated landmark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chehalis Theater</span> Historic theater in Chehalis, Washington

The Chehalis Theater, also as the Chehalis Theatre, is a single-screen, Art Deco movie theater in Chehalis, Washington. The theater is situated at the north end of the Chehalis Historic Downtown District near the Hotel Washington. Known locally for the hand-painted illustrations of popular children's fantasy characters that once populated the ceiling, it is the only surviving movie house in the city.

References

  1. 1 2 "Artcraft Theatre". Heritage Travel. Indiana Landmarks. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  2. ↑ ""The Microbe of Love"". The Franklin Evening Star. November 21, 1922. p. 4.
  3. ↑ "Center Grove High School Presents". The Franklin Evening Star. April 9, 1923. p. 3.
  4. ↑ "Artcraft to Enter Ranks of "Talkies"". The Franklin Evening Star. October 26, 1929. p. 3.
  5. ↑ "Artcraft Theatre", Cinema Treasures
  6. ↑ "Work Continues on Air Cooling System". The Franklin Evening Star. June 21, 1935. p. 5.
  7. ↑ Johnson, M. L. "Beezer" (1996). Franklin: A Pictorial History (1st ed.). St. Louis, Missouri: G. Bradley Publishing, Inc. p. 99. ISBN   978-0943963525.
  8. ↑ "Life Takes Pictorial Record of Saturday in Franklin". The Franklin Evening Star. October 14, 1940. p. 1.
  9. ↑ James Guimond, American Photography and the American Dream , Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1991, pp. 160-161
  10. ↑ "We Saw Today". The Franklin Evening Star. October 23, 1942. p. 4.
  11. ↑ "Special Show in Bond Drive". The Franklin Evening Star. January 28, 1944. p. 1.
  12. ↑ "New Wide Screen Being Installed at Theater Here". The Franklin Evening Star. September 30, 1953. p. 1.
  13. ↑ "Theater Marquee Now in Operation". The Franklin Evening Star. April 8, 1948. p. 1.
  14. 1 2 Malia Savarino, "DHPA Awards 21 Preservation and Archeology Grants", Preserving Indiana, Fall/Winter 2006, p. 4, accessed 18 Aug 2010[ permanent dead link ]
  15. ↑ "Artcraft's Second Act Looks to Have Promising Future". The Daily Journal. June 1, 2000. p. 4.
  16. ↑ "Collapse Shouldn't Stop the Artcraft's Momentum". The Daily Journal. May 3, 2001. p. 4.
  17. ↑ Hoskins, Michael (February 16, 2004). "Projecting a Better Future". The Daily Journal. p. 1.
  18. ↑ Hall, Scott (September 11, 2001). "Artcraft Theater Comes to Life with Classics". The Daily Journal. p. 17.
  19. ↑ Beaty, Candace. "Group to restore Artcraft Theatre in Franklin for live performances". Indiana Economic Digest. Daily Journal of Johnson County. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  20. ↑ "1959 Ben-Hur Screening at Historic Artcraft Theatre". General Lew Wallace Study & Museum. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  21. ↑ "The Historic Artcraft Theatre/Franklin Heritage, Inc". Members. Franklin Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  22. ↑ Hoffert, Jess (December 15, 2014). "4 Favorite Restored Small-Town Cinemas". Midwest Living. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  23. ↑ "Have You Visited Indiana's Best Main Street?". Visit Indiana. December 8, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database (SHAARD)". Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.