Unknown Theaters?

[David Sechrest]

After all of our discussions regarding movie theatres and opera houses, you would think we've covered all of them. But apparently, at least one has been overlooked.

I was looking at the 1912 Sanborn map tonight and ran across this:



Washington St. is to your right, Jackson to your left, and 4th St. at the bottom. Notice at 412 Washington St. (lower right hand area), the building is designated as "Moving Pictures." I've never noticed this before and had no idea there was ever a "theatre" at that location. Now I'm wondering what it was called and who owned it.

Here's another interesting look at our downtown from 1912:



Washington St. is on your left and Franklin to the right. 5th St. is at the bottom. In back of the KoP lodge is the Crystal Theatre. I wasn't aware of its existence either! (learn something new each day!)

On the 1927/1947 Sanborn map, the Crystal Theatre has become the American. Then later, the Rio. Then even later, a parking lot.

[Ricky_Berkey]

I knew the Rio theatre had a different name before the American but I couldn't remember it. It looks like it was there in that 1910 postcard. The signboard at the center entrance looks like an early cinema sign and the price of 10 cents must have been the cost of the show. The Sanborn map shows a long center aisleway to the back where the theatre was located.

Wasn't there also some type of theatre in the St Denis Hotel (maybe called the Palace) that burned in a fire? It would have been prior to the moving pictures era.

May 13, 2010 23:35:34 GMT -5 David Sechrest said:

After all of our discussions regarding movie theatres and opera houses, you would think we've covered all of them. But apparently, at least one has been overlooked.

I was looking at the 1912 Sanborn map tonight and ran across this:

Washington St. is to your right, Jackson to your left, and 4th St. at the bottom. Notice at 412 Washington St. (lower right hand area), the building is designated as "Moving Pictures." I've never noticed this before and had no idea there was ever a "theatre" at that location. Now I'm wondering what it was called and who owned it.

Here's another interesting look at our downtown from 1912:


Washington St. is on your left and Franklin to the right. 5th St. is at the bottom. In back of the KoP lodge is the Crystal Theatre. I wasn't aware of its existence either! (learn something new each day!)

On the 1927/1947 Sanborn map, the Crystal Theatre has become the American. Then later, the Rio. Then even later, a parking lot.

[David Sechrest]

The Pallas was inside the St. Denis Hotel. In fact, thanks for reminding me of this. In Will Marsh's book where he writes of the old Crump Opera Hall on Washington burning, he confused that with the Pallas. I need to make that change on the Crump history web page.

[David Sechrest]

I love these old Sanborn maps!

[RER]

Crystal Theatre (theater) Year 1911
K of P Building (Ole Rio Theater Bldg)
5th Street
Columbus, Indiana

Research Reveals: As David has discovered the Crystal Theater was located in the very back of the K of P (Knights of Pythias) building. The name on David's 1912 Sanborn Map says: "Crystal Theatre Moving Pictures." Additional Information: During 1911 there were at least two live boxing matches in the Crystal theater per the history research results found. Below are some of the names and details of those two boxing matches:

Date September 4, 1911: Boxer Young Sweeney V.S. Jimmy Anderson live at the Crystal Theater. Mr. Young was a Featherweight, Won 3, Lost 0 and had 3 Draws. During his career he only boxed 52 rounds. His home town was Chicago, Illinois.

Date May 18, 1911: Boxer Young Sweeney V.S. Stewart Donnelly at the Crystal Theater. Mr. Stewart Donnelly was a Welterweight boxer and Won 6 (KOs), Lost 9 (KOs 8) Draws 3. He had a total of 23 fights with a grand total of 180 rounds. He was a resident of Indianapolis, Indiana.

Young Sweeny Crystal Info (go here):

boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=250418&cat=boxer

Stewart Donnelly Crystal Info (go here):

boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=54952&cat=boxer

Final Comment: Apparently, not only did the Crystal Theater show moving pictures; they further had live events such as boxing matches and whatever else is discovered.