National Register of Historic Places

Indiana Theatre

Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
Listed
January 29, 1979
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
79000035

About this property

The Indiana Theatre is a multiple use performing arts venue located at 140 W. Washington Street in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was built as a movie palace and ballroom in 1927 and today is the home of the Indiana Repertory Theatre. It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1979. It is located in the Washington Street-Monument Circle Historic District. The building is six stories and is of concrete frame construction. The front of the building is sheathed in white terra cotta. The main feature of the facade is the curving triangular arch with churrigueresque framing that fills the central bay above the marquee. The original marquee is still in place. The basement originally contained bowling alleys and billiard rooms. Upper floors were divided between office space and theater space. The interior included an entrance lobby, 2+1⁄2-story main lobby and a 3,200-seat auditorium. The auditorium was distinguished by elaborate plaster ornamentation based on Spanish Baroque motifs. The building is topped by the Indiana Roof Ballroom, a large atmospheric ballroom decorated to resemble a square surrounded by buildings with a stage at one end. The ballroom has an elliptical dome with sky effects. The theater is a major example of the American motion picture palace. The building was restored and the auditorium was extensively remodeled in 1979–80 to accommodate the needs of the Indiana Repertory Theatre. National Register of Historic Places listings in Center Township, Marion County, Indiana Historic American Buildings Survey in Indiana, edited by Thomas M. Slade, page 43 ISBN 0-253-32741-5 Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. IN-101, "Indiana Theatre, 134 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Marion County, IN", 49 photos, 51 data pages Indiana Theatre from Indianapolis, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary

Location

134 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
39.76737, -86.16089

Categories

ARTARCHITECTUREPERFORMING ARTS
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Questions about this property

When was Indiana Theatre listed on the National Register?

Indiana Theatre was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 29, 1979.

What type of historic resource is Indiana Theatre?

Indiana Theatre is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Indiana Theatre?

The period of significance for Indiana Theatre is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Indiana Theatre?

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