Scenes from... Tipton, Indiana

Cinema Treasures has an interesting article about the history of the Diana Theatre. We'll have to get inside sometime to see the paintings of the Roman Goddess.
Horton's of Tipton has a little bit of everything, including a candy counter with lots of fudge:

Gorgeous displays at Horton's of Tipton:

Cute signs at US 31 and IN-28:

While we were disappointed that it rained on Saturday during Horton's Of Tipton French Flea Market, we certainly weren't disappointed in their store. It's a hardware combined with a gorgeous home decor boutique which is really brilliant because the fellas have things to look at while the ladies peruse the pretty trinkets. We even picked up some lovely Christmas gifts while we were there. It is a bit of a drive from Indianapolis but, if you are up that way, be sure to stop (or visit their room at the Logan Village Mall in Noblesville).

The Emerson Theatre- Indianapolis

We don't know what the inside is like at The Emerson since we don't think we've ever seen a show there, we're just glad that it is still there and still looks good on the outside. According to a comment on CinemaTreasures.org, it was built in 1928 as The Eastland Theatre and renamed The Emerson in 1931.

While browsing through the Indiana artists on Zazzle the other day, we came across many talented people. We LOVE the poster of The State theatre in South Bend by Michael Sriver.

Indy Flashback...Apollo Theatre

Did you know that Indy used to have an Apollo Theatre? We started looking through our Indianapolis history resources after MHeidelberger left a comment on our Fort Wayne Starbucks post lamenting the lack of an art deco high rise in Indy. We found out from Cinema Treasures that the theatre was on Illinois Street. Oh we would have loved to have watched some Marx Brothers movies here.

photo from Indianapolis A Pictorial History by Edward A. Leary

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra at Walker Theatre, Indianapolis

Detail of exterior
One of the sphinx statues that flanks the stage

Elephant detail from inside the theatre

The stage

If you like jazz at all, we certainly hope that you were at Walker Theatre last night to hear the Jazz at Lincoln Center musicians. We felt really lucky that these musicians played a show in Indy and particularly at the historic Walker Theatre. Wynton Marsalis was just as charismatic as ever while he acted as host for the evening by introducing us to the band members and telling us the pieces that they were going to play. The show started off whimsically with arrangements such as Itsy Bitsy Spider, La Cucaracha, I Like to Take My Time (a song written by Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood), and It Ain't Easy Being Green made famous by Kermit the Frog. Then they started covering the masters like Ellington and Monk. It was a wonderful evening. We aren't even especially knowledgeable about jazz, we just enjoy it. Mrs. WYA! doesn't really have much of a musical education, she just knows what she likes and something about jazz is in her soul.

Walker Theatre continues to tempt us; on March 20th they are presenting In The Mood: A 1940's Musical Revue with big band music and dancing. It looks like we might be back "on the Avenue" soon.

The Embassy Theatre- Fort Wayne, IN

The Embassy in downtown Fort Wayne is a stunner. They also get great Broadway shows and concerts (and now, for the 2008-2009 Broadway season, you can enjoy fine dining in the Indiana Hotel Lobby before the show). Mrs. WYA! is a Fort Wayne native so she's been there quite a bit but still gawks at the beauty of the place. It started in 1928 as the Emboyd with The Indiana Hotel attached to it. In 1972, with only 2 days to spare, enough money was raised to save it from the wrecking ball. We can't begin to express our gratitude to everyone who works to save places like this and then keeps them going.

The Festival of Trees was going on when we were there last but you can still see how exquisite the lobby is. You can also see how beautiful the Grande Page Pipe Organ is.

Scenes from... Anderson, IN

There is a lot of charm in Anderson, IN. The Lemon Drop restaurant was founded in 1955 and is Anderson's oldest restaurant. While we didn't dine there, we think the Big Boy sign is cute (by the way, here's a website where you can generate your own Big Boy sign). There are lovely homes on Historic 8th Street which is 11 blocks of homes built from 1870-1920. There is the beautiful old Big Four Depot which is now the home of the Anderson Young Ballet Theatre. It must be hard to be a theatre and exist on the same block as the glorious Paramount but there is the cute State Theatre sign and it just looks like the building needs a little love. The last picture is the Gruenewald House which you can tour.

Paramount Theatre- Anderson, IN

Everyone needs to see the Paramount Theatre in person. It is the most beautiful theatre that we have ever seen. Actually, it might be the most beautiful structure of any kind that we've been inside. Find any excuse you can to go to it; we usually use their Festival of Trees as an opportunity to gawk at the grandeur of it. Unfortunately, a lot of their events just aren't up our alley. We dearly wish that they would show old movies here. These are surroundings suitable for the likes of Harlow, Dietrich, Bogart, and Gable. Pictures can't do it justice but you can get the idea that you feel like you in an ancient Spanish courtyard under a starry sky. It is one of the few "atmospheric" theatres left in the country and it is right in our own backyard. The last picture was on their wall from back in the day when they were showing The Marx Brothers in The Cocoanuts. What we wouldn't give to see that there today.

The Artcraft Theatre- Franklin, IN

We made our first visit to Franklin and to the Artcraft to see Bela Lugosi's Dracula on the big screen. The Artcraft was every bit as cute as we thought that it would be. They have a beautiful marquee and ticket window and while it isn't as huge or as ornate as some of Indiana old theatres, it has tons of charm. From what we have read, they obviously have lots of fun getting into the spirit of showing old movies here and, even though we were at the 2PM show on a Friday, that sense of fun was obvious through all of their Halloween decorations and the shorts that they ran before the movie. Their 2008/2009 line-up of movies looks great and you can click the picture for a larger image to check out the dates you'll want to keep free so that you can experience the Artcraft for yourself.

Happy Halloween!!

The 1931 Dracula movie is playing today and tomorrow at Franklin's Artcraft Theatre and we are very excited to finally get to this theatre and to rightfully spend Halloween with Bela Lugosi. The Artcraft's 2008/2009 movie schedule is on their website now and it includes some great movies such as The Christmas Story, Sabrina, Some Like It Hot, and The King and I along with many other great flicks.

Ah, The Magnificent Seven. Tough guys (with a soft side) Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen lead the Seven to a farmers' village to protect them against Calvera (the always amazing Eli Wallach) and his gang of bandits. We watch this movie every year and, today and tomorrow, you can watch it at the ArtCraft Theatre in Franklin.

Old theatre ads

It must have been kismet. The very same day that we went to Terre Haute to visit the Indiana Theatre, a family member there was getting ready to throw away a portion of The Terre Haute Star from December 1st, 1949. They had found it in the walls of an old house. We very excitedly took it off of their hands and found advertisements for movies playing not only at the Indiana Theatre but also at the Lyceum, Idaho, Swan, State, and The Wabash. Evidently, there were a lot of movie lovers in Terre Haute in 1949. The paper is a little torn up but we love it. Be sure to click to get a larger image of the photo with the ads for the Swan and Idaho- there's an interesting little item about a babysitter.

The Indiana Theatre- Terre Haute, IN

It's no secret that we love old movies and we love old movie theatres. The Indiana Theatre in Terre Haute is especially close to Mr. WYA's heart because he spent many a childhood afternoon there. Built in 1922, we are so grateful that it is still standing and looking so good. Isn't the facade impressive at the corner of Ohio St. and 6th? When you walk in you are in the "rotunda" with a soaring ceiling (3rd picture from top) and the Spanish Baroque style envelops you. Walk through another set of doors and you are in the gorgeous lobby with 38 hand carved sculptures on the ceiling. It is an absolute stunner. The style continues in the auditorium, which can accommodate movies and live shows, too. The Indiana is an absolute jewel that you really should go see. Thanks to everyone involved in keeping this theatre going and thanks for letting us come through before showtime and snap these pictures.