The theatres behind the mastheads in Tribune Showprint have interesting histories. There is no shortage of fires, tragedies, scandals, and success stories, but there is also an abundance of strikingly odd details that have somehow stood the test of time.
For example, the Tivoli theatre in Spencer, IN was recently restored in 2013. The auditorium was designed to resemble a Spanish garden, including the addition of "twinkling stars" on the midnight blue ceiling. According to the theatre's website, the stars are arranged in "a detailed constellation pattern matching the star alignment just as it would’ve appeared over Spencer at 9:00 p.m. on December 31, 1928," the day the theatre opened.
The Hines Theatre in Portland, IN had talents such as Harry Houdini and Chico Marx. On July 23, 1983, after a showing of "the Twilight Zone," the theatre caught fire and burned to the ground. The fire killed a projectionist who had been working at the Hines for most of the theatres history. The theatre was 98 years old when it burned down.
The Strand Theatre in South Bend, IN began showing risque adult films in 70's in an attempt to stay in business, the Viking theatre in Appleton, WI ran Star Wars for nearly 6 months straight in 1977, and the Egyptian theatre in DeKalb, IL is rumored to be haunted.
However, the most moving story I have found over the course my research was actually about an employee. In 1954 Irwin Stephan moved to Delavan, WI with his wife and four kids for his new job as the manager of the Delavan Theatre. A few weeks after moving, on January 14, 1955, his car collided with a freight train and Stephan was killed.
