The Indiana Theater: Past

The original blueprint

The Indiana Theater, dubbed "The Indiana", has been a fixture of the community since July 16th, 1924. Adda Prothero Elkin (1877-1964) purposed the building's downstairs to be a social hub. It included a barber, a tobacco shop, and a bowling alley. These secondary businesses ensured a steady crowd of passersby to see the regular stream of films and Keith-Albee Circuit Vaudeville acts. The many downstairs businesses remained successful into the late 1960's. The upstairs was originally a full, 1400 seat theatre complete with balcony, staging house, and ornate decoration.

Keith-Albee Circuit Circa 1927

Indiana, PA has an incredibly rich history when it comes to movie and stage theatres. The first movie to play in Indiana County was Lyman H. Howes, "Moving Pictures", a traveling show which came to town every six months in the late 1800's. These shows are believed to have taken place at Library Hall, Indiana's oldest recorded public venue. A host of various theaters waxed and waned until the mid-1920's, about when The Ritz and The Indiana were built. These two new theaters were much nicer, and more opulent than their competition, and featured state-of-the-art technologies in sound and projection. Interestingly, there is one fire on record due to the use of the highly flammable, silver-nitrate film.

The Indiana circa 1930's (courtesy of The Indiana Gazette)

A Tale of Two Theaters:

Used as the non-dominant hand of a local entertainment monopoly (from 1925 into the 1950's), The Indiana was renovated in 1928, and reduced in size and grandeur to allow for office space. Major acts and film releases were shown across the street at Mrs. Elkin's other theater, The Ritz, while primarily films were shown at The Indiana. The Indiana and Ritz (later renamed Manos) maintained steady business for 75 years without closing. After Mrs. Elkin's death in 1934, both theaters were purchased by the Monessen Amusement Company, also known as Manos. Manos ran the theaters successfully well into the 1980's.

The Manos/ The Ritz, 1950's (courtesy of The Indiana Gazette)

The Ritz Theater (Manos Theater) was eventually demolished to become a parking lot. All that remains is the lobby and ticket booth. It's current function is a law office, and remnants of the ornate trim and frescos can be seen still on walls and ceilings of local lawyer & Pennsylvania state representative, David Reed's office.

The Indiana, 1950's (courtesy of The Indiana Gazette)

Culturally, The Indiana's previous closing & The Manos' demolition could be connected with the availability of VHS, BetaMax, and Cable Television Broadcasting. But on a deeper Economic level, the action of R&P Coal leaving Indiana and the processes of deindustrialization led to a lower population and less income available for such luxuries.

Mining equipment from R&P Coal

"America was left with a new service based economy and generally "lower wages, less full-time work, bigger wage gaps between workers, and less union protection." In addition, the higher paying service jobs (in finance, health care, computers etc.) were concentrated in urban centers and certain regions. A "bicoastal economy" was created with a healthy service-based economy on the coasts and an ailing industrial based economy in the Rust Belt and Appalachia. The majority of communities in the United States had nothing but a new McDonald's to look forward to as part of the new economy."

-Elizabeth Chiang, The Storm that Swept Though: The Effects of Globalization on Indiana County

The Indiana, 1950's (courtesy of The Indiana Gazette)

Tom Harley, an architect and businessman, saw that The Indiana was being considered for demolition. He soon after purchased the venue to save it from such an untimely fate.
Since the late 1990's The Indiana has seen a cultural resurgence. "I think Philadelphia Street can become a Mecca for live entertainment.", stated Mr. Harley in a recent interview. A number of live musical performances, plays, film series, film festivals, and cultural events have been happening at the theater on a regular basis, a personal goal of Tom Harley, owner, and Sean Howard, general manager.  With the help of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the 15701 zip code's median age has become 21.6 years old, providing a rise in culture-consuming patrons and culture creators alike.

The Indiana stands as a memorial to its rich film and stage histories, and to the traditional concept of analog motion pictures. It is the last of it's kind in the area, but The Indiana has become even more than it has been in the past, and the plethora of culturally-rich, community events taking place are a testament to that fact.