Hilbert Circle Theatre

{{Short description|Historic theater in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.}}

{{Infobox venue

| name = Hilbert Circle Theatre

| nickname =

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| fullname =

| former names = Circle Theatre

| logo_image =

| logo_caption =

| image = The Hilbert Circle Theatre, pictured at dusk, in Indianapolis, Indiana's capital city.jpg

| caption = Entry façade as it appeared in 2016

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| address = 45 Monument Circle

| location = Indianapolis, Indiana

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| type = theatre

| genre =

| broke_ground =

| built =

| opened = {{Start date|1916|08|30}}

| renovated = 1984, 2013

| expanded =

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| owner = Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra

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| capacity = 1,660

| tenants = Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra

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| website = {{URL|https://www.indianapolissymphony.org/about/hilbert-circle-theatre|www.indianapolissymphony.org}}

{{Infobox NRHP

| embed = yes

| name = Circle Theater

| nrhp_type = cp

| nocat = yes

| partof = Washington Street-Monument Circle Historic District

| partof_refnum = 97001179

| coordinates = {{coord|39|46|5|N|86|9|26|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| locmapin = USA Indianapolis central#USA Indianapolis#Indiana#USA

| architect = Rubush and Hunter; Bedford Stone Construction Co.

| architecture = Classical Revival

| added = June 16, 1980

| area = less than one acre

| refnum = 80000058{{NRISref|2009a}}

}}

The Hilbert Circle Theatre, originally called the Circle Theatre, is in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Monument Circle in the Washington Street-Monument Circle Historic District. It was originally built in 1916 as a "deluxe movie palace" and now is the home of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.{{cite web |title=Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database (SHAARD) |url=https://secure.in.gov/apps/dnr/shaard/welcome.html |access-date=2016-08-01 |publisher=Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology |format=Searchable database}} Note: This includes {{cite web |author=Larry B. Justice |date=December 1979 |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Circle Theater |url=https://secure.in.gov/apps/dnr/shaard/r/1d4d4/N/Circle_Theater_Marion_CO_Nom.pdf |access-date=2016-08-01 |format=PDF}} and Accompanying photographs{{rp|2–3}}

The theatre was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

History

The Circle Theatre was one of the first "motion picture palaces" in the Midwest and one of the first movie theaters west of New York.{{Cite book |last=Price |first=Nelson |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/54066651 |title=Indianapolis then & now |publisher=Thunder Bay Press |year=2004 |isbn=1-59223-208-6 |edition=1st |location=San Diego, Calif. |pages=10–11 |oclc=54066651}} The theatre also offered locally produced stage shows, such as the 1921 The Landing of the Pilgrims for Thanksgiving week.{{Cite book |last=Caldwell |first=Howard |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/747432334 |title=The golden age of Indianapolis theaters |date=2010 |publisher=Quarry Books/Indiana University Press |isbn=978-0-253-00143-6 |location=Bloomington |pages=119–121; 126–127 |oclc=747432334}} In 1922, a $50,000 Wurlitzer organ was installed for use during silent films and solo performances. In the summer of 1924, visiting musicians offered Circle patrons "syncopation seasons" with various jazz and popular music performances while the house concert orchestra was off. Frank Sinatra and Dizzy Gillespie were two such visitors who held concerts in the theatre.

On March 6, 1927, the Circle brought sound movies to the Indianapolis approximately fourteen months before other venues. Three musical film segments were shown: Roy Smeck playing the guitar, ukulele, and banjo; Giovanni Martinelli, a Metropolitan Opera tenor, singing I Pagliacci, and finally, Al Jolson, the blackface singing comedian. The Circle brought another first to the city in February 1928 by offering The Jazz Singer, a film with four talking and singing scenes starring Al Jolson.

As multiscreen cinemas emerged in suburban malls throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the Circle Theatre fell into disrepair.{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.indianapolissymphony.org/visit/hilbert-circle-theatre/history/ |access-date=2023-04-23 |website=Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra |language=en-US}}

Reopening on October 12, 1984 after a $6.8 million renovation, the Circle Theatre is home to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. In December 1996, it was renamed the Hilbert Circle Theatre after being endowed by Stephen Hilbert, founder of CNO Financial Group, and his wife Tomisue. The theatre holds 1,660 seats and has space for an 87-member ensemble. It is now home to a 3-manual 24-rank Wurlitzer theatre organ.{{Cite web |title=American Theatre Organ Society |url=http://www.atos.org/sites/default/files/pdf/locator/ATOS-Theatre-Organ-Locator-20111027.pdf}}

Architecture

The theatre was designed by Indianapolis architects Rubus & Hunter. Built in 1916, the building is a Neoclassical-revival with white glazed terra cotta entrance section with a brick auditorium section behind. The front façade is slightly curved. The theatre's interior was designed by architect Robert Adam and uses motifs from Greek, Etruscan and Pompeian artists.

Notable events

In 1986, the theatre reverted to being a movie palace for the world premier of Hoosiers. The theatre hosted the Weightlifting Competition during the 1987 Pan American Games.{{cite book|title=The Games of August: Official Commemorative Book |publisher=Showmasters |location=Indianapolis |year=1987 |isbn=978-0-9619676-0-4}} Actress Kitty Carlisle hosted a centennial celebration for the Indiana native composer Cole Porter in 1991. The venue later hosted NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon for a week of episodes during Super Bowl XLVI in 2012.[http://www.wthr.com/story/16643365/on-the-set-with-jimmy-fallon On the set with Jimmy Fallon]. WTHR.com. Retrieved February 1, 2012.

References

External links

{{Commons category-inline|Hilbert Circle Theatre (Indianapolis)}}
[https://www.indianapolissymphony.org/about/hilbert-circle-theatre Official website]
[http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/indianapolis/circletheater.html Circle Theater (Hilbert Circle Theatre)] from Indianapolis, a Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary

Category:Individually listed contributing properties to historic districts on the National Register in Indiana