The Crump Theatre is located in downtown Columbus, Indiana, at 425 Third Street. It is part of the Columbus Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The theatre is owned by the Columbus Capital Foundation and periodically used as an event space for a variety of acts, including musicians, comedians, and paranormal investigators.
Early history The theatre came into being in 1889 when Charles Franklin Sparrell was hired by John Smith Crump to add a theatre to an existing building at this site. Alden Meranda completed a renovation in 1941 that transformed the building into its current Art Deco appearance. In 2013 a theatre consulting firm, Jones & Phillips, was hired by the Columbus Redevelopment Commission to complete a study on the viability of the theatre.
Theatre beginnings, 1871–1889 In 1871, Columbus, Indiana attorney Colonel John A. Keith contracted for a two-story building to be erected on the south side of Third Street between Washington and Franklin streets (today, 425 Third Street). This building was known as Keith's Arcade, but it is not known who the architect and builder were. Keith's Arcade was called an "arcade" building because of its architectural design, and had nothing to do with any amusement descriptive qualities of the word. A series of arches graced the facade, wrapping around doors and windows. Three arches adorned the top, and within the three arches, the words, "Keith's Arcade A.D. 1871", were incorporated into the upper part of each arch. From 1871 to 1889, merchants and businessmen from all walks of life rented out space in Keith's Arcade. Today's Republic newspaper got its start there in April 1872. During the 18 years the building functioned as Keith's Arcade, it was home to restaurants, a plumbing supply store, law offices, and a clothing shop, to name a few.
On December 3, 1888, Col. John Keith was placed in the Indianapolis Insane Asylum. At the time, Keith owed Frank T. Crump $28,000. In order to satisfy the debt, David Stobo, Keith's guardian as assigned by the court, had most, if not all, of Col. Keith's property sold at auction. The auction took place in the north room of the Courthouse, January 28, 1889. John Smith Crump, younger brother of Frank, acquired the Keith's Arcade property for $6,000.
Crump's New Theatre, 1889–1920 Within weeks after the purchase, John Crump hired architect Charles Sparrell to draw up plans and specifications for a theater building to be constructed and adjoin the south side of the Keith's Arcade building. In March 1889, Crump and Sparrell traveled to Madison, Indiana to tour Louis Holwager's Grand Opera House. Crump was so impressed with this theatre that he had Sparrell design his new theater based on this design. On April 22, 1889, the contracting firm of Keller and Brockman was awarded the construction job.
Sparrell and Crump worked together in the selection of nationally renowned theatrical firms that specialized in interior theater design and scenic painting. In June, the Sosman & Landis Scene Painting Studio, Chicago, Illinois, was chosen to create scenic backdrops for the theatre. Thomas G. Moses was hired to paint the drop curtain. C. S. King was selected to build the necessary stage mechanisms needed to move the large, scenic panoramas and backdrops on and off stage. These artists were noted in the 1880s as being among the "finest in the country." Also, C. S. King had worked on some of the finest opera houses in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
During construction of the theater auditorium, the old Keith's Arcade portion of the building was remodeled. The section underneath the middle arch became the entrance way to the theater. Ground floor rooms on either side of the entrance way were rented out for business purposes. Rooms on the second floor were rented out to day boarders. The words, Keith's, Arcade, A. D. 1871, embedded within each arch at the top of the building, were removed and replaced with "Crump's New Theatre." Crump's New Theatre opened October 30, 1889, with the Norcross Opera Company, Chicago performing the play, "The Pretty Persian," by well known French composer Charles Lecocq.
Community reception The opening of Crump's New Theater was a milestone in Columbus' performing arts history. After several attempts to establish a venue for the performing arts in the town, Crump's New Theatre succeeded where its predecessors had failed. It was the first, stand alone opera house in Columbus. It was also the first theater designed around the needs and demands of the traveling shows of the day. The size of the stage could accommodate the large, hand painted scenes that were tailored specifically to a particular play, and carried by the more prestigious national troupes touring the country.
Crump's New Theatre functioned as an opera house and Vaudeville theatre for a period of about 30 years and resisted the move to become a Nickelodeon theatre. During the peak of Columbus' fascination with "moving pictures" (1908), there were six theaters in downtown Columbus (Crump included), with five showing motion pictures.
1903 redecoration The Theatre was redecorated over the summer months of 1903. Henry Ranje, who had done some fresco work at the Bartholomew County Courthouse, was hired to oversee the redecorating. Bink Schnur created a new drop curtain which replaced the old one which had scenes of Sicily, Italy. Walter Doup, a Columbus bill poster, and stage mechanic at the theater, updated the mechanics of moving the large sceneries on and off stage. The auditorium was also repainted using green, rose, and gold colors.
First motion pictures The first motion pictures shown at the Theatre occurred on September 12, 1905, with the screening of The World In Motion, followed by a short movie that was filmed in Columbus. The movie showed workers leaving the Reeves and Company factory and the Columbus Fire Department driving up Washington Street. The official date recognized by Crump Theatre personnel at the time, however, was Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1914, with the showing of When Broadway Was A Trail, and In The Lion's Den.
By the end of the 1910s moving pictures dominated the amusement offerings at the Crump. Eventually a second projector was needed so that longer motion pictures could be shown, which eventually required a substantial renovation in order to accommodate a larger projection room. However, before John Crump could realize his plan to enlarge the Theatre he died in 1920 at the age of 76.
Hege and Company remodel, 1920–1934
The first remodel of the Crump Theatre was put in motion less than two weeks after the death of John Crump. With the theater passing to his children, they elected to stay true to their father's wish. On February 10, 1920, plans were hand carried to Indianapolis for approval by the State Board. On April 2, 1920, the contracting firm of Hege and Company were awarded the job with their bid of $35,000 (the company also acted as architect for this remodel). The Opera House Flats, a two apartment layout situated on the second floor, were vacated of all tenants, and the Clarence Howe Barber Shop and Columbus Realty businesses relocated to other parts of town. Work on the remodel began ten days later.
The 1920 remodel was a massive undertaking. Everything from the stage forward, to the Third Street sidewalk, was gutted (the east and west exterior brick walls were left untouched). The facade of the old Keith's Arcade building was removed entirely. What had originally been two separate and unique buildings (Keith's Arcade and the actual theater auditorium adjoining at the rear) became one. Heavier, balcony support beams replaced the posts inside the ground floor auditorium so that a second movie projector could be used. A mezzanine on the second floor was added. The box office was relocated to the front center of the ground floor mezzanine, and two new exits were installed on either side of the box office. The entire ground floor was ripped out and replaced with poured concrete. New carpeting and seats were installed. The men's and women's washrooms remained on the ground floor.
In September 1920, two new movie projectors and a new screen, a Minusa measuring 18' x 14', were installed.
During this first remodel, the theater was closed for five months. On Sunday, October 3, 1920, the Crump Theatre held an open house for public inspection. More than 3,000 people turned out to see the changes. According to reports in the Evening Republican newspaper, the Crump could now accommodate 2,000 people (more realistically, between 1,200 and 1,400 persons). With the addition of the upper mezzanine, dances were also a possibility. The theater was officially reopened the following evening, October 4, 1920. A sold-out house watched One Hour Before Dawn, starring H. B. Warner and Anna Q. Nilsson, and An Eastern Westerner, starring the ever-popular Harold Lloyd.
Rembusch remodel, 1934–1935 By 1929, the Crump Theatre was under lease to F. J. Rembusch Enterprises out of Shelbyville, Indiana. Frank Rembusch came to Columbus between 1918 and 1920 and bought the Crystal Theatre, 416 Fifth Street, renaming it the American. On April 1, 1923, he leased the Crump Theatre from the Crump heirs. With the advent of movies offering synchronized sound in 1929, in March of that same year, Rembusch installed new Moviephone equipment. The first all talking movies were shown at the Crump on March 11, 1929 (Redskin, starring Richard Dix, and That Party In Person, starring Eddie Cantor).
On December 30, 1931, the Crump heirs sold the theater to Louis Holwager of Madison, Indiana for $50,000. It was Holwager's Grand Opera House in Madison, Indiana, that John Crump had used as a model for his theater. There was talk of another major renovation, but nothing transpired. On February 7, 1934, the Crump's lease fell to Truman Rembusch's Syndicated Theaters (Frank Rembusch's son). One week after the lease change, the second renovation commenced. At the top of the list was a new sound system. Less than one week after the lease was signed, a new RCA high-fidelity sound system and a new Vocalite movie screen were installed. The old acoustic panels were removed and replaced with an acoustic tile product called Nu-wood. This second remodel took five months. All of the work was contained to the interior, and the Crump remained open during most of the work. More comfortable seating was added on the main floor and balcony. All aisle seats now provided lighting. New carpeting was laid in the Lobby. The air conditioning system was updated. The bottom half of the interior Lobby walls were lined with black glass tiles incorporating aluminum frames for displaying one sheet movie posters. All remodel work was completed by July 13, 1934.
With the interior remodel work completed, Truman Rembusch turned his attention to the Third Street facade. Before any work commenced, however, on November 6, 1934, a contest was announced to change the name of the theater. Rules were simple: write the new name of the theater on a piece of paper and turn it in to management. First Place winner would be paid $25. Second Place winner would receive $15. Third and Fourth Place winners would receive $5. More than one thousand entries were submitted.
On November 14, 1934, the winners of the contest were announced to a packed auditorium. Louis Holwager, Truman Rembusch, and C. E. Rogers (Crump Theatre manager) were present, along with the panel of judges, consisting of Mrs. Philip R. Long, Mrs. Mary O'Bryan, Mayor H. Karl Volland, mayor-elect John L. Hosea and Walther E. Simmen. The winners were: 4th Prize – Mrs. Ralph Conrad for the name "Betsy Rogers." 3rd Prize – Tom Elrod for the name "Pioneer." 2nd Prize – Mrs. Jason Lacy for the name "Bartholo-di." 1st Prize – Mrs. Elsie Harris for the name "Von Ritz."