Hilbert Circle Theatre
Trademark
UnclaimedHistoric Indianapolis concert hall and former movie palace that serves as the home of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Hilbert Circle Theatre is a historic performing-arts venue on Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. Originally opened in 1916 as the Circle Theatre, it was designed as a deluxe motion-picture palace at a time when purpose-built cinemas were becoming important urban entertainment institutions. The building stands within the Washington Street–Monument Circle Historic District and is recognized for its Neoclassical Revival exterior, white glazed terra-cotta entrance façade, slightly curved frontage, and richly ornamented interior influenced by Greek, Etruscan, Pompeian, and Robert Adam design traditions. The venue was among the earliest major movie palaces in the American Midwest and one of the first large cinemas west of New York. Although its principal early function was film exhibition, the theatre also accommodated live entertainment. Locally produced stage presentations were held there, including The Landing of the Pilgrims during Thanksgiving week in 1921. A large Wurlitzer theatre organ was installed in 1922, providing accompaniment for silent films as well as solo performances. During the summer of 1924, when the resident concert orchestra was not performing, the venue presented visiting musicians in programs promoted as “syncopation seasons.” The theatre’s visitors included jazz and popular-music performers such as Frank Sinatra and Dizzy Gillespie. The Circle Theatre was an early adopter of sound-film technology. On March 6, 1927, it presented a program of sound-film segments featuring guitarist, ukulele player, and banjo player Roy Smeck; Metropolitan Opera tenor Giovanni Martinelli performing from I Pagliacci; and Al Jolson. The theatre followed this with a February 1928 presentation of The Jazz Singer, which contained talking and singing scenes and helped introduce the new sound-film format to Indianapolis audiences. The rise of suburban shopping-mall multiplexes during the 1960s and 1970s weakened the position of downtown movie palaces. The Circle Theatre subsequently deteriorated and fell into disrepair. A major $6.8 million renovation restored the building, and it reopened on October 12, 1984. After reopening, it became the permanent home of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, shifting its principal identity from cinema to orchestral and live-performance venue. The building retains a three-manual, 24-rank Wurlitzer theatre organ and has approximately 1,660 seats, with space for an ensemble of up to 87 musicians. In December 1996, the venue was renamed Hilbert Circle Theatre following an endowment from Stephen Hilbert, founder of CNO Financial Group, and his wife, Tomisue. The renamed theatre continued to function as the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s principal home while also hosting special events, film presentations, televised programs, and civic or cultural occasions. Notable later uses have included the 1986 world premiere of Hoosiers, the weightlifting competition during the 1987 Pan American Games, a 1991 centennial celebration of Indiana-born composer Cole Porter hosted by Kitty Carlisle, and a week of NBC’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon broadcasts connected with Super Bowl XLVI in 2012. Today, Hilbert Circle Theatre is best understood as a heritage concert hall and multipurpose performance venue. Its significance rests on the combination of architectural preservation, early American cinema history, Indianapolis civic identity, and its continuing relationship with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, before the major restoration and the later Hilbert naming.
History
Hilbert Circle Theatre began life in 1916 as the Circle Theatre, a deluxe movie palace on Monument Circle in Indianapolis. Indianapolis architects Rubus & Hunter designed the building in a Neoclassical Revival style. Its street-facing entrance was finished in white glazed terra cotta, while the auditorium volume behind it was constructed in brick. The front façade follows the curve of Monument Circle, and the interior incorporates decorative ideas associated with Greek, Etruscan, Pompeian, and Robert Adam design. The theatre was established during the formative era of large-scale American cinema exhibition. It was regarded as one of the Midwest’s early motion-picture palaces and among the first significant theatres of its kind west of New York. Film exhibition was its core activity, but the venue was also used for live entertainment. In 1921 it presented locally produced stage work, including The Landing of the Pilgrims during Thanksgiving week. In 1922 a $50,000 Wurlitzer organ was installed. The instrument accompanied silent films and was also used for solo programs, establishing a continuing connection between the building and theatre-organ performance. The venue expanded its musical programming in the summer of 1924, when visiting musicians performed jazz and popular music during periods when the house concert orchestra was away. These “syncopation seasons” brought artists including Frank Sinatra and Dizzy Gillespie to the theatre. The building was also an early site for the transition from silent cinema to sound. On March 6, 1927, it presented sound-film segments featuring Roy Smeck, Giovanni Martinelli, and Al Jolson. In February 1928 it screened The Jazz Singer, one of the most important early talking pictures, giving Indianapolis audiences an early opportunity to experience synchronized dialogue and singing on film. The downtown movie-palace model became increasingly difficult to sustain after suburban malls and multiscreen cinemas expanded during the 1960s and 1970s. The Circle Theatre fell into disrepair during this period. Its architectural and civic importance nevertheless remained significant, and the property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. A $6.8 million restoration led to the venue’s reopening on October 12, 1984. The restored building was selected as the home of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, giving it a new central role as an orchestral concert hall. The theatre has approximately 1,660 seats and can accommodate an ensemble of about 87 musicians. It also retains a three-manual, 24-rank Wurlitzer theatre organ. The building returned briefly to its movie-palace role in 1986 for the world premiere of Hoosiers. It hosted the weightlifting competition during the 1987 Pan American Games and served as the site of a 1991 centennial celebration for Indiana-born composer Cole Porter, hosted by Kitty Carlisle. In December 1996, the theatre was renamed Hilbert Circle Theatre in recognition of an endowment by Stephen Hilbert, founder of CNO Financial Group, and his wife Tomisue. The venue later gained national television exposure when NBC’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon broadcast a week of episodes from the theatre during Super Bowl XLVI in 2012. The theatre remains a historic Indianapolis venue whose principal institutional role is its association with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Its history combines early sound cinema, live music, architectural conservation, orchestral presentation, and large public events.
- 2012
National television broadcasts
[1]Late Night with Jimmy Fallon broadcasts a week of episodes from the theatre during Super Bowl XLVI activities in Indianapolis.
- 1996
Venue receives the Hilbert name
[1]The Circle Theatre is renamed Hilbert Circle Theatre following an endowment from Stephen and Tomisue Hilbert.
- 1991
Cole Porter centennial celebration
[1]Kitty Carlisle hosts a centennial event honoring Indiana-born composer Cole Porter.
- 1987
Pan American Games venue
[1]The theatre hosts the weightlifting competition during the Pan American Games.
- 1986
Hoosiers world premiere
[1]The restored venue temporarily resumes its movie-palace role for the world premiere of Hoosiers.
- 1984
Restoration and reopening
[1]The theatre reopens on October 12 after a $6.8 million renovation and becomes the home of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
- 1980
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
[1]The property receives recognition on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1928
The Jazz Singer screened
[1]The theatre presents The Jazz Singer, an early talking-and-singing picture starring Al Jolson.
- 1927
Sound-film program presented
[1]The theatre presents sound-film segments on March 6, bringing an early sound-cinema program to Indianapolis.
- 1922
Wurlitzer organ installed
[1]A $50,000 Wurlitzer organ is installed for silent-film accompaniment and solo performances.
Products and positioning
A preserved downtown Indianapolis movie palace repositioned as a landmark concert hall and the principal home of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
Orchestral performances · 1984
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra concerts
The theatre’s principal present-day offering is orchestral performance as the home venue of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Its auditorium provides seating for approximately 1,660 people and room for an ensemble of about 87 musicians. The restored historic setting gives the orchestra a distinctive downtown Indianapolis performance environment.
Live entertainment · 1984
Historic concert-hall events
Beyond regular symphonic programming, the venue supports concerts, special music events, cultural presentations, and civic occasions. Its historic architecture, central Monument Circle location, and preserved theatre organ allow it to function as both a working performance hall and a heritage attraction.
Cinema and film events · 1916
Film presentations and premieres
Film exhibition was the theatre’s original purpose and remains part of its event history. The building hosted early sound-film presentations, screened The Jazz Singer in 1928, and returned to movie-palace use for the 1986 world premiere of Hoosiers.
Organ music · 1922
Theatre organ performances
The venue retains a three-manual, 24-rank Wurlitzer theatre organ installed during its silent-film era. The instrument historically accompanied movies and solo programs and remains an important part of the building’s musical and architectural identity.
Brand decisions
1996
Renaming through philanthropic endowmentOtherBackground
The restored venue was operating as the home of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
Action taken
The Circle Theatre was renamed Hilbert Circle Theatre after an endowment from Stephen Hilbert and Tomisue Hilbert.
Aftermath
The Hilbert name became the venue’s established identity while its orchestral and cultural role continued.
1984
Repositioning from movie palace to orchestra homeStrategyBackground
The historic cinema had declined as suburban multiplexes expanded and the building fell into disrepair.
Action taken
A reported $6.8 million renovation restored the theatre, which reopened as the home of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
Aftermath
The venue gained a continuing role as a major Indianapolis concert hall while preserving its historic architecture.
Renovation cost. $6.8 million (1984 reopening)
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