Irving Theater

The Irving Theater is a live-entertainment and event venue located at 5505 East Washington Street in Indianapolis, Indiana. It operates as a neighborhood theater and rental hall, hosting a wide range of events including concerts, comedy shows, film screenings, wrestling events, and community gatherings. Its programming is notably eclectic, spanning genres and audiences from family-friendly film screenings to adult-oriented comedy and music performances. The theater has a long history dating back to the early 20th century. According to the venue's own history, it opened on Wednesday, December 3rd, built by the Guthrie-Thompson Company at a cost of $15,000 for H. L. Whitehead of the Idle Hour Amusement Company. The original house had 525 seats and was designed as a single-story theater in a Spanish style with an oriental motif. It operated as a 10-cent house showing films from the General Film Company. Local citizens were invited to submit names for the theater to a committee composed of Judge Charles J. Orbison, J. W. Putnam, and Charles M. Cross. Over the decades, the theater underwent several renovations and ownership changes. In the 1920s, the property was purchased by Charles Walker and underwent a major renovation that added a second story to the front for a fire-proof projection room, expanded the rear by approximately 50 feet to increase capacity to 600 (and in some publications 725) seats, and added commercial units along Johnson Avenue with apartments above. The lobbies were converted into two small storefront shops facing East Washington Street. In the 1950s, still under the Walker family's ownership, the theater was renovated again, modernizing both the interior and exterior. Today, the Irving Theater functions as a versatile event space. Its official website lists upcoming events such as Micro Wrestling Federation performances, concerts by local bands like Mycota, and film screenings including The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The venue is available for rentals and continues to serve as a cultural hub on Indianapolis's east side. It is distinct from the former movie theater in Irving, Texas, that shares the same name.

The Irving Theater, located at 5505 East Washington Street in Indianapolis, Indiana, has a history dating back to the early 20th century. According to the theater's official history page, it opened on Wednesday, December 3rd, built by the Guthrie-Thompson Company at a cost of $15,000 for H. L. Whitehead of the Idle Hour Amusement Company. The original theater was a single-story building in a Spanish style with an oriental motif, featuring 525 seats and "every appliance to make a perfect picture." It operated as a 10-cent house, showing films from the General Film Company. Irvington citizens were asked to submit names for the theater to a committee composed of Judge Charles J. Orbison, J. W. Putnam, and Charles M. Cross. In its first year, on March 14th, Proprietor W. Drollinger distributed a handbill asking Irvington residents to patronize the theater during the week so that it would not need to open on Sundays. During the 1920s, the property was purchased by Charles Walker and underwent a major renovation that enhanced the look and feel of the street corner. Renovations included adding a second story to the front of the theater for a fire-proof projection room and two additional rooms, adding approximately 50 feet to the rear of the original theater (increasing capacity to 600 and in some publications 725 seats), and adding three commercial units along Johnson Avenue with three apartment units on the second floor. The lobbies of the original theater were converted into two small storefront shops facing East Washington Street. In the 1950s, still under the ownership of the Charles Walker family, the theater underwent another renovation that modernized both the interior and exterior. The theater continued to operate as a movie house for many years. In recent decades, it has been repurposed as a live entertainment and event venue, hosting a diverse array of performances and community events. Its official website lists upcoming events such as Micro Wrestling Federation shows, concerts by local bands like Mycota, and film screenings including The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The venue is available for rentals and remains a cultural landmark on Indianapolis's east side. It is distinct from the former movie theater in Irving, Texas, that shares the same name.

• Theater opens on Wednesday, December 3rd, built by Guthrie-Thompson Company for H. L. Whitehead of Idle Hour Amusement Company at a cost of $15,000.

• On March 14th, Proprietor W. Drollinger distributes a handbill asking Irvington residents to patronize the theater during the week so it need not open on Sundays.

• In the 1920s, the property is purchased by Charles Walker and undergoes a major renovation, including adding a second story, expanding the rear by 50 feet, and adding commercial units.

• In the 1950s, still under the Walker family's ownership, the theater is renovated again, modernizing both interior and exterior.

A historic, community-oriented live entertainment and event venue offering diverse programming on Indianapolis's east side.

Product categories. Live music concerts · Comedy shows · Film screenings · Wrestling events · Community events · Private event rentals

1. 1Irving Theater | Indianapolisattheirving.com
2. 2Irving Theater | historyattheirving.com
3. 3Irving Theaterwikidata.org