From silent films to symphonies: Indiana’s 1916 movie palace plays on

Circle Theatre’s Century-Long Journey to Symphony Home

When Circle Theatre opened in 1916, it wasn’t just any movie house. It was a Midwest palace where a live orchestra played while silent films rolled.

By 1922, a massive $50,000 Wurlitzer organ joined the show. Soon after, jazz took over summer nights as Sinatra and Dizzy Gillespie lit up the stage.

The Glenn Miller Orchestra swung through in the 1940s while a new Wurlitzer organ kept crowds happy until 1959. After years of decline, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra spent $6.

8 million to make this faded gem their home in 1984. The story of Circle Theatre shows how one building can hold a century of American music.

Silent Films Came to Life with Circle Theatre’s House Orchestra

Circle Theatre opened on August 30, 1916, as one of the first movie palaces in the Midwest.

The theater had its own concert orchestra that played along with silent films, bringing movies and music together for Indianapolis crowds. A Hook & Hastings organ from Boston helped fill the space with sound.

The beautiful neoclassical Adams-style theater could seat nearly 2,800 movie fans, making it a top entertainment spot in the city.

A $50,000 Wurlitzer Changed the Game in 1922

Circle Theatre stepped up its music game in 1922 by buying a $50,000 Wurlitzer organ. This cutting-edge instrument gave silent films dramatic musical backing and supported stage acts too.

The powerful organ quickly became a key part of what made going to the Circle special. Movie fans came not just for the films but also to hear the impressive sounds of this massive instrument.

Jazz Took Over During Summer "Syncopation Seasons"

In summer 1924, Circle Theatre started hosting "syncopation seasons" with visiting jazz musicians while the house orchestra took their break.

Various jazz artists performed on the Circle stage, bringing fresh sounds to Indianapolis audiences.

The theater kept up with changing music tastes of the Roaring Twenties, letting people enjoy live jazz in a fancy setting.

Dessa Byrd Worked Magic on an Upgraded Wurlitzer

Circle Theatre upgraded to a better 3/15 Wurlitzer organ around 1925, with more sound options. Dessa Byrd became the theater’s star organist, playing this impressive instrument for many years.

She even did live radio broadcasts from the theater.

The improved organ gave Byrd more musical choices to entertain crowds before, during, and after movies.

Al Jolson Spoke on Screen and Changed Everything

In 1928, Circle Theatre showed Indianapolis’s first movie with sound, "The Jazz Singer" starring Al Jolson. This historic screening marked the end of silent films in the city.

As "talkies" became popular, theaters needed less live music during movies.

The Circle faced a big shift in entertainment, though live music continued to play an important role in new ways.

Big Bands Brought Swing Music to the Circle Stage

During the 1940s, Circle Theatre welcomed major big bands to perform on its stage. The Glenn Miller Orchestra and Paul Whiteman Band played for excited Indianapolis crowds.

These famous groups brought nationally-known jazz performers right to Monument Circle.

The live shows added extra value to the movie programming, giving audiences both film and music during the height of the swing era.

The Last Notes of the Wurlitzer Faded in 1959

After decades of filling Circle Theatre with music, workers took apart the Wurlitzer organ in 1959 and sold it in pieces.

This change showed how entertainment was changing, with fewer people wanting to hear theater organs.

The removal ended a big chapter in Circle Theatre’s musical story, closing the book on live organ music that had been a theater tradition.

The Once-Grand Theater Fell on Hard Times

By the 1970s, Circle Theatre looked nothing like its former glory. The once-beautiful movie palace suffered from neglect and money problems.

New suburban theaters pulled customers away from downtown, and fewer people came to shows. Things got so bad that Circle Theatre closed in 1981, and the building faced possible demolition.

A Symphony Orchestra Found a New Downtown Home

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra moved downtown in 1982, making Circle Theatre their permanent home.

Ferdinand Schaefer started the orchestra in 1930, and it grew into a fully professional group by 1937 under conductor Fabien Sevitzky.

Before moving to Circle, the orchestra played at places like Clowes Hall at Butler University. Their move downtown showed support for bringing life back to the heart of Indianapolis.

A $6.8 Million Makeover Transformed the Movie Palace

Workers completely renovated Circle Theatre with a $6. 8 million project that turned the old movie house into a modern concert hall.

They made the proscenium arch bigger and reduced seating to 1,660 to create better acoustics for orchestral performances. The interior got a fresh look with pink and mauve colors that matched the original style.

On October 12, 1984, the doors opened again as the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra welcomed music lovers to their beautiful new home.

The Wurlitzer Tradition Returned After 50 Years

In 2008, organ music came back to Circle Theatre with the installation of a new 3-manual, 24-rank Wurlitzer theater pipe organ. This instrument featured pipework from the 1931 Warner Theatre in Youngstown, Ohio.

Money from Sally Reahard’s estate paid for this musical addition.

The modern organ combined original Wurlitzer parts with classical pipework, making it perfect for both movie-style music and orchestral performances.

The new Wurlitzer brought the theater’s musical journey full circle after nearly 50 years without an organ.

Visiting Circle Theatre, Indiana

Circle Theatre at 45 Monument Circle in Indianapolis has 1,660 seats and houses the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra since 1984. You need tickets for performances featuring the 87-member ensemble.

The building shows off neoclassical revival architecture with Greek, Etruscan and Pompeian designs inside. Check out the restored 1931 Wurlitzer organ that came from Ohio’s former Warner Theatre.

You can take theatre tours when there aren’t any shows happening.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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