The Lerner Theatre

The Lerner Theatre is a historic theatre and performing-arts venue in Elkhart, Indiana, United States. The building opened in 1924 after Harry E. Lerner commissioned Chicago architect K. V. Vitchum to design a venue for live entertainment. It was initially conceived as a vaudeville theatre, reflecting the importance of touring stage productions in American entertainment during the 1920s. By the end of that decade, its programming had shifted toward motion pictures, and the building functioned increasingly as a movie palace. The theatre changed hands and names several times during the twentieth century. Harry E. Lerner sold it to Warner Brothers in 1932, after which it operated for a period as the Warner Theatre. Warner Brothers redecorated the venue in a red-and-gold scheme, installed a distinctive waterfall curtain, and added a large vertical marquee bearing the theatre's name. Following Warner Brothers' bankruptcy, the Indiana-Illinois Theatre organization took over the property in 1934. A public naming contest resulted in the name Elco Theatre, which became the venue's principal identity for much of the remainder of the century. Manta & Rose Theatres acquired the Elco in 1940 and operated it for approximately two decades. During that period, the company modernized the building and replaced its original vertical marquee with a horizontal sign. In 1961, Miller Theaters, Inc., led by William Miller and his family, purchased the theatre. The Miller family continued operating it until the venue closed in 1987. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, recognizing its architectural and historical importance before its closure. A preservation and reuse effort began in 1990 when the nonprofit organization Premier Arts purchased the former Elco Theatre. The organization intended to restore the property and return it to use as a performing-arts venue. During the middle of the 1990s, the City of Elkhart became involved in the project and obtained support connected with the National Endowment for the Arts. Restoration work began in 1996, with the goal of recovering the theatre's 1920s design and architectural character. The Elco Commission for the Performing Arts was established in 1997 as part of the continuing redevelopment effort. Renovation continued into the twenty-first century, and the venue ultimately resumed its original Lerner Theatre name. Its current identity is therefore rooted in both the building's original history and its later civic preservation. Rather than operating solely as a cinema, the restored venue serves as a cultural and event space associated with performances and other public programming. Architecturally, it is a two-story reinforced-concrete and steel building in the Beaux-Arts style. Its exterior includes Corinthian columns, terra-cotta facing, ornamental urns, an enriched cornice, parapet and frieze, and a projecting illuminated canopy. The auditorium includes a large central dome measuring approximately 30 to 40 feet in diameter. The theatre is also situated within the Elkhart Downtown Commercial Historic District.

The Lerner Theatre was constructed in 1924 in Elkhart, Indiana, after Harry E. Lerner commissioned Chicago architect K. V. Vitchum to design the building. Its original purpose was to host vaudeville, a form of touring live entertainment that combined theatrical acts, music, comedy and variety performance. As audience preferences and the American entertainment business changed, the venue evolved by the late 1920s into a motion-picture palace. In 1932, Lerner sold the theatre to Warner Brothers. The company operated it for several years as the Warner Theatre and undertook a substantial visual refresh. The redecorated interior used red and gold, while a waterfall curtain and a prominent vertical marquee were added to strengthen the venue's movie-palace presentation. Warner Brothers' control ended after the company went bankrupt. In 1934, the Indiana-Illinois Theatre organization assumed operation and held a contest to select a new name. The winning entry, Elco Theatre, remained associated with the building for decades. Manta & Rose Theatres purchased the Elco in 1940 and operated it for roughly twenty years. The company modernized the venue and removed the older vertical marquee, replacing it with a horizontal one. In 1961, Miller Theaters, Inc. acquired the property. William Miller and his family operated the theatre until its closure in 1987. Although the building was no longer operating by that point, its historical significance had already been acknowledged: it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The property's next major phase began in 1990, when Premier Arts, a nonprofit organization, purchased the former Elco Theatre with the intention of restoring it as a performing-arts facility. The City of Elkhart became involved during the mid-1990s, including through funding associated with the National Endowment for the Arts. Restoration began in 1996 and sought to return the building to the appearance and character of its 1920s origins. The Elco Commission for the Performing Arts was created in 1997 to support the redevelopment and cultural reuse of the property. Work continued into the twenty-first century. After the restoration and redevelopment process, the venue reverted to the Lerner Theatre name, reconnecting it with the building's original identity. The restored theatre functions as a performing-arts and entertainment venue rather than merely as a historic former cinema. Its architectural character remains central to its identity. The building is a two-story structure made of reinforced concrete and steel, designed in the Beaux-Arts style. The front facade features four Corinthian-order columns, three freestanding urns, decorative terra-cotta surfaces, an enriched cornice, a parapet and frieze, and a lighted canopy extending over the sidewalk. Inside, the auditorium is marked by a large central dome approximately 30 to 40 feet in diameter. The theatre also forms part of the Elkhart Downtown Commercial Historic District, linking its preservation to the wider history of the city's downtown.

• 1997

  Elco Commission for the Performing Arts created

  [1]Lerner Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The Elco Commission for the Performing Arts was established during the continuing restoration and redevelopment process.

• 1996

  Restoration begins

  [1]Lerner Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Restoration work began with the aim of recovering the theatre's 1920s design and appearance.

• 1990

  Premier Arts purchase

  [1]Lerner Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The nonprofit organization Premier Arts purchased the former Elco with plans to restore it for performing-arts use.

• 1987

  Theatre closes

  [1]Lerner Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The theatre closed after the Miller family period of operation.

• 1980

  National Register listing

  [1]Lerner Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

• 1961

  Miller Theaters ownership begins

  [1]Lerner Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Miller Theaters, Inc., operated by William Miller and his family, purchased the theatre.

• 1940

  Manta & Rose Theatres acquisition

  [1]Lerner Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Manta & Rose Theatres acquired the Elco and later modernized the building, including replacing its vertical marquee.

• 1934

  Renamed Elco Theatre

  [1]Lerner Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  After Warner Brothers' bankruptcy, Indiana-Illinois Theatre took over and a naming contest selected Elco Theatre as the new name.

• 1932

  Warner Brothers acquisition

  [1]Lerner Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Harry E. Lerner sold the theatre to Warner Brothers, which operated it for a period under the Warner Theatre name and introduced major decorative and marquee changes.

• 1924

  Theatre opens

  [1]Lerner Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The theatre was built in Elkhart after Harry E. Lerner commissioned architect K. V. Vitchum. It opened as a vaudeville venue.

A restored historic theatre positioned as a civic performing-arts and entertainment venue in downtown Elkhart.

• Venue · 1924

  Historic theatre auditorium

  The central offering of The Lerner Theatre is its restored auditorium, a historic performance environment shaped by its 1920s Beaux-Arts design. The space includes a large central dome and retains the architectural identity of the former vaudeville and movie palace. It supports the venue's role as a setting for public entertainment and performing-arts activity.

• Live entertainment

  Performing-arts programming

  Following its restoration, the theatre was repositioned for use as a performing-arts venue. This offering represents the building's transition from an earlier vaudeville and motion-picture focus to a broader cultural role. Specific current programs and event categories are not detailed in the supplied reference material.

• Cinema

  Motion-picture exhibition

  By the late 1920s, the building had become a motion-picture palace and operated for much of the twentieth century as a cinema under successive owners and names. Its historical cinema function remains an important part of the venue's identity, although the restored institution is described primarily as a performing-arts venue.

• 1990

  Conversion from former cinema to performing-arts venueStrategy

  Background

  After the building closed in 1987, Premier Arts acquired it with the intention of preserving the property and returning it to active cultural use.

  Action taken

  Premier Arts purchased the former Elco Theatre and pursued restoration, later joined by the City of Elkhart and the Elco Commission for the Performing Arts.

  Aftermath

  The restoration process continued into the twenty-first century and culminated in the venue's return to the Lerner Theatre name and its renewed use as a performing-arts venue.

  Source

1. 1Lerner Theatreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Lerner Theatre official websitethelerner.com