NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 MASTERS OF THEIR CRAFT Celebrating preservation trades FULL COURT PRESS Seeking a save for a historic high school gym MAKE MERRY! Holiday Open Houses for members Carried Away Eberson-designed theaters transport patrons to fanciful places FROM THE PRESIDENT STARTERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS Olon F. Dotson Muncie Still Hon. Randall T. Shepard Honorary Chairman Jeremy D. Efroymson Indianapolis Parker Beauchamp Endangered Chairman Melissa Glaze Roanoke James P. Fadely, Ph.D. LOCATED ON A HILLSIDE Sound Investment Past Chairman Tracy Haddad Columbus overlooking the Ohio Sara Edgerton YOU’D THINK, AS AN ORGANIZATION that works with his- Vice Chairman David A. Haist River in Lawrenceburg, Culver tory, Indiana Landmarks might reflect often on its own history. Marsh Davis the c.1860 Daniel S. President Bob Jones Evansville In fact, we are not particularly good at that, probably because Doris Anne Sadler Major House was built Secretary/Assistant Treasurer Christine H. Keck to be seen, with brack- we are so focused on present projects and eagerly moving on Evansville Thomas H. Engle to meet new challenges. But at our recent annual meeting we Assistant Secretary Matthew R. Mayol, AIA eted eaves, half-round Indianapolis looked back with interest on one program: the Efroymson Brett D. McKamey windows, hood mold- Treasurer Ray Ontko Richmond ings, and bay windows Family Endangered Places Grants. Judy A. O’Bannon Thanks to a generous gift from the Efroymson Family Fund Secretary Emerita Martin E. Rahe that gave rise to the Cincinnati, OH in 2014, Indiana Landmarks makes grants to support local DIRECTORS James W. Renne home’s nickname “Twin preservation efforts around the state. The grants, which tend Hilary Barnes Newburgh Bays.” Designed by Indianapolis George A. Rogge EVAN HALE to be in the $1,000 to $5,000 range, are made to local non-profit The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Gary Cincinnati-based archi- preservation organizations throughout Indiana. Many of the Baskerville-Burrows Sallie W. Rowland tecture firm Hamilton Indianapolis Indianapolis and Rankin, the property grants fund architectural and engineering studies that serve as Candace Chapman Peter J. Sacopulos catalysts for getting projects underway. Evansville Terre Haute offers one of the best Set in Stone Edward D. Clere Robert L. Santa We decided to look back on this program’s work over a five- New Albany Bloomington examples of high-style n 1899, Marion County received 15 bids from contrac- year period, 2010-2015, to gauge its effectiveness. The results Mike Corbett Charlitta Winston Italianate architecture Noblesville tors to build the Central Avenue Bridge over Fall Creek, are well worth repeating. During those five years, Indiana Indianapolis in the area, though its Ellen Swisher Crabb John D. Zeglis with options for both steel truss and stone arch spans. Landmarks made grants to 94 projects. Of those, 81 were Indianapolis Culver location amid sprawling I Coming in with the lowest bid at $37,000, Gansburg, Rony, Cheri Dick Beau F. Zoeller deemed successes. Zionsville Indianapolis development makes the and Heywood’s proposal for a stone arch bridge won. The Grants during those five years totaled $212,925, but they house’s future uncertain. bridge served for over a century until deterioration neces- leveraged an additional $28,428,578 in matching funds and OFFICES & HISTORIC SITES Now on the market for sitated its closing in 2017. Reopened to traffic in August after project investment. That’s an impressive return on investment $499,000, Twin Bays a two-year, $5.5 million restoration, the rehabilitated bridge Headquarters Southeast Field Office by any measure! And most importantly, 79 of those grants Indiana Landmarks Center Aurora needs a preservation- includes 1,700 salvaged stones and 800 newly fabricated resulted in historic places being saved. Moving forward, we’ll 1201 Central Avenue (812) 926-0983 minded buyer to ensure stones special-ordered to match the originals. Learn more Indianapolis, IN 46202 Southwest Field Office continue to measure this program’s influence as more recent [email protected] Evansville its future. Learn more at about the project during a talk at Indiana Landmarks Center (317) 639-4534 (812) 423-2988 (800) 450-4534 on November 14. See details in calendar. projects mature, and we’ll be reminded of the great, positive Western Regional Office indianalandmarks.org/ Northwest Field Office Terre Haute impact of the Efroymson family’s support of our work. Gary for-sale. (812) 232-4534 (219) 947-2657 Huddleston Farmhouse Central Regional Office Cambridge City Indianapolis (765) 478-3172 (317) 639-4534 Morris-Butler House Eastern Regional Office Indianapolis Cambridge City (317) 639-4534 (765) 478-3172 Veraestau Northern Regional Office Aurora South Bend Marsh Davis, President (812) 926-0983 (574) 232-4534 lights give the illusion of French Lick and West Northeast Field Office Baden Springs tours twinkling stars on the ceil- Wabash (866) 571-8687 (toll free) (800) 450-4534 (812) 936-5870 ing of Anderson’s Paramount Southern Regional Office Theatre. Designed by John New Albany (812) 284-4534 Eberson to reflect a Spanish court- yard under a night sky, the theater is one of five A rare atmospheric theater, the 1929 Paramount Theatre in Anderson ©2019, Indiana Landmarks; ISSN#: 0737-8602 in Indiana attributed to the acclaimed the- On the is one five Indiana venues designed by pioneering architect John Indiana Landmarks publishes Indiana Preservation bimonthly ater designer. Learn about Eberson’s legacy in Cover Eberson (see pp. 4-5). PHOTO BY DALE PICKETT PHOTOGRAPHY for members. To join and learn other membership benefits, JARRAD HOLBROOK visit indianalandmarks.org or contact memberships@ Indiana on pp.4-5. PHOTO BY DALE PICKETT PHOTOGRAPHY indianalandmarks.org, (317) 639-4534 or (800) 450-4534. To offer suggestions forIndiana Preservation, contact editor@ indianalandmarks.org. 2 INDIANA PRESERVATION indianalandmarks.org 3 MATTER OF STYLE accolades, becoming Eberson’s first fully atmospheric theater in Indiana. In his design for the Palace, Eberson pulled out the stops, incorporating ornate light fixtures, velvet draperies, statuary, and fountains intended to suggest a European courtyard under a blue sky. A light show on the ceil- ing before films simulated sunrise and sunset. After the theater closed its doors in 1972, a succession of short-lived and ill-fated uses hastened the building’s downward spiral. Years of vacancy have left the once-grand theater in dire straits. Two of Eberson’s most exuber- Eberson’s first fully Roman goddesses. It narrowly escaped the wrecking ball ant Indiana designs thrive today as atmospheric design in 1989 after sitting empty for five years. Rescued by the in Indiana, Gary’s events venues: Fort Wayne’s Embassy long-vacant Palace Paramount Heritage Foundation and reopened in 1995, the Theatre and Anderson’s Paramount Theater (above left) Paramount hosts concerts, big band shows, live performances, design for the Hippodrome Theater. Theatre. Fort Wayne architect A.M. has fallen into ruin, symphony, ballet, dance recitals and ballroom dances. Recent A vaudeville venue at the corner Strauss and Eberson joined forces while in Terre Haute, renovations of the ballroom and marquee have made the Flights of Fantasy: the Indiana Theatre of Eighth and Ohio streets, the on the originally named Emboyd, a (above right) serves theater shine even brighter. “We don’t have a lot of bells Indiana’s Eberson-Designed Theaters Hippodrome became a community vaudeville and movie house opened as an event venue. and whistles, just a lot of beauty and history,” says Randy theater and movie house, and, in in 1928 along with the adjoining Volunteers res- Hammel, executive director. “When we have visitors, I take cued Fort Wayne’s YOU’RE SITTING IN A BALCONY OVERLOOKING Austrian-born 1955, a Scottish Rite Cathedral. Indiana Hotel. Though it’s not one them on the WOW tour. People walk in the theater, see the Embassy Theatre architect John an Italian garden dotted with statues of Roman goddesses, After selling the Hippodrome, of his atmospheric designs, Eberson from demolition and architecture and stars in the sky, and say, ‘WOW!’” Eberson pioneered mounted an impres- bubbling fountains, and birds poised to take flight. Lightning the design of atmo- Barhydt hired Eberson again to design employed terra cotta, Italian mosaic As the 1930s advanced, atmospheric theaters went out of sive fundraising flashes across the sky, but you don’t fear rain. You’re inside, spheric theaters, the Indiana Theatre, a vaudeville floors, and ornate molded plaster fashion, supplanted by more streamlined, modern designs campaign to restore using architecture, after all, and the storm clouds are just a special effect projected and silent movie house he opened embellishments to create a visual the landmark to its and the deepening Depression. But visiting one of these rare lighting, and special on the ceiling. Such is the magic of atmospheric theaters— in 1922 just a block away from the feast in the lobby and theater. In the former glory (below). survivors still holds the power to carry you to another time effects designed PHOTOS BY LEE LEWELLEN grand movie palaces designed to transport audiences away from to transport Hippodrome. It was here that Eberson 1970s, community leaders and vol- and place, exactly as Eberson intended. the cares of everyday life. movie-goers to began experimenting with elements unteers formed the Embassy Theatre Pioneered by Austrian-born designer John Eberson (1875- exotic locations. that would come to define his atmo- Foundation and raised $250,000 to 1954), atmospheric theaters used architecture, lighting, and In Anderson’s spheric work, including stylized motifs spare the theater from demolition, Paramount Theatre, special effects to give movie-goers the illusion of sitting out- Eberson employed and lighting to simulate different kicking off its renovation. One of doors in exotic destinations—an Italian garden, a Persian court, stucco facades, fig- times of day.