Donna in Fort Wayne, IN, at the Majestic Theatre – February 15, 1920

Majestic Theatre, Fort Wayne, IN

It is not really clear if the
Majestic Theatre in Fort Wayne was a new construction or if it had been rebuilt[ii] when it opened at 216 E. Berry St., on October 24, 1904. [iii]  The 1894
Donaldson Guide, (page 105) regarding Fort Wayne theaters only indicates
the Masonic Temple and the Broadway Theatre as venues, which suggests that it
was probably a new construction.  The
theatre was noted
for its great acoustics.[iv]

The 1913-1914 Julius Cahn – Gus Hill Theatrical Guide, Page 188 indicates that
the theatre was quite large, seating 1372 people and that the stage was large
as well, 44×38 feet, with six stage pockets. The theatre was managed by Milton
E. Rice.[v]  The 1922 Supplement indicated that the
manager was Orrin Stair,[vi] so management changed
sometime between those dates.

The 1918 Fort Wayne City Directory, indicates that Philip E Thompson
was the Stage Manager, Herman Selman was the advertising agent. Neither M Rice
nor Orrin Stair show up in that directory.[vii] 

Sometime between 1910
and the 1920s the Majestic underwent a facelift which replaced a plain front with
an classy arched entrance as photos of the earlier theater and later were quite
different.

The production “Chin Chin” played at the Majestic on February 15th, 1920.

The Department of the Indiana Grand Army of the Republic held their business sessions for its forty-seventh Annual Encampment at the Majestic on May 17, 18, 19, and 20, 1926.[viii]

In 1928, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic reorganized with Emil Bouillet as conductor and began to play at several venues including the Majestic Theatre. Interestingly enough, the musicians were required to sell tickets for the concerts and banners were streatched across Calhoun street to advertise those concerts.[ix]

About 1941 the Majestic Theatre was renamed the Civic Theater, and it continued as a movie theater until at least 1950.[x]

In 1954, the Majestic Theatre was deemed unsafe for children by the fire department and so the Children’s Theatre spent the next 10 years at various locations in the city. [xi]

The Majestic was torn down in 1957, and the location is now the site of the Citizen Square parking lot. (Courtesy of Gene Branning) [xii]

Further Research

The Cahn-Leighton
Theatrical Guide indicates there are several other newspapers in Fort Wayne at
the time. Although the “Journal Gazette” was the largest of the papers in town,
the “News” and the “Sentinel” were also substantial and should be investigated
for possible news items regarding the show.

Endnotes