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title:

Harris Grand Theatre

image number:

P0020019

description:

When it first opened The Harris Grand was owned and managed by Robert H. Harris. His staff included: Resident Manager W.H. Hinds, Treasurer W.H. Murphy, Sameul Dill listed as "Parquet Door", Jas. Blair, Jr. listed as "Balcony Door", T.A. Leffler listed as "Gallery Door", Head Usher Paul Feltus, Stage Carpenter Bert Sanders, and Electrician William Sanders. The total seating capacity was 1,021.

The entrance to the Harris Grand is at the center of the structure. The entrances and windows on either side of the double columns at center are not part of the theatre, but rather retail space that did not have access to the theatre. From right to left the addresses of the three "units" are 224, 226 (Harris Grand) and 228 N. Walnut Avenue.

Proof of the date of this image follows: The opening performance was held at 2:30 September 18, 1907. The play, "The Sunny Side of Broadway", starred "Murray and Mack" (Charles A. Murray and Ollie Mack). A copy of the program for the opening can be found in the IU Archives Collection C219. The poster hanging in the window is a Murray and Mack poster. The poster leaning up against the corner of the building is an advertisement for Murray and Mack's Sunny Side of Life and is dated "Sept. 18". The fact that a wheel barrow can be seen at the front of the building and construction refuse seen through the windows at left seem to prove that this image was shot sometime before the opening night of September 18, 1907 while construction was being finished.

date taken:

1907 August or September

accession number:

6043

accession number:

C219

building name:

Harris Grand Theatre

building name:

Harris Grand Opera House

building name:

Towne Cinema

corporate name:

Harris Grand Theatre

corporate name:

Variety Entertainment

corporate name:

Harris Grand Opera House

corporate name:

Murray and Mack Amusement Company

corporate name:

Towne Cinema

topic:

Theaters

topic:

Fire escapes

topic:

Handicapped

topic:

Minorities

topic:

Street lights

topic:

Exterior

topic:

Bloomington (Downtown & General Street Scenes)

city:

Bloomington

state:

Indiana

other place name:

Seventh Street

other place name:

Walnut Avenue (224 North)

other place name:

Walnut Avenue (226 North)

other place name:

Walnut Avenue (228 North)

series:

Buildings & Grounds

subseries:

Bloomington

folder:

Harris Grand Theatre

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