Movie Theater History in Bloomington, Indiana

Ronald Bidwell speaks of his memories of the Indiana Theater in Bloomington, Indiana. He talks about the way the theater was decorated after a fire gutted the building in the 1930s. He speaks of the films he remembered seeing there. He speaks of his father, Walter Bidwell, who was the organist, and of Roy Hays, the projectionist. He talks about the decline of the Indiana and Von Lee Theaters after Kerasotes Theaters bought them.

Robert A. Cook discusses his days as an usher at the Indiana Theater in Bloomington, Indiana in the 1930s. He talks about building advertisements for the movie runs, and helping to design movie advertisements for the local papers. He speaks of the owners, Harry and Nova Vonderschmidt, and the manager, Art Clark. He also talks about some of the silent films shown and the organ player, Walter Bidwell.

Joseph Crouch, speaks of his years as an usher and owner of the Indiana Theater in Bloomington, Indiana. He speaks of his duties as usher, the methods of film promotion and distribution, arson, and labor union disputes. He talks about the Vonderschmidt family, whose daughter he married. Finally, he discusses the difficulty of running the theater in recent years, and his decision to sell the theater to Kerasotes Theaters.

Roy Hays and his daughter Loretta Jean Hays talk about the Indiana Theater in Bloomington, Indiana as they remember it. Mr. Hays discusses his time as the projectionist, and the union disturbances in the theater that led him to join the union. He speaks of the movies he remembers seeing, and some of the people he worked with.

George Huntington reminisces about the Indiana Theater in Bloomington, Indiana. He remembers was one of the biggest films ever shown there. He discusses the methods theaters used to advertise their films. He speaks of the various fires in Bloomington theaters, especially the fire that destroyed the Harris Grand Opera House, which he was caught in as a child. He talks about race relations in Bloomington, the segregation of theaters, and later a sit-in at Woolworth's. He speaks of being dismissed from school early one day to go to the theater and watch , which he feels was a recruitment film for the Ku Klux Klan, which was very active in Indiana at the time.

Robert Leffler discusses the history of theaters in Bloomington, Indiana, focusing on the Princess Theater and the Harris Grand Theater. He talks about the 19th century, and the popularity of stage productions, especially . He speaks of early film, vaudeville, and nickelodeons that appeared in Bloomington. He talks about fires, riots, and other damage the theaters suffered over the years. Finally he discusses the changes in the theater business, and the advent of "piggyback theaters."

Richard Paul Simmons discusses attending the Indiana Theater in Bloomington, Indiana during the 1930s and 1940s.

Robert Talbot speaks of his memories of the Indiana Theater in Bloomington, Indiana. He describes the office area above the theater where he had a photography studio for a short time. He also describes the interior of the Indiana Theater as he remembers it. He discusses the Sweet Shop, run by the Niccus family, and shares some memories about Art Clark, the theater manager, and Roy Hays, the projectionist.

Susan Talbot recounts her childhood in connection to the Indiana Theater in Bloomington, Indiana, where her father Roy Hays was the projectionist. She speaks of the movies she saw in the theater, visiting her father in the projection booth, and movie concessions. She also describes the interior of the theater.