BHS
- at 2nd and
College - as it used
to be
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The
Old College
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BHS
as it was in the 50s
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Elm
Heights School - as it used
to be
Extracted
from "City of
Bloomington Interim Report Indiana Historic Sites and Structures
Inventory"; Bloomington Department of Housing and Neighborhood
Development; Bloomington, IN; April 2004
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Caption reads:
"The Elm Heights School has been a focal point of activity in the
neighborhood since 1926. Its current occupant, the Harmony School,
painstakingly acquired funding for a restoration of the building. This
photograph provided a clue as to the style and configuration of the
original windows. Photograph
courtesy of the Shaw Starkes Collection William Hammond Mathers Museum,
Indiana University."
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Theaters
Extracted
from "City of
Bloomington Interim Report Indiana Historic Sites and Structures
Inventory"; Bloomington Department of Housing and Neighborhood
Development; Bloomington, IN; April 2004
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Harris
Grand Theater
The caption for this read: "The Harris Grand
Theater, which was
located on the corner of 7th and Walnut where the Omega Building now
stands, was Bloomington's preeminent performing arts venue. Bob Hope
and other appeared there in vaudeville shows. The Harris's (sic) and
the Vonderschmitts were Bloomington's most famous impresarios."
As a side note, the Harris had fallen some in stature by the 70's, when
Kerasotes (which also owned the generally raunchy Cinema West drive-in)
was running such fare as "Deep Throat." The theaters last gasp as a
performing venue was in '71 or '72 when, with great doubts about
whether the projection screen -- immobile for more years than anyone
cared to remember -- would survive being raised for a concert by John
McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra. The screen did survive, and
the sound in the theater was excellent!
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Indiana
Theater
"The opening of the Indiana Theater in 1922, was anticipated with
excitement in the World Courier. Other older theaters like the Princess
and the Harris Grand arranged for updates and were remodeled in order
to compete."
Photograph courtesy of the Shaw East Collection of the William H.
Mathers Museum, Indiana University
Impossible to read at this small size, the marquee heralds "Big Bank
Nite Friday." Big, according to the side, was $355. But maybe that
would have been enough to draw a crowd to see Herbert McHugh Auer and
"Marry The Girl."
Side note: behind the gent offering the lady a firm and hearty
handshake (while his buddy stokes his chin in deep contemplation of her
charms, no doubt) is what I remember as the Nickas's Indiana Sweet
Shop. (Looks like the lady has also drawn the attention of the popcorn
machine.) |
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Von
Lee - early
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Von
Lee - late
Caption for this one reads: "Built in 1928, the VonLee (sic) Theater
opened as 'the Ritz' and quickly closed because of the Depression. As
late as the 1970's (sic), the house around which the theater was built
still stood as seen in this photograph."
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The
Princess ... or it used to be.
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The
Roxy .. what year was THAT movie?
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The Media
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Steve
Miller
says: " The Bloomington studio for WTTV has been mentioned several
times on the mailing list -- the latest being Tulle's and John's bouts
with fame and Chesty potato chips. I stumbled across this photo on the
web. It obviously pre-dates their visits, since the caption refers to
the "Channel 10 studios" on Hillside Drive. Yep, the venerable Channel
4 WAS previously assigned to Channel 10! ... I think that's Daily
Planet reporter Lois Lane to the right, having just gotten out of the
Nash station wagon (third vehicle from left). That's a '50 or '51 Ford
to the extreme left. Can't quite make out what the rest are, but that
gives us an approximate time frame for the photo. |
Downtown
Bloomington from the Air - 1930s
Extracted
from "City of
Bloomington Interim Report Indiana Historic Sites and Structures
Inventory"; Bloomington Department of Housing and Neighborhood
Development; Bloomington, IN; April 2004
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Another
photo from
Steve from his treasure book. He Says: "Actuelement, it didn't turn
out so bad.
And it's really very interesting -- I tried to identify as many venues
with period-correct names, though some are id'd with current
"historically-correct" designations. I
asked Steve about copyright, though being a government report it would
appear that is not a problem. Here is his reply:
I doubt there should be any question of copyright violation, as there
is no copyright statement within the book. In fact, where you might
expect to find such statement, there is this text:
"Revisions to the data in this Interim Report are encouraged.
Information should be submitted to City of Bloomington, Housing and
Neighborhood Development Department, P.O. Box 100, Bloomington, IN
47402 or the Division of Historic Preservation and Archeology, 402 West
Washington, W274, Indianapolis, IN 46204."
The book was published in April, 2004, and additional copy "may be
available." Contact the Bloomington Housing and Neighborhood
Development Department, P.O. Box 100, Bloomington, IN 47402. Phone
number for the Program Manager Historic Preservation is 812-349-3401.
There may be is more information at the city's web site: www.bloomington.in.gov.
I found my copy on eBay -- with shipping, I paid a grand total of
$7.25. Per hour, that's a VERY cheap price for entertainment! ----- See
bloomington.in.gov/egov/docs/1067658789_573570.gif
for a map of the historic Bloomington neighborhoods.
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The Old Library, now The Monroe County History Center from a 2011 email from the Monroe County History Center
Rose Hill Cemetery
Postcard
and photo scans thanks to Steve Miller, '67,
Rose Hill
tombstone photos by Margaret Olson, '52.
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