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Description of Walls: The two level high third story is recessed behind 4 sets of paired, fluted columns with one
<br />columns with one column and pilaster at each end. The recessed wall is composed of panels of
<br />diagonal brick and terra cotta patterns framed by flat pilasters and a cornice line. Above
<br />these panels are sculpted terra cotta panels heralding the performing arts.
<br />Additional Features: A window is located at either end of teh facade with a heavily ornamented falso balcony and
<br />exagerrated lintel with a Jestor's face sculpted at the top.
<br />Additional Statement of Significance: These plans were not the ones that were adopted.
<br />On the 9th of January, 1919, the Blackstone Theater Corp. filed incorporation papers in the State of
<br />Indiana. They listed capitol stock at $600,000 or 6,000 shares at $10.00 a share. The new corporation
<br />received theninety nine year leases for lot 56 and 57, 0.P. from Jacob Handelsman and Charles Potts.
<br />In June of 1919, the building on the McGill property was razed, but one of the tenants that had
<br />leased from Frank C. Toepp, St. filed a restraining order against the Blackstone Theater Corporation and
<br />the case was not settled until August of 1919.
<br />The Blackstone Theater Corporation placed an ad in.the South Bend Tribune,September 4, 1919, announc-
<br />ing a limited stock offer. The corporation reminded the people of the area that the building of the theather
<br />was a home project and the Blackstone Theater Corporation wanted home capitol to share all the profits.
<br />Enough money must have been raised to get the project started because on the 22nd of September, 1919
<br />the city issued a building permit.
<br />In 1919 the Ralph Sollitt and Son Construction firm of Chicago established a regional office in South
<br />Bend. Ralph S. Sollitt and Lincoln Sollitt headed this area office and they contracted to build the Black-
<br />stone Theater Building. Ralph and Lincoln Sollitt later organized the Sollitt Construction Corporation
<br />of South Bend.
<br />In May of 1920, the Union Trust Company purchased $200,000 in bonds from the Blackstone Theater
<br />Corporation leased the store building and rooms in the building to doctors, dentists, shoe stores,
<br />jewelry stores, restaurants, and the Little Folks Clothing Shop.
<br />On January 27th 1921, on page 8 of the News Times Newspaper, the new Blackstone was described as
<br />Indiana's Most Beautiful Photo Play Theater." The fire -proof building cost $500,000, and was designed
<br />by Henry Newhouse of Chicago. It had concrete floors and stairways and the only wood used was for window
<br />and door casings. The lobby was 60' x 35', finished with imported marble and tile supplied by E.E. Horse
<br />pool of the South Bend Marble Company. The theater building, suggesting a style patterned after the old
<br />Roman Coliseum. There were small balconies at the sides of the theater but no posts obstructed the view
<br />from the other seats.
<br />The walls had a brocade effect in brown and gold with the draperies supplied by Mandel Brothers of
<br />Chicago. The velvet carpet and leather shairs were supplied by Karper Brothers of Chicago through
<br />Robertson Brothers of South Bend. The oval dome was made of fine sky blue art glass that matched the blue
<br />ceiling.
<br />The film booth was one of the largest and most complete in the United States and had three Cimplex
<br />Company motion picture projectors for showing silent moving pictures. The sound for the pictures was
<br />provided by an orchestraand organ. The
<br />stage could be enlarged for concerts and musicals. One
<br />of the new features of the theater was a nursery for children with an attendant to take care of them
<br />while parents attended the performance. The
<br />outside front of the theater has ten massive columns, starting at the second story. Five large urns
<br />are at the base of these columns, giving the building the look of neo-classic style of architecture. In
<br />February, 192.2, the auditorium was leased to the R.B. Corporation, managed by Ezra Rhodes. The
<br />Blacksotne Theater Corporation had financial difficulties in 1923, and the directors secured -a 250,
<br />000 mortgage from the Meyer -Kiser Bank of Indianapolis. In 1931, the Blackstone Theater Corporation went
<br />into receivership and J.J. Kiser was appointed the trustee. The name of the theater was changed from Blackstone
<br />to State Theater at this time. Kiser remained trustee of the building, arranging leases for theater
<br />and stores; -anti l 1942 The
<br />frank Toepp, Sr. heirs still retain the property lot 56 0.P.. Mrs.
<br />Gabriel Summers and her daughter, Alice Stephensons Ayling, purchased part of lot 56 and 57 0.P. in
<br />1939 from the U.S. Department of Financial Institute when their -agent liquidated the St. Joseph Loan and
<br />Trust Co. of South Bend, who held an interest in lots 56 and 57 0.P. Alice
<br />Ayling gave a Warranty Deed to the property to the Sisters of Holy Cross in 1964. IN 1976, this property
<br />was transferred to the Corporation of St. Mary's College. In
<br />1959, the Balaban and Katz organization, who leased the theater, remodeled the front of the building.
<br />Montana and Schultz were the architect and H. F. Glaser Construction Company of South Bend did
<br />the remodeling work. In
<br />February of 1977, a newspaper article mentioned the probable closing of the theater because the
<br />downtown mall had not revived interest in the area and the theater was losing money. August,
<br />1978, the front of the theater, "The Pride of South Bend" was boarded over and a "For Sale" sign
<br />was posted. The theatre was sold to the City of South Bend, Dept. of Development in 1986. Additional
<br />Sources: Miscellaneous Records: BK.Q, pg. 8,9,10; Bk. Q pg 72 & 88; Bk Q, pg. 99 to 111; BK. Q, pg. 208
<br />and 209; Bk. Q, pg. 117; Bk. R, pg. 190; Bk. R, pg. 224; Bk.R, pg. 304; Bk. R, pg. 530; Bk.
<br />R, pg. 564; Bk. S, pg. 42; Bk. V, pg. 118 to 122; Bk Y, pg. 299; Bk. 29, pg. 462, 474, 632; Bk.
<br />30, pg. 37; Bk. 44, pg. 535, 536; Bk. 45, pg. 88, 89; Bk. 75, 8 to 16. Court
<br />Orders: Civil Order Bk. 33- Cause No. 56861, St. Joseph Superior Court No. 1 pg. 292 to 295. Civil order Book
<br />14- Cause 33355, St. Joseph Superior Court No. 2 pg. 15. Books:
<br />Gabriel Rush Summers: Howard, History of St. Joseph County pg. 778,779. Pictorial and Biographical Memoirs
<br />of Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties PG. 690. Anderson, and Colley, South Bend and the Men Who Made It
<br />pg. 152, 153, 395. Esarey, Logan, History of Indiana..pg. 152,154. Frank and Johanna Toepp: Howard,
<br />History of St. Joseph County pg. 771, 778 Anderson, and Colley, South Bend and the Men Who Made IT pg.
<br />206. Pictorial andBiographical Memoirs of Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties Pg. 353 Marquee
<br />Scrap Book: History and Travel Dept. South Bend Public Library, Vol. 5 pg. 3 1973, Theater op- erated
<br />by Ezra Rhodes. Newspapers:
<br />News Times: 17 Dec. 1918; 27 Jan. 1921 pg. 8; 28 Jan. 1921 pg. 16; 30 Jan. 1921. South Bend Tribune: 21 June
<br />1919; 1 Jul.y 1919; 11 Aug. 1919; 4 Sept. 1919; 22 Sept. 1919 pg. 5; 28 Jan. 1921; 29 Jan 1921; 3 Dec. 1941;
<br />28 Dec. 1942; 25 Oct. 1927; 21 Nov. 1933; 4 March 1944; 29 June 1959. Clipping
<br />File: History and Travel Dept. South Bend Public Library Blackstone State Theater. Scrapbook:
<br />Northern Indiana Historical Museum: Bk. D, pg. 48 WPA
<br />Marriage Records: 28 Oct. 1880, G.R. Summers, Mercy Longley 7
<br />Aug. 1900, F.C. Toepp, Johanna Kamm
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