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472:, reflective mirror tile, and rounded every 90° angle in the building. The new marquee included a waterfall-light pattern as well as multiple illuminated lines. The renovation ended with the orchestra pit being filled with sand and concrete and with a new curved screen being mounted to the stage floor. These projects changed the trajectory of Artcraft away from live events and toward primarily showing movies.
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southwest portion of the auditorium's ceiling collapsed. After repairing the collapse, a brief period of normal activity returned. Structural engineers condemned the building for electrical and structural reasons in August 2003. Unable to launch a massive campaign to repair the
Artcraft, Bob Schofield agreed to Franklin Heritage Inc.'s offer to buy the Artcraft.
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began plans to build a multiplex in
Franklin. Michael Rembusch decided that his mono-plex could not compete with a multiplex so he built Canary Creek Cinemas in Franklin to out-compete the Kerasotes planned theater. Rembusch decided he could not operate two theatres in the same city made the decision
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After purchasing the
Artcraft with the support of the Johnson County Community Foundation, FHI began their "Marquee Project" of restoring the Artcraft to the height of its art deco style. FHI launched a $ 500,000 campaign to renovate the building. In 2006, FHI received a state historic preservation
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Bob
Schofield, a local businessman and owner of the Willard Restaurant, bought the Artcraft with hopes of attracting a younger generation to come back to the downtown area. He operated an ice cream shop, hosted concerts, and began an under-21 dance club. In May 2001, during one dance club night the
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Today the theater hosts movie showings of classic films that are 10 years old or older. The staff pick a wide selection of films that are iconic, that are well made, that are cult-classics, and that they think people should see. The
Artcraft partners with many local and regional organizations to
464:, the Artcraft supported the domestic front of the war by conducting scrap metal drives and sponsoring War Bond drives and providing contributors with a free movie pass. Trueman T. Rembusch hired architect Alden Miranda to draw up plans for a fresh look at the Artcraft. Work began on the
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style and did not originally have a marquee. A set of two original stage flats in a forest motif are still housed backstage. The theater was purchased by
Trueman Rembusch in 1936, who facilitated the theaters first renovation in 1936. In 1948, it underwent a second renovation in the
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In 2001, the historic preservation group
Franklin Heritage, Inc. (FHI). decided to start renting the Artcraft to provide extra funds for restoration work and upkeep. Franklin Heritage, Inc.'s "Classic Film on a Classic Screen" campaign started on September 13, 2001 with a showing of
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grant towards the restoration of the theater. The restoration of the
Artcraft occurs in tangent with other preservation projects that FHI undertakes. The Artcraft celebrated its 100th anniversary on November 1, 2022.
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group
Franklin Heritage Inc., the theater shows classic movies and hosts concerts as the group restores the Artcraft and other local buildings. The Artcraft is one of the best examples of an art deco theatre in
373:. The theater operated as a first-run movie theater continuously for 78 years before closing. It was the headquarters for Syndicate Theatre's cinema network from 1936-2000. Saved from demolition by
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lottery. Bank Nite continued at the
Artcraft through the 1950s. The Rembusches added a 2 line A-framed marquee and blade sign in 1940. They added walnut and agate-colored
429:. During the Great Depression, many American families turned to cheap entertainment at the movies to keep a sense of normality. The Artcraft joined the popular Cash or
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renovation in 1948 and finished with a new screen installment in 1953. The art deco renovation included streamlining the whole front façade and lobby. Crews installed
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from 1922-1929. During that time the orchestra pit in front of the stage housed any musicians needed to accompany films. Many area high schools and
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leased the Artcraft in 1928 and bought the theater in 1936. The Rembusch family installed sound at the Artcraft on October 28, 1929. The first
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chose Franklin as the feature for its photo-essay on a small town's Saturday night. The issue was photographed in October 1940. written by
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Franklin was awarded the Best Main Street in Indiana by Visit Indiana in 2019 in part because of the rejuvenation brought by the Artcraft.
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on the lower front façade around the poster cases. Because of Franklin's idyllic community and its appearance of recovery from the
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Opening its doors on November 1, 1922, the Artcraft was the first theater in Franklin built to show movies. It was built in the
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performed plays and hosted commencements ceremonies on the Artcraft stage throughout the 1920s and 1930s.
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In 2015, the theater was chosen as one of the "4 Favorite Restored Small-Town Cinemas" by
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1033:. Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology
1031:"Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database (SHAARD)"
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The Artcraft remained the only operating theater in Franklin during the 1960s-2000.
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Hall, Scott (September 11, 2001). "Artcraft Theater Comes to Life with Classics".
526:. FHI continued to rent the building one Thursday and later one weekend a month.
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originally intended for vaudeville performances. The Artcraft was built in the
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resonated with the recently shocked patrons following the terrorist attacks of
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715:(1st ed.). St. Louis, Missouri: G. Bradley Publishing, Inc. p. 99.
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425:. In 1935 they added the first air-conditioning system in Franklin using a
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bring the best programming to the area including its long-standing run of
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style without a marquee or blade sign. Located across the street from the
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as its last movie after operating continuously for 78 years in May 2000.
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756:, Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1991, pp. 160-161
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907:"Group to restore Artcraft Theatre in Franklin for live performances"
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Hoskins, Michael (February 16, 2004). "Projecting a Better Future".
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Malia Savarino, "DHPA Awards 21 Preservation and Archeology Grants"
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The auditorium of the Artcraft following the art deco renovation.
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National Register of Historic Places in Johnson County, Indiana
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style that is representative of American movie theaters.
845:"Artcraft's Second Act Looks to Have Promising Future".
736:"Life Takes Pictorial Record of Saturday in Franklin".
518:. The patriotic film depicting America under attack at
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The late 1980s and early 1990s saw the introduction of
958:"The Historic Artcraft Theatre/Franklin Heritage, Inc"
933:"1959 Ben-Hur Screening at Historic Artcraft Theatre"
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to close and sell the Artcraft. The Artcraft showed
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Buildings and structures in Johnson County, Indiana
860:"Collapse Shouldn't Stop the Artcraft's Momentum".
796:"New Wide Screen Being Installed at Theater Here".
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49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
1079:Tourist attractions in Johnson County, Indiana
1013:"Have You Visited Indiana's Best Main Street?"
964:. Franklin Chamber of Commerce. Archived from
835:, Fall/Winter 2006, p. 4, accessed 18 Aug 2010
449:, and published in the December 1940 edition.
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398:station, the Artcraft was ideal to bring in
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753:American Photography and the American Dream
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109:Learn how and when to remove this message
989:"4 Favorite Restored Small-Town Cinemas"
696:"Work Continues on Air Cooling System".
669:"Artcraft to Enter Ranks of "Talkies"".
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546:The building includes a full stage and
536:Heartland International Film Festival's
1084:Repertory cinemas in the United States
937:General Lew Wallace Study & Museum
1059:Cinemas and movie theaters in Indiana
654:"Center Grove High School Presents".
586:Franklin Commercial Historic District
456:The newly added marquee in the 1940s.
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811:"Theater Marquee Now in Operation".
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582:National Register of Historic Places
234:National Register of Historic Places
47:adding citations to reliable sources
1069:Art Deco cinemas and movie theaters
987:Hoffert, Jess (December 15, 2014).
616:. Indiana Landmarks. Archived from
509:Franklin Heritage, Inc. Restoration
584:as a contributing resource in the
402:troupes. The Artcraft also showed
16:Movie theater in Franklin, Indiana
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913:. Daily Journal of Johnson County
1064:Art Deco architecture in Indiana
800:. September 30, 1953. p. 1.
711:Johnson, M. L. "Beezer" (1996).
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643:. November 21, 1922. p. 4.
278:Movie theater and concert venue
34:needs additional citations for
785:. January 28, 1944. p. 1.
781:"Special Show in Bond Drive".
770:. October 23, 1942. p. 4.
740:. October 14, 1940. p. 1.
673:. October 26, 1929. p. 3.
580:The Artcraft is listed in the
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713:Franklin: A Pictorial History
815:. April 8, 1948. p. 1.
700:. June 21, 1935. p. 5.
658:. April 9, 1923. p. 3.
538:"Best of the Fest" events.
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490:across the United States.
864:. May 3, 2001. p. 4.
813:The Franklin Evening Star
798:The Franklin Evening Star
783:The Franklin Evening Star
768:The Franklin Evening Star
738:The Franklin Evening Star
698:The Franklin Evening Star
671:The Franklin Evening Star
656:The Franklin Evening Star
641:The Franklin Evening Star
639:""The Microbe of Love"".
413:The Rembusch family from
363:Historic Artcraft Theatre
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911:Indiana Economic Digest
226:Franklin Heritage, Inc.
207:39.481161°N 86.055017°W
161:Location within Indiana
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365:is a movie theater in
516:From Here to Eternity
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423:Fox's Follies of 1929
375:historic preservation
299:1936, 1940, 1948-1952
212:39.481161; -86.055017
427:swamp cooling system
415:Shelbyville, Indiana
43:improve this article
1019:. December 8, 2021.
336:Structural engineer
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833:Preserving Indiana
686:, Cinema Treasures
684:"Artcraft Theatre"
610:"Artcraft Theatre"
498:Gone with the Wind
492:Kerasotes Theatres
488:multiplex theaters
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291:November 1st, 1922
58:"Artcraft Theatre"
892:The Daily Journal
877:The Daily Journal
862:The Daily Journal
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320:Years active
283:Construction
249:Seating type
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41:Please help
36:verification
33:
470:neon lights
275:Current use
231:Designation
210: /
185:Coordinates
1053:Categories
998:2023-02-28
593:References
400:vaudeville
198:86°03′18″W
195:39°28′52″N
69:newspapers
1037:12 August
431:Bank Nite
328:Architect
307:May, 2000
296:Renovated
557:Art Deco
466:art deco
312:Reopened
258:Capacity
972:1 April
962:Members
942:1 April
917:1 April
624:1 April
460:During
386:History
380:Indiana
369:in the
344:Website
267:Screens
170:Address
83:scholar
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419:talkie
304:Closed
288:Opened
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223:Owner
90:JSTOR
76:books
1039:2024
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361:The
315:2004
239:Type
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