South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-06-18
Residence Movies Soon to FoIIow
Lead of Downtown Section; Houses
In All Parts Of City Seen in Future
Movie Fans of Residence Sections Plead Need for Neghbor-
hood Theaters, Pledging Support Houses
if Provided for Them.

II has been said that South Bend
wins distinction in the scarcity of
neighborhood playhouses. In this
connection cities of $4,000 or larger
are invariably interested in their out
lying showhouses almost as much as
those in their down town districts,
the "closeness to home" feature win
ming for them a good share Of the
show going patronage.
Community Theater.
There are two little store room
theaters on w. Division St, but these
are not listed IN the same category.
The lowness of ceilings and their at
tendant illy-ventiated condition has
caused this type of theater not TO be
seriously regarded. Residential dis
tricts require tho same model Of con
.struction as in the larger houses with
the exception of size. ". il is
agreed. a truly nagnldcen. theater
w. draw a p-trona e commemorate
TO its seating capacity regardless OF
its location.
Whatever the arguments for and
against neighhorhood theaters. the
fact remains that South Bend Il suf-
fcient size as TO warrant the erection
OF such theaters in different sections
OF the city. especially in those more
densely settled sections. The South
Theater corporation was during the
past IS months incorporated for the
purpose OF erecting a theater on S.
Michigan St. near Garst ST. This en-
4
cess, II is said, but the erection of a
theater in this section almost the
population center OF the city, IS a
foregone conclusion n the not very
distant future.
Would support House.
1t IS a proven fact that warrant
able prospects OF success IN theater
patronage as we'll as any other bus
mess DO not diminish solely because
Of lack of enterprise. The business
is there If you want to get il, is an
adage of proven merit. That the
South Side would support It's own
theater is as near a certainty as Is
the success community houses en-
Joy In cities of lesser size.
40 little talk has been heard
among Chaplin st. merchants for a
motion picture house in their section
OF town. They point with pride at
the growth in the size of that buSl-
ness district and at the rapidly eX-
panding residential districts 10 the
west and southwest. With the
amount OF business presently done
in this business section demonstra-
tive OF the slzs Of the crowds. there
is sufficient reason 70 believe they
say. that a theater would pay well
on the investment required Then.
too. the added crowds the theatcr
would bring would directly benefit
their business.
Residents IN the North and North
western sections OF the city have al
so been heard expressing the wish
that a community theater would be
built in their midst. The evenings
which they now spend az home be-
cause OF the lateness of the hour or
because of the carfare expense re-
CURED. to take the whole family
could be better taken care OF II in
the near neighborhood there was sit
uated a movie"
1T. Wayne Has %.
such types OF playhouses may be
predicted for Mishawaks. especially
the North side. as well as other dis
tricts in South Bend. The rapid
growth Of River Park and nearer the
business section OF the fourth ward
may be considered as suitable .ocs-
tons for the neighborhoCd motion
picture shows
Fort Wayne has a total or %
showhouses. all credited with do'ng
a big business. In all sections OF the
residential district may be found a
movie" some or which. like the
Creighton theater. are houses OF 70
mean proportions. This condition T.
parallel IN almost every city or the
country. South BENDS future in
theaters VIII no doubs see some such
similar expansion.