The Historic Ritz Theater

Parke Players, Inc
P.O. Box 254
Rockville, IN 47872
765-569-PLAY

The Ritz Theater, Our Home

The Ritz Theater Restoration Projects since 1971

A pair of post cards from the early days.

This is the way the Ritz Theater in Rockville, Indiana looked back in 1915. Although the basic design remains the same today, the upstairs balcony is gone and a marquee has been added.

Original 1913 Seating Chart for the New Rockville Opera House

Lucy Washburn, a girl thought to be her daughter and Bud Washburn in 1935

Bud Washburn stands in front of the Ritz. The first of two overhanging marquees is seen here
with the Carey / Alexander initials displayed on each end. Carey/Alexander was a small
chain of regional theaters that purchased the "New Rockville Opera House" from the
"Protestant Building Association" in 1926. The P.B.A. was a thinly veiled arm of the Klu Klux
Klan that collapsed following the D.C. Stephens debacle that brought down the Klan fueled
Indiana power structure of the 1920's.
"Curley Top", a movie starring Shirley Temple came out on August 2, 1935
Notice the cut-out of Shirley Temple tied to the back of Bud's car (left side of photo)!

Ticket roll showing admission to a Ritz Theatre movie at .14¢

From left to right: Manager Bud Washburn, Projectionist Dolph Davies, Ticket Vender Billy Lee,
Cashier Dorothy Davies and Building Service Woody Bradburn, 1936.

In the late 1930s it cost 25 cents for adults and 10 cents for children to see a movie at the Ritz Theater. The lobby cards on the wall on the left are for the 1938 movie "Going Places." It starred Dick Powell, Anita Louise, Allen Jenkins and Ronald Reagan. According to Leonard Maltin's Movie and Video Guide the movie was a "nonsensical musical with a variety of songs, steeplechase riding and obligatory romantic interludes. Louis Armstrong and Maxine Sullivan introduce hit song 'Jeepers Creepers.' Beside the ticket seller is a stand-up promo for the movie "Tail Spin." This 1939 movie starred Ronald Reagan's first wife, Jane Wyman. The lobby cardholder is still in at the Ritz today and the ticket booth looks the same. Parke Players renovated the lobby and added new restrooms and concession area in the south east corner of the building in 2003 .

Bud Washburn in his Office in 1939

A flyer often found in area resident's mailboxes in 1943

The Ritz Theater, October 1971

The Ritz Theater, October 1972

Restoration of the 1948 marquee, featuring the full chase lighting and neon nose. The "RITZ" letters that were also restored are shown in the photograph below.

Close-up of the restored original 1937 lettering. These letters are located behind the overhanging marquee and above the front doors of the theater that lead into the lobby area. Parke Players finished restoring the marquee in May 2002.

The Historic Ritz Theater after the 2003 renovation.

Directions to Rockville, IN