Demolition of the Hilton U. Brown Theatre

Description:	The Hilton U. Brown Theatre is being demolished in preparation for the construction of the Apartment Village, while a portion of Hinkle Fieldhouse is visible in the background. When the Butler Bowl opened in 1928 (renamed the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl in 2017), it could seat approximately 35,000 people and there was an option to add additional seating for a total capacity of more than 70,000 spectators. By the 1950s the need for such a large stadium was no longer necessary and in 1953, Butler University signed a contract with the city of Indianapolis, allowing them to build an open-air theatre at the southern end of the stadium. Indianapolis leased the land from the University, paid the construction costs, and had control of the theatre from around June 15th to September 1st each year, but it was available for University use at other times. Among other events, spring Commencement was held at the theatre for almost twenty years. Construction started in June 1954 on the approximately $350,000 to $400,000 theatre and roughly 16,000 seats were removed from the south side of the stadium, making way for the new theatre. Opening in 1955, the Hilton U. Brown Theatron was named for Hilton U. Brown (Class of 1880, M.A. 1882), President of the Butler University Board of Directors from 1903 to 1955. The structure was renamed the Hilton U. Brown Theatre circa 1963 and from 1955 to 1992 it was the home of Starlight Musicals who produced musicals and concerts each summer. Starlight Musicals folded in 1993, just before the start of the summer season, and liquidated its assets. Afterwards, the theatre was leased infrequently for concerts and the last concert was held in August 2000. As the space was no longer being used for University events either, it functioned as theatre set storage and football locker rooms instead, so the decision was made to tear down the theatre.
Origin:	2005
Source:	http://palni.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/BldgsGrnds/id/2869
Collection:	Butler University Buildings and Grounds Collection
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
Copyright:	In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
Geography:	Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, 39.843311, -86.165877 39.843311 -86.165877
Subjects:	Construction projects Construction equipment Construction and demolition debris Sports facilities Field houses Basketball arenas Gymnasiums Amphitheaters Theaters Dump trucks Parking lots Butler University--Buildings Butler University--Buildings, structures, etc. College buildings Butler University--History Indianapolis (Ind.)--History Hilton U. Brown Theatron Hilton U. Brown Theatre Starlight Musicals Hinkle Fieldhouse Butler Fieldhouse Dumpsters Demolition Fairview campus

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