Goshen Theater

216 South Main Street
Goshen IN 46526

Phone: 574-535-0808
Email: [email protected]

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Description:
Early History:

In 1905 the Jefferson Theater was opened. The residents of Goshen had been hoping for years to see a new theater in town. Early that year a site was chosen in the 200 block of South Main Street on a space of five lots that had stood empty for 20 years. A nationally known theater architect from Chicago was hired to design the facility, which would be constructed at a cost of $75,000 and would be called "The Jefferson" after Joseph Jefferson, a famous actor of the time who had recently died.

On November 5, 1905 the official dedication took place. The event was attended by Governor Frank Hanly and the Indiana Attorney General. Prominent citizens from all over Southern Michigan and Northern Indiana reserved seats. Tickets were highly sought-after and extremely hard to come by. The citizens of Goshen were so proud of their new theater that crowds of people, who had been unable to get seats, lined the streets just to watch people go in. At 7:30 PM the doors opened and 11 ushers escorted delighted ticket-holders into the lavish theater which featured green and ivory decor with gold leaf trim, red oak and mahogany. Governor Hanly gave the welcoming address from his box seat on the auditorium's south side. The Goshen News-Times reported that in his speech, the Governor noted that 'Indiana has many splendid cities, many splendid communities and many splendid buildings, but no city the size of Goshen has so splendid a playhouse.'