Palace Theater in Gary, Indiana, USA is an abandoned 1900 atmospheric theater. It operated for four and half decades, as one of the grandest theaters in Gary. Palace theater slowly declined to close in 1972.

Beginning of an Era

Palace theater was a brainchild of Young and Wolf Enterprise (a legendary entertainment company). The company had several theaters not only in Indiana but in the whole of the USA. In 1924, the company decided to build one more theater at 791 Broadway in Gary. The theater which would later be called Place Theater groundbreaking therefore began. Uniquely designed from all the other theaters, it was designed by John Ebberson with an atmospheric finishing that had never been seen in Indiana state. It was the only atmospheric-style theater in Gary. A year later, Palace Theater was opened for business taking almost all movie enthusiasts in Gary. Live performance, dances, and ballet were some of the other activities that were performed in the theater.

Crime at Palace Theater

Palace theater did well for the first 3 decades having the highest number of customers than any other theater in town. Though competition was stiff, no theater had the resources that it did, giving it an upper hand in every way. The turbulence began between 1950 and 1960 when there was an economic decline in Indiana State. The economic decline escalated unemployment in Gary which in turn increased violence and crime in the neighborhoods. Palace theater being centrally located in the most depressed region of the state, frequent violence and crime followed it like a shadow.  Attacks and muggings were reported in and out of the theater. This discouraged many locals who were afraid of setting foot in or around the theater. Two crimes that would lead to its permanent closure were in 1968 and 1972. A 15-year-old teenager was stabbed to death in the crowded lobby of the theater. Four years later a lady was attacked and sexually assaulted while in the theater’s washrooms. These two incidents forced the theater to be shut down permanently in 1972.

Palace theater today

Shortly after closure, the theater changed hands and use. William Carl purchased it in 1975 and turned it into a residential building and offices. The business failed and it was again purchased by a group of doctors, Gandhi King Corp. They too abandoned the building after it became expensive to restore. Today, the building is in complete ruin. The roof has since collapsed exposing the interior to rainwater and sunshine. Graffiti covers a major section of the looted interior. Currently, it is a haven for drug dealers and other illegalities. Extremely contaminated and dirty, locals are discouraged from exploring the property.