Buskirk sign shines as local beacon on Kirkwood

Almost a part of the landscape, the Buskirk-Chumley Theater’s marquee looms on the western horizon of Kirkwood Avenue. But it wasn’t always that way. Here’s the history behind the theater’s sign:

Theater for the locals
The Buskirk-Chulmey Theater opened in 1922 as the “Indiana Theater” and was soon coined simply “The Indiana” by locals.
The theater was first opened by the Vonderschmitt family as a silent movie theater, complete with an organ to accompany films and a bandstand for live shows.  
Famed composer and band leader Hoagy Carmichael is said to have performed there several times between 1925 and 1928 with his band.

Fire forces remodel
In 1933, the theater was gutted by a fire, and subsequent restoration brought a new look to the interior.
The Vonderschmitts diligently restored the theater to its former glory, with a few new additions.
The forced remodel gave the theater the historic “dogbone-style” marquee that graces the face of the
theater today.
The sign still boasts the original name of the theater, lit in bright blues, pinks and yellows.
“Indiana” shines high above Kirkwood as a symbol of the area’s rich past.

Changing hands
The theater was purchased by Kerasotes Theaters, Inc. in 1975. It used the theater almost exclusively for films, going so far as to install an upstairs screen for the films.
After 20 years, Kerasotes donated the theater to the community through the Bloomington Area Arts Council.
The theater was then renamed “The Buskirk-Chumley Theater” in honor of the family who made the donation possible.
Visitors can tour a museum dedicated to the history of the Buskirk-Chumley and its famous sign by entering through the box office 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, said Danielle McClelland, director of the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.

The sign today
“There are close to 200 public events per year, all of which are advertised on our marquee,” McClelland said.
“It takes the janitorial staff an hour to change the marquee for the next show, and light bulb replacement is constant.”
Senior Amy Taylor said she views the sign as a Kirkwood icon.
“It draws attention to the area by adding to the aesthetics of Kirkwood,” she said.
Junior Brad Domash agreed and put it quite
simply.
“It rocks.”