In 1910, Thomas G. Moses wrote, “Closed with the Murat Theatre of Indianapolis for $4,000.00.” The equivalent purchasing power today is $107,599.16, a sizable scenery project for the time. The building was named after the Nubian desert oasis Bin Murat. Bin Murat was named after Napoleon’s general, Joachim Murat, during his Egyptian campaign; an interesting nod to past French Masonic heritage.
The Murat Shrine building was located at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and New Jersey Street. The Shrine Theater opened on March 1. By March 3, 1910, “The Waterloo Press” included a lovely article on the new structure in an article entitled “New Murat Theatre Opens” (page 2). Here is the article in its entirety:
“The Murat Theatre contained in what is said to be the most elaborate Mystic Shrine temple in the United States, was opened at Indianapolis, Ind., under the management of the Schubert Theatrical Producing Company. The temple, completed, will cost $250,000 but only the theatre has been finished. James T. Powers and his company, in the musical comedy, “Havana,” gave the first performance in the theatre. Only the members of the Mystic Shrine were admitted but the subsequent performances will be public. The theatre is decorated with mural pictures representing camel caravans passing through a desert and approaching an oasis, and with other allegorical paintings symbolic of the significance of the Mystic Shrine.”
What is interesting about this theater is that the Shrine is using the stage for their ceremonials, but also leasing the house and generating a significant amount of income, a win-win situation. The Schuberts leased the theater from 1910 to 1930. In 1910 Sosman & Landis also provided stock scenery for the Schuberts’ newly acquired Great Northern Theatre in Chicago.
The Murat Theatre was a Moorish-revival style structure, with the building featuring minarets, terra cotta trim, and brown and yellow banding. In 1922, the structure was expanded to include an Egyptian-themed auditorium. Interestingly, it was planned prior to the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb that same year. The 2,500-seat auditorium offered a secondary performance venue, to the original 1,800-seat concert hall. Between 1948 and 1963, the venue was primarily used by road shows. In 1963 it became the home for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. In 1968, the building was expanded; the addition collapsed after a fire in 1988.
Over the years, the building was known as the Murat Shrine Temple, Murat Shrine Theatre, Murat Theatre, and Old National Centre. It is now called the Murat Theatre at Old National Centre, located at North and New Jersey Street in Indianapolis. Noted at the oldest stage house in downtown Indianapolis, it is still in use. There are currently nine areas for hosting events, including the Egyptian room, the Corinthian Hall, the Corinthian annex, the Corinthian meeting room, the Great Hall, the Imperial Lounge (formerly known as the “Crowne Room”) and various lobby areas.
In terms of the Fraternity, the Ancient and Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine was organized in Indianapolis during 1882, receiving a charter on June 4, 1884. Regular meetings were held at the old Scottish Rite at the Townsley and Wiggens Pork House; a space that I have written extensively about in past posts (see installments # 199-201, and 237). As a side note, Henry C. Tryon was the scenic artist responsible for the earliest scenery in the Indianapolis Scottish Rite where the Murat Shrine initially met; Tryon was later on the staff at Sosman & Landis and an asset to their Masonic projects at the time.
By 1909, the Indianapolis Shrine began the construction of the Murat Temple. Considering the reputation garnered by Sosman & Landis in 1909 and their connection with Tryon, it is not surprisingly that they received the contract for the Murat stock scenery collection. In terms of the architecture, the William P. Jungclaus Company used the designs of Murat Shriner Oscar D. Bohlen.
The theater opened on February 28, 1910, with Murat nobles and ladies treated to opening night; this became a tradition while the Schuberts leased the building. The theater had a seating capacity of 1,950 (lower floor, 1155, balcony, 624, and boxes, 24). Located on the ground floor, the space was illuminated with electricity (110-220 D.C., 1,500 Amp.). The proscenium opening measured 40×36 ft. with a depth of 40 ft. from the footlights to the back wall. There were 91 feet between the side walls and a 3 ft. apron. It was 76 ft. from the stage to rigging loft and 31 ft. from the stage to fly gallery. The Cahn-Leighton Official Theatrical Guide for 1912-1913 Season listed the theater as the “Schubert-Murat Theatre” managed by Fred J. Daily.
Here is an interesting link to the Murat Shrine: https://www.muratshrine.org/PP_history.php
To be continued…
