Allen County, Indiana Genealogy

Embassy Theatre

Embassy Theatre previously Emboyd Theatre

125 West Jefferson Boulevard, Street View photo from Google maps with over 3,000 user submitted photos on Google.

Happy #TBT! Check out this pic from opening day 1928. You may see the modern day version of this tomorrow when Avett Brothers go on sale at 10 am! #FWET #DTFW #Emboyd #1928 #Historical #Renovation
Posted by Embassy Theatre on Thursday, February 18, 2016

Thursday, February 18, 2016 post by the Embassy Theatre on Facebook:

Happy #TBT! Check out this pic from opening day 1928. You may see the modern day version of this tomorrow when Avett Brothers go on sale at 10 am! #FWET #DTFW #Emboyd #1928 #Historical #Renovation

Happy 90th, Embassy Historic venue hosts community event, vintage showcase by Corey McMaken published May 17, 2018 in The Journal Gazette newspaper included the 14-page May 14, 1928 The Emboyd Gala Opening special edition pdf archived on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.

Throwback: The Magnificent New Emboyd Theatre Opens Monday! This ad ran in The News-Sentinel on Saturday, May 12, 1928 two days before the Emboyd Theatre (now Embassy Theatre) opened as a vaudeville house.
Posted by Embassy Theatre on Wednesday, June 14, 2023

June 14, 2023 post by Embassy Theatre on Facebook:

Throwback:The Magnificent New Emboyd Theatre Opens Monday! This ad ran in The News-Sentinel on Saturday, May 12, 1928 two days before the Emboyd Theatre (now Embassy Theatre) opened as a vaudeville house.

Episode 186: Embassy Theatre by Granite Ridge Builders posted Nov 23, 2022 on YouTube
The historic Embassy Theatre provides a majestic backdrop for Broadway performances, concerts of all musical formats, cinema, and the annual Festival of Trees. In this week’s episode, we discuss the history, interior styles, facts, theatrical superstitions, and more! We invite you to visit the annual Festival of Trees at the Embassy Theatre through November 30th.
We have a growing list of Granite Ridge videos posted on our pages.
In the video, Lonnie Norris mentions his movie Pursuit of Freedom Original title: Pulled from Darkness The real life story of a Ukrainian woman who was separated from her three children and sold into trafficking by Russian gangsters. Defying all odds, she survived to be reunited with her children. See the 4-minute trailer: Director George A. Johnson & Producer Lonnie Norris share the story behind PURSUIT OF FREEDOM.

Saving the Embassy part 1 published May 27, 2011 by Embassy1928 on YouTube
Faced with the wrecking ball in 1972, a handful of community leaders and volunteers led by Robert Goldstine, banded together to form the Embassy Theatre Foundation. This is their story.

Saving the Embassy part 2 published May 27, 2011 by Embassy1928 on YouTube
Faced with the wrecking ball in 1972, a handful of community leaders and volunteers led by Robert Goldstine, banded together to form the Embassy Theatre Foundation. This is their story.

The Embassy Theatre is an individual listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Designed by Alvin M. Strauss. The Embassy Theatre opened May 14, 1928 as the Emboyd Theatre, was restored in the 1990s recreating the original carpet, lace curtains, and light fixtures. Read more of their history on their About Us web page.

September 19, 2023 post by Embassy Theatre on Facebook:

Ninety-five years ago the Embassy opened as one of the most beautiful and modern vaudeville houses in Fort Wayne. Almost 50 years ago, it was scheduled to become a parking lot. Today it is one of the most adored historical venues in Northeast Indiana. Learn about the magical history and architecture of this community treasure with a guided tour.

Contact tours@fwembassytheatre.org to learn more and to schedule your tour. Historical tours are M-F by appointment and are $10 per person.

See local Theaters such as the Broadway Theatre, Clyde Theatre, Embassy Theatre, Holiday Theater, Jefferson Theatre, Lyric Theatre, Majestic Theatre, Palace Theatre, Paramount Theatre, and Rialto Theatre. Theatre versus Theater trivia. Some say the spelling Theatre refers to a focus on live performances while Theater refers to the physical place. Others say it is the British spelling versus American spelling.

May 24, 2023 post by the Embassy Theatre on Facebook:

Did you know that the Embassy's Grande Page Pipe Organ was built by The Page Pipe Organ Company out of Lima, Ohio? The Page Pipe Organ Company was a manufacturer of small organs, however, they built only four larger organs one of which is housed at the Embassy.

The Embassy's organ has more than 1,300 pipes that range in size from a small pencil to large wooden flues sixteen feet high. Our organ was built to accompany silent movies, as such it has special effects which include bird whistles, police sirens, telephone bells, train whistles and more. We also have one of the few organs in the nation still in its original home!

April 27, 2023 post by the Embassy Theatre on Facebook:

Have you ever noticed the architectural features of our lower lounge bathrooms? This area features pillared arches in a Spanish motif with carvings of the scarab beetle (Scarabaeus sacer, regarded by the ancient Egyptians as sacred and a symbol for new life). We also have false back-lighted windows on one side of the corridor to give an open-air impression even though the hall is below ground level!

Embassy Theatre channel on YouTube, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fwembassytheatre.
In the spring of 1929, an unknown young vaudevillian named Bob Hope spent three weeks there performing as a master of ceremonies. The world-famous comedian, who died in 2003, later credited the theater with giving his career its start. ... In 1978, during a Save the Embassy fundraising campaign Bob Hope left a photo of himself, on which he inscribed, To the Embassy Theatre patrons: Don't let it fall. It helped get me started. My Best, Bob Hope. Copied from Nine decades packed with memories published May 19, 2018 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
The Embassy Theatre by Tom Castaldi posted November 3, 2015 on History Center Notes & Queries blog.
Embassy Theatre Page Organ Rebuilding, 1988, Fort Wayne, Indiana at the The Genealogy Center.
See Embassy Theatre Photographs 1988-1978 on the The Genealogy Center web site.
May 13, 1988 Paul Harvey recorded a custom version of "The Rest of the Story" for WOWO, spotlighting the 60th anniversary of Fort Wayne's Embassy Theatre and one of its most famous performers, followed by a WOWO promo for The Big Broadcast of 1988. Recording courtesy of Jim Cassell from the collection of the late Charlie Willer.Listen to 4 minute audio from the History of WOWO Airchecks page.
Theatrical variety part of history published August 29, 1994 by Michael Hawfield from the Archives of The News-Sentinel newspaperdiscusses this and other local theatres.
The book The Historic Fort Wayne Embassy Theatre by Dyne L. Pfeffenberger, 2009, Quarry Books, Indiana Universtiy Press.
Photo of ushers from Great Memories and History of Fort Wayneon Facebook.
The attached Indiana Hotel languished empty for decades returned in 2016 with a two-story ballroom able to seat 300 people, and a roof-top garden and bar overlooking Fort Wayne's revitalized downtown. Read A grand plan for Indiana hotel Embassy project to cost about $10 million by Dan Stockman published December 28, 2012 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
Fort Wayne is a city where Embassy Theatre’s Grande Page pipe organ is practically a local celebrity and where scores of people drive from church to church just to hear their outstanding pipe organs demonstrated as part of “Follow the Pipes” during the Fort Wayne Newspapers Three Rivers Festival. quote from the newspaper article Instrument has many local fans February 7, 2013 by Rosa Salter Rodriguez of The Journal Gazette newspaper.
The Goldstine Foundation is a philanthropic organization established after the death of Realtor and land developer Robert Goldstine in 2001. Goldstine was instrumental in saving Embassy Theatre from demolition in the early 1970s. From Embassy project gets $2 million boost Goldstine grant will help restore 4 floors of the Indiana Hotel by Keiara Carr published June 27, 2013 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
Discussed July 27, 2013 on Historic movie theaters, Act II on Hoosier History Live internet radio.
Do You Believe in the Embassy Theatre Ghost? by Jessica B. posted on October 17, 2017 on Visit Fort Wayne blog.
Around a dozen photos of the early days as the Emboyd Theatre were posted May 13, 2022 on the 94th birthday on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.
March 30, 2023 post by the Embassy Theatre on Facebook:

Did you know that the chandeliers hanging inside our theater weigh 500 pounds and are eight feet tall! The draperies behind the chandeliers are hiding more than 1,300 pipes for the Grande Page pipe organ.

#embassytheatre #fwembassy #fwembassytheatre #historictheatre #historicbuildings #downtownfortwayne #fortwayne #1928
April 20, 2023 post by the Embassy Theatre on Facebook:

Built in 1928, the Embassy Theatre is both Indiana’s largest self-sustaining historic theater and home to the magnificent Grande Page pipe organ. Originally known as the Emboyd, with the adjoining seven-story Indiana Hotel, our majestic movie palace and vaudeville theater introduced northern Indiana to the biggest and brightest stars of stage and screen. Faced with the wrecking ball in 1972, a handful of community leaders and volunteers banded together to form the Embassy Theatre Foundation. They rallied the community and saved the theater!

Please consider donating today to help us continue our mission of preserving this historic building. Support our campaign at: https://www.givegreaterallen.com/organiz.../fwembassytheatre

Thank you to those who helped contribute to this video:

Harvey Cocks, Jr - Embassy historian

Connie Haas Zuber - Executive Director, Arch

Fred Hitzemann - Long-time volunteer

Ellsworth Smith - Founder, Embassy Theatre Foundation

Bob Nickerson - Founder, Embassy Theatre Foundation

Bill Zabel - Founder, Embassy Theatre Foundation
January 24, 2024 post by the Embassy Theatre on Facebook:

Did you know we offer guided tours of our historic building? From the unique architecture of the building to the dressings rooms our tours offer a glimpse into the history of our establishment. This is one behind-the-scenes adventure you won't want to miss!

Contact tours@fwembassytheatre.org to learn more and to schedule your tour. Historical tours are M-F by appointment and are $10 per person.
February 5, 2024 post by the Embassy Theatre on Facebook:

Check out this blast from the past! The Embassy concession stand in the 1950s, where buttered popcorn was just 20 cents, and a chocolate ice cream bar would only set you back a dime.

Embassy Theatre: A VISION FOR THE EMBASSY! by fwembassytheatre posted April 28, 2015 on YouTube
Embassy updates A VISION FOR THE EMBASSY! Last summer Weigand Construction began the renovation of the Indiana Hotel. We will be keeping you up-to-date with the project with the help of Punch Films. Here is one our latest videos talking about the challenges of working in a historical faciity.

Fort Wayne Walk-of-Fame at the Embassy Theatre

Fort Wayne Indiana walk of Fame by landis entertainment network posted November 11, 2022 on YouTube.
Local celebrity names in sidewalk in front of the Embassy Theatre. Indiana Hotel, Herb Shriner, Marilyn Maxwell 2005, Chris Schenkel, Buddy Nolan, Carole Lombard 1994, Shelley Long 1994. Same video with photos posted November 11, 2022 on Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne Private Facebook Group.
Jeffrey Wayne Landis posted photos of each name plaque January 4, 2023 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook showing plaques for Indiana Hotel opened May 24, 1928 Acquired by the Embassy Theatre Foundation December 2, 1974, Herb Shriner, Marilyn Maxwell 2005, Chris Schenkel 2003, Shelley Long 1994, Carole Lombard 1946(?), Buddy Nolan 2001(?),

Diamond shape walk of fame plaques in the sidewalk along the Embassy building are visible in this Street View photo on Google maps.