The Hoosier Theater: In the Heart of Whiting for Over a Century
John Kertis
October 2026
The marquee of the Hoosier in 1932.
The Hoosier Theater is one of Whiting’s most significant historic buildings. For over 100 years it has served residents of Whiting and neighboring communities as a place to get a break from the day-by-day stresses of life and enjoy an afternoon or evening of entertainment.
The Hoosier was built in 1924. It was one of four theaters in Whiting at the time. The other three, the Star, Capitol, and Princess, were eventually closed, leaving the Hoosier the only one left in Whiting by the early 1950s.
In the 1930s, the Great Depression affected many communities, including Whiting. To escape the harsh reality of the time, many Whiting residents visited movie houses to experience adventure, comedy, and fantasy. For just ten cents, people could come in, sit back, and enjoy a movie in comfort. The Hoosier was one of the first to have air conditioning. Other perks were live stage presentations such as singing, dancing, and “pretty girls.” At the end of the show, there was usually a raffle where patrons would get a chance to win a chicken, goose, or turkey.
In its early years, the Hoosier was the perfect place for plays, movies, and vaudeville. At the time, many booking agents called the Hoosier a “try-out house,” a place where agents could book people and give them a chance to present their acts. Many of these well-known actors and performers trying out included Charles Laughton, Charles Correll and Freeman Godsen, who later became known as “Amos and Andy.” Eventually, vaudeville gave way to full-length movies, but the stage was still used for other events such as bathing beauty contests (1930s), amateur performer nights (1940s), and cooking exhibitions (1950s).
The Hoosier has been in the heart of downtown Whiting for over a century. This photo is from 1929.
As years passed, owners of the Hoosier had to make sure that the theater's movie technology was on the cutting edge or up to date. For instance, in 1954, the theater’s sixteen foot wide movie screen was replaced with a forty foot wide one, making it the largest movie screen in the region.