Historic Rivoli Theatre Gets New Roof

Work on a project to restore a local theater is coming along.  Built in 1927, the Rivoli Theatre on Indy's eastside has sat vacant for more than 10 years with a damaged roof.  The first significant step in restoring the historic space involves building a new roof, and that work is underway and should be finished in the near future. 

Mark Dollase, vice president of preservation services at Indiana Landmarks says when the work is completed the brainstorming can begin.

"Our efforts are first to get the building stabilized and then work with the East 10th Street Civic Association, our organization, The Rivoli Center For Peforming Arts and other local groups to identify what a good end use for that building would be," says Dollase.

The space was originally designed as a single screen movie theater and designed in the Spanish Mission Revival Style.  The picture from rivolitheatre.org show the building in it's glory days featuring iron bracketts, faux balconies and a clay tile roof. 

Ideas for future use could include a community center, an arts school or a traditional theater. 

Typically, a project like this can take up to 10 years.  Restoration on the Rivoli began in 2007, when the building was donated to the Rivoli Center For Perfoming Arts Inc.