This entry describes an original installation of a new pipe organ. Identified by Timothy E. Conyers, using information from this web site: http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/11121.


The Gennett Theatre, built in 1899, replaced a previous theatre located on the same site that had been destroyed by fire. Originally built to showcase live performances, the Gennett Theatre was remodeled in 1916 to become a movie house. The name was changed to Washington Theatre and later became known as the Lawrence Theatre before it closed.

The auditorium had one movie screen and seated 810. The main entrance was off of N. 8th Street. The theatre was razed in 1935 and replaced by a gas station. The site of the theatre is directly south across North A Street from the historic St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

"The Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ� by Mr. David Junchen, pg. 629, reports the "Washington Th.� in Richmond, Indiana, had a two-manual Smith organ. No further information was given regarding the instrument. Most likely the organ was installed during the remodeling of the building in 1916 and at the height of the silent film era. The builder was Frederick W. Smith (1878-1944), who from 1916-1921, was associated with the J.P. Seeburg Piano Co. of Chicago, building organs with a Seeburg-Smith nameplate.

The instrument was sold to industrialist Henry Teetor, of Hagerstown, Indiana, who presented it to the Christian Church (now United Church of Christ) in the same town. (see #50470). The organ was later removed from the church and its fate is currently unknown.