Our Story – Clyde Theatre

Our Story

By opening our stage to the greatest touring artists in every genre imaginable — and by presenting them to the masses with the latest sound and lighting technology around — The Clyde is staking our claim as the region's first choice for live entertainment. The journey from historic movie house to hyper-modern music hall was long and winding, but it's made The Clyde what it is today: a Fort Wayne gem committed to providing guests with an outstanding experience every time they walk through our doors.

Our History

In 1949, Clyde Quimby commissioned architect A.M. Strauss to draw up plans for The Clyde Theatre at Quimby Village in Fort Wayne, Indiana. On April 19, 1951, the theater began its life as a 1,782-seat movie house, bringing in patrons from all over the region for first dates, family outings, and a glimpse of Hollywood glamour here in Fort Wayne. Years passed, and after changing its name, closing down for a while, and reopening briefly as a house of worship, the venue gradually fell into disuse and disrepair. That is, until a few passionate locals saw its potential.

Our Venue, Reimagined

Thanks to the generosity of Chuck and Lisa Surack of Sweetwater Sound, along with the support of countless community partners, The Clyde Theatre underwent an incredible $9 million renovation in 2017 and 2018, transforming the stunning historic venue from a forgotten treasure to a state-of-the-art performance hall and event center.

Who We Are Today

Taking inspiration from all the amazing venues we’ve ever been to, the design team at The Clyde revitalized the interior with art deco details and fresh, modern elements. Thanks to our recent renovation, The Clyde has been built to provide the absolute best live music and private event experience for both artists and guests.

// 21,000-square-foot main performance hall with room for nearly 2,000 guests and a spacious lobby with bar
// 2nd-floor premier seating gallery
// Upscale accommodations for national touring artists
// New updates: HVAC, electrical, plumbing, acoustical treatments, roof, and executive offices
// State-of-the-art sound system featuring loudspeakers, subwoofers, line arrays, and stage monitoring provided by JBL and VTX, plus two Avid Venue S6L-192 consoles
// A comprehensive lighting system built on Eurotruss and Stage Maker trussing with Martin, MA Lighting, and Chauvet fixtures

These improvements extended beyond our walls, with an expansion and repaving of our brightly lit parking lot, new digital signage, an updated marquee, and brand-new restaurant right next door — The Club Room at The Clyde.

Today, the venue is host to live concerts and entertainment, private events, community gatherings, and more. Since our doors opened in early 2018, we’ve quickly earned a reputation with concertgoers, award-winning artists and their crews, members of the community, and visitors from all over as one of the top venues of its kind in the region. We owe it all to the fact that we’ve made it our mission to provide incredible entertainment — that sounds better than ever before — in a welcoming atmosphere that celebrates the arts and our community in every possible way.

Our commitment to you

Our goal is to make every night out at The Clyde exceptional at every turn. We offer conveniently located bar service stations with premium beverages — including some from area wineries and distilleries — served with a smile. We have a huge, well-lit lot with plenty of spaces to park at absolutely no cost, and a bar and restaurant right next door for delicious food before, during, or after a show. Our expertly trained box office staff, servers, and security personnel are dedicated to making sure you have the time of your life here. If there’s anything more we can do to make good on that promise, let us know.

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