1. Bulthaup ceased his normal course of business for several years to take care of aging relatives in
Indianapolis. During this period he investigated the potential for developing live performance theaters
in the Midwest. That concept was modified for movies and to what later became the country’s first
full dinner & first run movie theater, “Hollywood Bar & Filmworks” in 1991.
Upon opening Hollywood underwent a series of trials and tribulations. Hollywood was something that
had never been done before, and was located dilapidated and largely vacant warehouse at a time
when Indianapolis suburbanites did not want to travel downtown; with a concept so different that
nobody understood it, with an offering of only sub –run films (shortly before video), and with a
mountain of short term debt. It was the first new movie theater in downtown in over 60 years and the
first one to operate downtown in over two decades. Hollywood quickly became a leading regional
destination point and consistently received recognition over the years for excellence and winning all
the state and local entertainment and restaurant “Best of” awards.
Through a variety of tactics, Hollywood challenged the way films were distributed in this country,
causing some fundamental changes including, the status of intermediate run and first-run move-over
theaters and eliminating the release barrier for theaters wanting to provide expanded food and
beverage selections with to-your-seat service. Hollywood in Indianapolis paved the way for this end
of the industry and was generally recognized as the nation’s leading high-amenity theater. The mess
created in Indianapolis during the years of construction of Circle Centre Mall and the development of
Conseco Fieldhouse, with the subsequent hyper-inflation of neighborhood parking rates during
special events became a severe challenge to all downtown restaurant and entertainment operations.
Suddenly, after Hollywood enjoyed years of success, downtown parking rates inflated by 735% on
over 100 event nights per year due to the close proximity of a new sports arena. Of the businesses
that signed a petition to the Mayor, two thirds were driven out of business citing the new parking
dynamic as the number one problem. The local Mayor continued to embrace anti-small business
practices and harmful taxes and on Hollywood Bar & Filmworks 15th Anniversary, Bulthaup voluntarily
closed the Indianapolis location. All local loans and debts were voluntarily paid in full to all secured
and unsecured creditors alike and the assets moved to Illinois for use in one of Hollywood Blvd
Cinema’s later expansions. In the last year operation, Hollywood Bar & Filmworks was listed in the
Indianapolis Business Journal had even cited that theater as the 8th fastest growing company in the
city.
The Indianapolis City Council even passed a resolution on that occasion saying the theater was one
of the city’s greatest assets and even called Bulthaup one of the “iron men” and “visionaries” of
downtowns resurgence.
The Indianapolis operation had always enjoyed a great reputation for marketing and service
excellence. Disney had even approached Bulthaup about building a theater like the Filmworks
at Epcot. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, General Cinema’s experimented with a copycat
operation and several second rate imitators have spawned following our success. Hollywood Indy
was the only local recommendation as a great place to visit in USA Today during the Final Four
Conferences in Indianapolis. MS*NBC focused on Hollywood not only as a unique theater, but what
great value it delivers compared to New York City cinema’s. LA Sports talk radio broadcasted live
from our theater “Hollywood to Hollywood” when the Pacers were in the NBA playoffs. Warner Bros
even offered Bulthaup a job as Director of Special Projects (Marketing) if he would sell the Indy
location and move to LA.
Under Bulthaup’ stewardship, Hollywood Bar & Filmworks was consistently voted in various
local reader’s polls as being Downtown Indy’s Best New Addition, Indy’s Best Movie Theater, Indy’s
Best Kept Secret, and as having Indy’s Best Service, Best Movie Popcorn and 2nd Best Pizza. The
Restaurant & Hospitality Association of Indiana has awarded Hollywood with a “Good Neighbor
Award” and Hollywood was selected as having the State of Indiana’s “Best Menu”.

2. During this period Bulthaup’s house burned down, almost taking the life of several who Ted got out of
the flaming house, one by kicking a second floor window out and tossing one of his kids into the
bushes. He later filmed a PSA to run before children’s shows. NATO further recognized Hollywood’s
Kids Fire Safety Program for a “Community Service Award”.
While in Indianapolis, Bulthaup received both CEO Magazine’s “Service Excellence Award” and
Mass Mutual’s/U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s “Blue Chip Enterprise Award” for Entrepreneurship.
Bulthaup was also given its first National Association of Theater Owners “Showmanship Award” (Best
Marketed Independent Theater). Bulthaup was the founding President of the Downtown Restaurant
& Hospitality Association of Indianapolis and has served on the Board of Directors of that
organization and the Theater Owners of Indiana.