| Movie Theatres |
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| MICHIGAN (page 1) |
| National Theatre Detroit, MI |
Delft Theatre Escanaba, MI |
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The National Theatre was designed by Albert Kahn and built in 1911 in an Art Nouveau style with Egyptian elements. It was originally a vaudeville house but soon switched to movies. The polychrome terra cotta façade features minarets with gilded domes and stylized scarab beetles. By the 1940s/1950s, the theatre became a burlesque house. In the 1960s, it was renamed the Palace and operated as an adult movie theatre until 1975 when it permanently closed. It has been boarded-up and deteriorating since then. However, in 2006, it appears they are fixing it up. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
The Delft Theatre opened in 1914 as the Delft Opera House. It was designed by Charlton & Kuenzle. The name was changed to the Delft Theatre when it began offering motion pictures. Today, it houses the Delft Night Club. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Michigan Theatre Lansing, MI |
Park Theatre Lincoln Park, MI |
Riviera Theatre Three Rivers, MI |
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The Michigan Theatre was designed by John Eberson in an atmopheric, French Neo-Classical style and opened in 1920. It was originally named The Strand Theater and Arcade and served as a vaudeville house. The exterior features ornate terra cotta.
The theatre was renamed the Michigan in 1941 and remodeled in an Art Deco style. A new marquee was added at that time. The theatre closed in 1970 and sat empty until 1984. It was converted into office and retail space as the Atrium Center. The exterior, storefronts, lobby, ballroom, and main staircase were restored but the auditorium was lost. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. The Park Theatre was designed by C. Howard Crane and opened in 1925 as the Lincoln Park Theatre. It was remodeled in the early 1940s by Charles N. Agree and became simply the Park Theatre. In the 1970s, it became an adult movie house. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. The Riviera Theatre was built in 1925 and closed in 2000. When these photos were taken in 2006, the theatre was vacant and being restored. It reopened in 2008. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. |
| Irving Theatre Detroit, MI |
Strand Theatre Caro, MI |
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The Irving Theatre was designed by Kohner & Payne and opened in 1927. It began showing "adult movies" in the 1970s and closed in 1997. It was most recently used as a church but, as of 2005, appears to be vacant. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.
The Strand Theatre was built in the 1920s and still shows first-run films on its single screen. It is pretty much intact inside and out. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Senate Theatre Detroit, MI |
former Michigan Theatre Detroit, MI |
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The Senate Theatre was designed by Christian W. Brandt and built in 1926. The theatre was remodeled in the 1930s in this Art Deco style and then closed in 1958. It has been home to the DTOS (Detroit Theater Organ Society) since 1961. Their centerpiece Wurlitzer pipe organ was previously from the Fisher Theatre. The DTOS has been hosting monthly organ concerts here since the 1960s but they are now looking for a new home. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.
The Michigan Theatre was designed by Rapp & Rapp in the French Renaissance style. It was built 1926 for more than $5 million. It had a four-story lobby decorated with marble, European paintings and sculpture. By the late 1930s, the theatre began showing only movies and sold off its Wurlitzer organ. In the 1950s, a wide screen was installed and the marquee was replaced. The theatre closed in 1967. It reopened but closed again in 1970. In the 1970s, it was used as a nightclub and rock concert space. Ultimately, it was converted into a three-level parking garage with portions of the theatre still intact. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. |
| Marquis Theatre Northville, MI |
State Theatre Kalamazoo, MI |
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The Marquis Theatre opened in 1925 as the Penniman-Allen Theatre, aka the P & A Theatre. It originally operated as an opera house. It later switched to vaudeville and then movies. The name was changed to the Marquis in 1972. In 1978, the theatre was renovated as a performing arts center. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [photo thanks Mark Comstock]
The State Theatre is an atmospheric theatre designed by John Eberson. It opened in 1927 and was renovated in 1964. The marquee was replaced at that time. The theatre closed in 1982 and, in 1985, new owners began further restoration. The State is now used for live performances. It still has the original Barton organ. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Birmingham Theatre Birmingham, MI |
Royal Oak Theatre Royal Oak, MI |
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The Birmingham Theatre was built in 1927, designed by Rapp & Rapp in the French Renaissance style. In the 1960s, the interior detail was stripped. It is now known as the Birmingham 8 (subdivided into eight screens in the late 1980s). The theatre was rebuilt again and restored in 1996. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.
The Royal Oak Theatre was built in 1928, designed by Rapp & Rapp. It is now known as the Royal Oak Music Theatre and offers live entertainment. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Fox Theatre Detroit, MI |
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| The Fox Theatre was designed by C. Howard Crane who considered this his best creation. It was built in 1928 as the twin to his 1929 St. Louis Fox Theatre (described above). The design has been described as "Hindu-Siamese-Byzantine" and "Far Eastern-Indian-Egyptian". The lavish gold and red "Temple of Amusement" cost about $12 million to build. The Fox has been in continuous operation since it opened and was restored in 1988. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. |
| Fisher Theatre Detroit, MI |
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| The Fisher Theatre was built in 1928 as a vaudeville and movie house. It was designed by Mayger & Graven in the Mayan Revival style. The lush interior featured a goldfish pond, macaws, and banana trees. In the 1950s, the Fisher did away with live performances and its Wurlitzer organ was moved to the Senate Theatre. The theatre closed in 1960 for a $4 million subdued remodeling by Rapp & Rapp. The Fisher is now a performings arts center. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. |
| Redford Theatre Detroit, MI |
United Artists Theatre Detroit, MI |
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The Redford Theatre was built in 1928 in the Japanese Atmospheric style, built to resemble a Japanese outdoor garden with a blue sky ceiling. The theatre has been in continuous operation but the Japanese motif was removed or covered up in the 1940s (during World War II). The magnificent original marquee was replaced with this simpler one at some point.
The Redford has its original Barton theatre organ and is home to MCTOS (the Motor City Theatre Organ Society). As the theatre became increasingly unprofitable, it was taken over by the MCTOS in 1974. Renovation work is ongoing, including restoration of the Japanese elements. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. The United Artists Theatre was built in 1928 in the Spanish Gothic style. It was designed by Charles Howard Crane who used a similar design for his earlier Chicago and Los Angeles United Artists theatres. This Detroit building included a 13-story office tower. The grand circular lobby had a domed ceiling and floor-to-ceiling Indian maidens on the walls. In the early 1960s, the theatre was remodeled. The terra-cotta was covered with dark marble and the 10-story marquee was replaced with the current one. Business declined and the theatre began showing adult films, eventually closing in 1971. It reopened as the Downtown Theatre in 1972 but closed again in 1974. In 1975, the interior’s interior elements were sold off and by 1984 the tower tenants were all gone, too. Despite efforts to restore or reuse the theatre, it is still vacant as of 2005. It is in such bad shape, that it will most likely be demolished. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. |
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