Case Studies on the Impact of
Historic Michigan Theatres
 

In review of other theaters through several websites including Cinema Treasures and related links I was able to find additional information on local anchor theaters still in operation, some privately owned as well as publicly


Baldwin Theater, Royal Oak MI
Opened in 1922 as the Washington, this theater could seat over 1000 and contained an organ. It was designed by Frederick D. Madison.

The Washington remained a second-run theater into the early 80s, until it was acquired by a local theater group called Stagecrafters and renamed the Baldwin. Seating was reduced to 391 and the old movie house renovated as a venue for live theater, as it has remained since.

The Baldwin contains a main stage, a smaller second stage, and in addition to plays and musicals, presents children's theater and also hosts occasional organ concerts and other special events.


Birmingham Theater, Birmingham MI
Designed by the famed architectural firm of Rapp & Rapp, the Birmingham opened in 1927.

It was built for the Kunsky circuit, who opened two other nearby theaters that same year, the Redford and the Royal Oak. The theater's construction was delayed over a year because of the widening of Woodward Avenue.

Like most of the Rapp's theaters, it was designed originally in the style of the French Renaissance, and sat over 1250 in its auditorium.

It once contained a Barton organ and featured vaudeville in addition to movies.

By the 60s, it was showing second-run fare, and when it was purchased by the United Detroit Theatres chain later in that decade, it was given a drastic modernization inside, ridding it of all traces of the original decor, though its facade remained intact.

In the 70s, the Birmingham Development Company took over operation of the theater, and remodeled it at a cost of $750,000 adding new seats, curtains, lighting and sound equipment to feature live stage shows in addition to continuing to screen movies.

In 1979, the Birmingham was leased to the Nederlander Theatrical Corporation and Broadway productions were staged there for several years.

In the late 80s, the Birmingham was carved up into eight small screens and returned to showing first-run features.


Bohm Theater,  Albion MI
Downtown Albion has seen numerous improvements during the past several years which have helped bring new life to the central business district. One of these is the reopening and remodeling of the 1,100 seat Bohm Theatre at 201 S. Superior Street. The Bohm Theatre has been a major downtown fixture since it opened on Christmas Day, 1929.



Calumet Theater, Calumet, MI
One of the first municipal theaters in America, the Calumet opened on March 20, 1900, "the greatest social event ever known in Copperdom's metropolis". The theater contained a magnificent stage and elegant interior decorations, including an electric copper chandelier. After years of use as a live theater hosting nationally renown acts, the building functioned as a motion picture house and civic gathering center. Now renovated and owned by the Village of Calumet, the theater hosts live entertainment once again. 


City Opera House, Traverse City, MI
Opened in 1892, the City Opera House closed in 1920 and didn't reopen until 1945, when movies and other events failed to keep the theater in business.

Reopened in 1988 by The City Opera House Heritage Association, the group has already raised half of its $8.5 million goal for the theater's planned restoration. Film programming is also planned for the future.


Community Theatre, Harbor Beach, MI
In 1918, George and Anna Belle Jenks of Scranton deeded Lot 34 of the salt reserve of the City of Harbor Beach to the people for a Community House purposes. By early 1918, the citizens of Harbor Beach raised $35,000 for the purpose of erecting and fitting out city offices in connection with the auditorium.

Fire destroyed part of the building in 1926 but was rebuilt in 1927 as the Community House. The new Harbor Beach Community Theatre, with a seating capacity of over 600, still exists to this day showing recent movie releases as well as serving as the site of concerts, live stage productions, and other community projects.

The grand old theater is owned by the District Library Board and the facade features a mural depicting the area's history. 


Civic Theatre, Grand Rapids, MI
The Civic Theatre, now celebrating its 77th season, is one of the oldest community theaters in the country. With more than 6,000 season ticket holders, it is the largest community theater in the state of Michigan and the second largest in the United States. During a single season the theater reaches almost 100,000 people.

Each season there are a mix of main stage productions, two productions for children, and various other special events around the community. The theater is currently under the leadership of twelve professional staffers and more than thirty guest artists, and numerous local volunteers.


Detroit Film Theatre, Detroit, MI
Part of the Detroit Institute of Arts, which opened in 1927, the 1150-seat Film Theatre, designed in elegant Renaissance style, has been screening classic, foreign and independent features for 28 years now.

Dolby sound was added in 1979, and in 1987, a nearly half million dollar restoration restored some of the theater's original glory, though today is undergoing another renovation, along with the rest of the DIA, which is to last until 2005. However, the Film Theatre is remaining open.

A cafe operates today on the balcony level, in the Crystal Gallery, before and after the feature.

Fox Theatre, Detroit, MI
The Fox Theatre seats over 5,000 people and is Detroit's largest movie palace. In 1988, the Fox underwent an $8.1-million restoration. Since the restoration, the Fox has become one of the most successful theaters in the country combining Broadway shows, concerts, special events and the occasional classic film. 


Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts, Muskegon, MI
The Michigan Theater opened on Sept. 17, 1930. Built during the Depression, by Schlossman Theatre Inc., and designed by famed theater architect C. Howard Crane, descriptions of the theater from this time talk of an extraordinary beauty and grace.

The theater was purchased in the mid 1970's by the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, with a generous grant of $475,000 provided by A. Harold Frauenthal.

From 1995 to 1998, a $7.5 million restoration project returned this gem to its original beauty.

Recently, the theater has served as the location of the Cherry County Playhouse, as well as the Miss Michigan Scholarship Program.


Knickerbocker Theatre, Holland, MI
The Knickerbocker was built, along with much of the rest of the surrounding block, for Tieman Slagh, who wanted to bring vaudeville to Holland. His theater was named for a popular early 20th century New York City playhouse. Construction began in 1910, and the theater opened in 1911 as a vaudeville house, though it soon began to screen movies as well. Some years later, the Knickerbocker received a new name, the Holland, which it was known as for much of its time as a movie house.

In 1988, the theater was purchased by Hope College. Two years later, the theater received a renovation, including the removal of several rows of seats to make more legroom, an updated lobby, with a new concession stand and larger restrooms, new lighting, heating, air-conditioning, and projection and sound equipment. The old facade was uncovered and restored to its original appearance. At the time of the renovation, the theater's original name was also brought back after decades.

The college uses the Knickerbocker for concerts, poetry readings, and live performances, as well as for screening art and foreign films.
 

Paint Creek Theater, Rochester, MI
The Paint Creek Center for the Arts is the focal point of the community's visual arts scene.  Based in an historic building in downtown Rochester


Redford Theatre, Detroit MI
The Redford Theatre, with its historic original 3 manual, 10 rank Barton Theatre Pipe Organ, has served as a Metro Detroit entertainment center since it opened in 1928. The non-profit Motor City Theatre Organ Society owns and operates the Redford Theatre Detroit, MI 48219. Enjoy the classic film series, organ concerts or your special event, enhanced by this beautifully restored setting. The Redford Theatre is operated by an all-volunteer staff. Proceeds from programs presented at the Redford are used to restore and maintain the theatre building. The Motor City Theatre Organ Society is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.