I was in the Grand right before it closed and shot several pictures of the entire interior. I didn’t see anything that needed restoring. The theater has been well taken care of over the years. It had a false ceiling to divide the lower and upper several years ago so they could show 2 movies at the same time. I’m sure this could easily be removed. I don’t think updating the sound system would cost that much either. As far as parking goes, people who live in or frequent the downtown area, walk alot farther to bars or concerts or the festivals and attendance doesn’t seem to be hurting at any of these places. People have been going to the Oriental theater for many years and they don’t have a parking lot or structure. There has to be a building or lot near by that could be used for parking. I think re-opening the Grand would attract all kinds of business to this area. I read in the Journal a couple months ago, some of the near by buildings have been purchased to be used as condos. The downtown is thriving and growing again. Many new restaurants, bars and condos have opened recently and I’m sure there will be alot more. Milwaukee has lost many great theaters over the years. We can’t let the last of the great ones slip away and become a parking lot. Last year I was in Green Bay, downtown and saw that they have restored a beautiful theater built in 1929. They have kept and preserved many of their old downtown buildings.
I was in the Grand Cinema just before they closed it, to take pictures. It is a spectacular theater as you described. As a collector and admirer of Art Deco, I was in awe. The theater is in excellent condition and I couldn’t believe that it closed. With alot of people moving downtown in recent years, especially the lofts in the 3rd ward, and the talk about trying to revive the Grand Avenue mall, reopening the Grand Cinema would be great! People who live downtown wouldn’t have to drive way out to Waukesha to see a movie. Look at the Oriental theater. It has done well for many years. Opening the space below the lobby as a restaurant would be great too. Recently I read that the Avalon theater is closed and the owner wants to turn it into office space. The Avalon is another spectacular historic theater. If the Symphony doesn’t buy the Grand Cinema, I think I will go on a personal crusade to find someone that will! Also the Grand should be on the National Register for historic buildings. Then Marcus couldn’t tear it down.
David L. Williamson
I was in the Grand right before it closed and shot several pictures of the entire interior. I didn’t see anything that needed restoring. The theater has been well taken care of over the years. It had a false ceiling to divide the lower and upper several years ago so they could show 2 movies at the same time. I’m sure this could easily be removed. I don’t think updating the sound system would cost that much either. As far as parking goes, people who live in or frequent the downtown area, walk alot farther to bars or concerts or the festivals and attendance doesn’t seem to be hurting at any of these places. People have been going to the Oriental theater for many years and they don’t have a parking lot or structure. There has to be a building or lot near by that could be used for parking. I think re-opening the Grand would attract all kinds of business to this area. I read in the Journal a couple months ago, some of the near by buildings have been purchased to be used as condos. The downtown is thriving and growing again. Many new restaurants, bars and condos have opened recently and I’m sure there will be alot more. Milwaukee has lost many great theaters over the years. We can’t let the last of the great ones slip away and become a parking lot. Last year I was in Green Bay, downtown and saw that they have restored a beautiful theater built in 1929. They have kept and preserved many of their old downtown buildings.
I was in the Grand Cinema just before they closed it, to take pictures. It is a spectacular theater as you described. As a collector and admirer of Art Deco, I was in awe. The theater is in excellent condition and I couldn’t believe that it closed. With alot of people moving downtown in recent years, especially the lofts in the 3rd ward, and the talk about trying to revive the Grand Avenue mall, reopening the Grand Cinema would be great! People who live downtown wouldn’t have to drive way out to Waukesha to see a movie. Look at the Oriental theater. It has done well for many years. Opening the space below the lobby as a restaurant would be great too. Recently I read that the Avalon theater is closed and the owner wants to turn it into office space. The Avalon is another spectacular historic theater. If the Symphony doesn’t buy the Grand Cinema, I think I will go on a personal crusade to find someone that will! Also the Grand should be on the National Register for historic buildings. Then Marcus couldn’t tear it down.
David L. Williamson