Hello Patsy – I finally had some time to begin researching the Temple Theater in Muskegon. It was built in 1909 and devoted to vaudeville. It looked small; even with its balconey it couldn’t have seated more than a few hundred people.
It didn’t seem to last long because in a 1919 photograph of another building the Temple has lost its marquee, been repainted, and its entrance completely changed.
I still have some more digging to do, including a visit to our local historical museum to in the hopes of unearthing more photographs. Please email me with an email address and I’ll be happy to scan/email to you everything I was able to dig up.
You may want to ask your friend what she remembers about the old Michigan Theater, now called the Frauenthal (after the philanthropist who donated the money in the ‘70s to save it). The Frau underwent a multi-million-dollar rennovation around 1995-98, and is now the premiere movie palace in the area.
I’m leasing an office in the adjacent Frauenthal Office Building that I’m currently renovating, and has features you don’t find in modern offices (such as “wet-walls” for the installation of a wet bar, furniture-grade walnut and mahogany wood trim, three-part plaster walls, etc.)
Hello Patsy — I’ve never heard of the Temple Theater on Market St. in Muskegon. By now it would almost assuredly benn razed. The only source I can think of would be in the basement records of the Hackley Library. If I can find the time in the next few days I’ll see what I can find and will post back here.
I remember seeing the original “Planet of the Apes” during its first run at the Temple. What a spooky theater for conjuring childhood phantasms! One of my childhood memories was of my older sister being scared there, because she looked up into one of the curtained organ chambers and thought she saw someone looking down into the auditorium from there. Shades of The Phantom of the Opera! Great childhood memories.
Sometime after the theater was originally built an addition was made to accomodate office space overlooking Western Avenue. I was pleased to recently lease one of the smaller offices there and am refurbishing it as a private creative space.
It is unbelievable. As best I can tell my office was never significantly changed from its original construction over the years. It has solid mahogany wood trim, hot/cold/sewer lines in the walls so I can install a small bar sink, and three-part plaster walls.
In the basement a regional ISP has installed one of their routers so reasonably-priced broadband Internet is available within the building. And best of all, the Muskegon Community Foundation pours its blood, sweat and tears into the place to make the Frauenthal the cultural Mecca for Muskegon County.
Perhaps when I get my office done I’ll post pictures if anyone is interested. This place is SO rich in history and atmosphere; your creative processes cannot help but be overwhelmed by the Frauenthal. We are blessed to still have it.
Hello Patsy – I finally had some time to begin researching the Temple Theater in Muskegon. It was built in 1909 and devoted to vaudeville. It looked small; even with its balconey it couldn’t have seated more than a few hundred people.
It didn’t seem to last long because in a 1919 photograph of another building the Temple has lost its marquee, been repainted, and its entrance completely changed.
I still have some more digging to do, including a visit to our local historical museum to in the hopes of unearthing more photographs. Please email me with an email address and I’ll be happy to scan/email to you everything I was able to dig up.
You may want to ask your friend what she remembers about the old Michigan Theater, now called the Frauenthal (after the philanthropist who donated the money in the ‘70s to save it). The Frau underwent a multi-million-dollar rennovation around 1995-98, and is now the premiere movie palace in the area.
I’m leasing an office in the adjacent Frauenthal Office Building that I’m currently renovating, and has features you don’t find in modern offices (such as “wet-walls” for the installation of a wet bar, furniture-grade walnut and mahogany wood trim, three-part plaster walls, etc.)
Hello Patsy — I’ve never heard of the Temple Theater on Market St. in Muskegon. By now it would almost assuredly benn razed. The only source I can think of would be in the basement records of the Hackley Library. If I can find the time in the next few days I’ll see what I can find and will post back here.
I remember seeing the original “Planet of the Apes” during its first run at the Temple. What a spooky theater for conjuring childhood phantasms! One of my childhood memories was of my older sister being scared there, because she looked up into one of the curtained organ chambers and thought she saw someone looking down into the auditorium from there. Shades of The Phantom of the Opera! Great childhood memories.
Sometime after the theater was originally built an addition was made to accomodate office space overlooking Western Avenue. I was pleased to recently lease one of the smaller offices there and am refurbishing it as a private creative space.
It is unbelievable. As best I can tell my office was never significantly changed from its original construction over the years. It has solid mahogany wood trim, hot/cold/sewer lines in the walls so I can install a small bar sink, and three-part plaster walls.
In the basement a regional ISP has installed one of their routers so reasonably-priced broadband Internet is available within the building. And best of all, the Muskegon Community Foundation pours its blood, sweat and tears into the place to make the Frauenthal the cultural Mecca for Muskegon County.
Perhaps when I get my office done I’ll post pictures if anyone is interested. This place is SO rich in history and atmosphere; your creative processes cannot help but be overwhelmed by the Frauenthal. We are blessed to still have it.