Majestic Theater
347 Maynard Street,
Ann Arbor,
MI
48104
347 Maynard Street,
Ann Arbor,
MI
48104
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The Majestic Theater opened in 1909 in a building that had previously been a roller rink on Maynard Street. The 1,900-plus seat theater was a live theater venue originally, but later became a vaudeville house with appearances by such stars as Buster Keaton and the Marx Brothers. Movies began to be shown as early as the mid-1910’s.
The Butterfield Theaters chain was operating the Majestic Theater for most of its life. The theater closed in 1942 and was later demolished. A parking garage is on the site of the theater today.
Contributed by
Bryan
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The Majestic was a Butterfield house at least as early as 1915, when it was advertised in The Michigan Technic, the official publication of the University of Michigan School of Engineering. W.S. Butterfield was listed as lessee, and the house featured two shows of Keith Vaudeville nightly with matinees four days a week. Movies were shown on Sundays. Sunday movies were common in many cities during this era, when state or local blue laws prohibited live performances on the sabbath.
The Ann Arbor District Library has a 1930 photo of the Majestic. The caption gives the opening date of the theater as September 19, 1907
This history courtesy Dave Taylor. Note it confirms the 1907 opening date, different address and seating capacity.
“The Majestic Theater opened at 324 Maynard St. on September 19, 1907 with 1,100 seats; it was owned by Charles August Sauer, a lumber baron, and the structure was a former roller skating rink. Sauer and his brother built the first City Hall for Ann Arbor in 1907, and he became Mayor of Ann Arbor in 1915; unfortunately he passed away that same year at the age of 48 of typhoid fever shortly before Christmas.”