Delft Theatre
907 Ludington Street,
Escanaba,
MI
49829
907 Ludington Street,
Escanaba,
MI
49829
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June 2019: this former theatre is for sale ($115,000) http://realestate.swreescanaba.com/idx/details/listing/a450/1080375/907-Ludington-St-Escanaba-MI-49829
November 12, 1914 grand opening ad for the Delft Theatre – never as the Opera House other than in planning stages.
A single line entry in The Motion Picture World, April 24, 1915, page 591, says “The Delft, at Escanaba, has put into use its new $5000 pipe organ.” That certainly gives a timeframe for when movies began to be shown here.
The name of one of the architects is misspelled. It should be Edwin O. Kuenzli. The page of Copper Country Architects devoted to Demetrius F. Charlton and his partners credits Kuenzli, who headed the firm’s Milwaukee office, with the design of this theater. Charlton & Kuenzli also designed the Butler Theatre in Ishpeming, Michigan.
Here is a 1979 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/cjx3o9
Here is a guide if you are ever in the neighborhood:
http://tinyurl.com/2636gk
In response to TC’s comment — hey, thanks :) I’ve hit all the old theatres in Michigan now, can you believe that? Anyway, I’m up in the Marquette area, and recently hit Escanaba this past spring. It’s really great to see that the Michigan Theatre there will be showing movies again (it might be already, I haven’t visited since). The Delft, though, was looking worse for wear…
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Photos of the Delft. I really like this person’s work. If you read her bio, she is still in high school. There is a lot of time for her to photograph & discover more theaters.