Temple Theatre
201 N. Washington Avenue,
Saginaw,
MI
48607
201 N. Washington Avenue,
Saginaw,
MI
48607
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Closed as a full-time movie theatre in 1977.
This venue’s 70mm presentations history is included in the recently-published article “70mm Presentations in Saginaw: A Chronology of 70mm Large Format Exhibition, 1982-Present”.
The Temple Theatre was opened by Butterfield Theatres on July 28th, 1927. Grand opening ad posted.
In what year did Butterfield cease ownership of the Temple Theatre?
The April 2018 issue of “Sign of the Times” includes an article on the restoration of the marquee and sign of the Temple. https://www.signsofthetimes.com/project/temple-theatre-marquee-signage-rejuvenated-impressive-design-teamwork
According to the article, “The building resembles an early Gothic cathedral and was commissioned nearly a century ago by the Elf Khurafeh Shriners – a fraternal organization like other Shriners, based on fun, fellowship, and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief, and truth. Osgood & Osgood Architects of Grand Rapids, MI had produced the original blueprints. As Freemasons, Osgood put more than their usual care into this building design.”
The article goes on to say, “The original marquee from 1927 carried out the “trolley car” design of that era, a rectangle with three sides of advertisement and decorative spires at each corner. The blade had been carefully hand carved and assembled from wood pieces. Over the years and decades, woodpeckers slowly ravaged it and the blade was taken down along with the rest of the marquee in 1961.” But doesn’t say anything about the transition from Masonic Hall to movie theater.
Temple Theatre on Flickr.
These are beautiful pictures and bring back warm memories of my youth and saturdays at the Movie Theatre and going into another word for the afternoon.
Theatre Historical Society will be visiting this theater during our 2011 Conclave – “The Michigan Roads Less Traveled” June 21-25. See the website for details www.historictheatres.org
In fact, you can see in the current photos where the vertical marquee was once attached between the 2 round exterior designs.
After comparing the current to the past photos I noticed that the vertical marquee reading TEMPLE is not on the theatre facade anymore and it should be as I personally don’t like the current look.
August, 2006 photo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/detroitsky/363088504/
Patsy, The original marquee was made of wood and became un-repairable. As film titles got longer, it was impossible to place that many letters on the sides of the portico type sign. Therefore the introduction of the ‘pie wedge’ solved all of these problems at once. You can see the two stainless steel plates that cover the “I” beams used to support the old sign, they are above the center of the marquee.
Wonderful photos of this theatre, but it’s a shame that many of these theatres changed their marquees which were designed in the 20’s and are in keeping with the interior decor.
The Temple Theatre can be viewed in detail at http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=4304 This site has many excellent photos of the theatre and adjacent banquet and ballroom facilities. The images are very well composed and taken by Brad Miller.
The Temple website (www.templetheatre.com)is really good and worth a look-see!
Chuck: Great b/w photos!
My email is on my profile page if you wish you contact me that way. Thanks for the research work on the Temple.
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.)
WL: Thanks. I have a friend who grew up in Muskegon so may ask her what she remembers growing up in that community.
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.
Sorry the spelling is Muskegon.
The website isn’t under construction now as I just viewed it.
The Temple in Muskgeon was built in 1911 on Market. Anyone have information/photos on that one?
On Cinema Tour a Temple is listed for Muskgeon MI