Art Theatre
314 Monroe Street NW,
Grand Rapids,
MI
49503
314 Monroe Street NW,
Grand Rapids,
MI
49503
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Additional Info
Previous Names: Superba Theatre, Rialto Theatre, Fox Theatre, Fox Follies Theatre
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Opened in 1907 as the Superba Theatre. It was renamed Rialto Theatre on September 4, 1932 with Eddie Cantor in “Palmy Days” & Beryl Mercer in “Midnight Morals”. On May 19, 1948 it was renamed Fox Theatre. On December 25, 1948 it became a vaudeville theatre and was renamed Fox Follies Theatre. In 1949 it lost its licence due to an indecency claim. It reopened with movies only as the Art Theatre on September 9, 1949 screening Barbara Stanwyck in “Stella Dallas” & Cary Grant in “Topper”. Seating for the Art Theatre was listed at 450. This theatre was owned by Clark Theatres.
The Art Theatre closed on June 4, 1951 with Dana Andrews in “Edge of Doom” & Van Heflin in “Tomahawk”, and was later demolished. The Devos Place Convention & Performance Center is now where the Art Theatre once stood.
Contributed by
Chuck
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
The 1922 Grand Rapids City Directory lists a theater called the Superba at 314 Monroe Avenue.
The Superba Theatre is also listed in the 1916 city directory, at the same address.
Eat your heart out NASCAR fans. GR Public Museum pictures of fans waiting in line to see Ralph DePalma at the Superba/Rialto Theatre.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Sbv7MmFJOrA/TZ84alj0lYI/AAAAAAAAMIQ/ww9Jx8PyYf4/s530/0000666.jpg
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vknmbwobH1Q/TZ84b6ygmkI/AAAAAAAAMIY/e-PvSdSLLXk/s545/0000667.jpg
Re: my previous post. My bad. The fans are waiting in line at the Orpheum Theatre, 322-326 Monroe NW. The Rialto, at 314 Monroe NW, is in the picture though, on the far right side of the picture and on the other side of Quaker Lunch.
This theatre was across Monroe from the DeVos Performance Center, near where the Calder Plaza Building is now.
Reopened as Rialto on September 4th, 1932. Grand opening ad posted.
George C. Nichols opened the second ever movie house in Grand Rapids with the Superba Theatre in 1907. The venue had a 44 year run. Nichols would build a the Nichols Theatre (turned Uptown and Capri #1) - his first from the ground up in 1914 and the Isis Theatre (turned Center) in 1916. He also owned the Apollo, the Mystic and the Lyceum. Nichols appeared to have difficulty making sound conversions not transitioning the house to talking pictures with vaudeville on July 4, 1931.
The Superba struggled with live acts and exploitation fare until its 25-year lease expired. The next operator, Roy Taylor - of the Fulton and Southlawn theaters changed the name of the venue to the Rialto. This transition included a modern sound system by Western Electric and a Spanish Bungalow architecturally styled auditorium after a refresh. The opening of the Rialto was on September 4, 1932 with “Palmy Days” and “Midnight Morals.”
On May 19, 1948, the theater moved to a third-tier, grind house policy as the Fox Theatre with Jean Tierney in “Sundown” and Richard Dix in “Kansan.” It becomes the Fox Follies Theatre with burlesque on December 25, 1948. It reverts to the Fox Theatre but not before receiving an indecency claim for the double feature of “Souls in Pawn” and “Fools of Desire.”
The Fox lost its license in 1949 and was fined $10 but regained its license after agreeing to eliminate live burlesque acts. At that time, it is rebranded as the Art Theater on September 9, 1949 with “Stella Dallas” and “Topper.” The Art appears to have closed June 4, 1951 with “Edge of Doom” and “Tomahawk.”