Center Theatre
240 Monroe Street NW,
Grand Rapids,
MI
49503
240 Monroe Street NW,
Grand Rapids,
MI
49503
1 person
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: W.S. Butterfield Theaters Inc.
Architects: Roger Allen, Lee DeCamp
Previous Names: Isis Theatre
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A conversion of an existing building to the plans of architect Lee DeCamp the Isis Theatre was opened on January 26, 1916 with Edwin Stevens in “The Man Inside” plus vaudeville on the stage. It was taken over by Butterfield Theaters and given a makeover to the plans of architect Roger Allen on June 1, 1938 and became the Center Theatre on August 17, 1938 with The Ritz Brothers in “Kentucky Moonshine” & Gene Autry in “Goldmine in the Sky”. Seating was listed at 872.
The Center Theatre closed on February 2, 1958 with John Agar in “The Brain from Planet Arous” & Anne Gwynne in “Teenage Monster”. It became home to the Civic Theatres in 1959-1960 and they left the building on June 2, 1962 when it was demolished for urban renewal. The site where the theatre once stood is now part of the Devos Place Convention & Performance Center.
Contributed by
Chuck
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
Theatre opened as the Isis in 1916. Original policy was pictures and vaudeville.
The 1922 Grand Rapids City Directory lists the theater at 240 Monroe Avenue as the Iris Theatre, rather than the Isis. I don’t know if that was a typo or not. I’ve been unable to find any other references to either an Isis or an Iris Theatre in Grand Rapids.
An Isis Theatre is listed in the 1916 Grand Rapids City Directory, but its address is given as 250-242 Monroe. The 250 was probably a typo. The name Iris in the 1922 directory was most likely a typo as well.
I hope this link to a GR Public Museum picture of the Isis Theatre works (no spaces):
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-01_407fvU3o/T32JxbLjEmI/AAAAAAAAWMk/Zaw7tnBSel0/s534/0000770.jpg
If not, it can be found in the Alex Forist collection, File Name: 0000770.jpg
A description of the Isis Theatre as it would appear after being remodeled and reopened as the Center appeared in the July 2, 1938, issue of The Film Daily:
For those unfamiliar with it, Macotta was a decorative tile made of colored porcelain-over-concrete panels, which competed with glass-based rivals such as Vitrolite.This theater became the Grand Rapids Civic Theater in the mid 50’s early 60’s until it was torn down during urban renewal. I do not remember there being much of a lobby, but the Civic Theater took over the building next door (to the right in the picture) to build dressing rooms, a backstage area, a large lobby/rehearsal hall. The theater had a large basement where we also rehearsed. I acted in several plays there as a child and saw many plays there. I never saw a movie there.
Reopened as Center on August 17th, 1938. Grand opening ad posted.
Closed or stopped placing ads in 1958.
The Isis Theater Company was established in 1915 headed by George C. Nichols. It renovated an existing building using the plans of architect Lee DeCamp and a budget of $24,000 as the home of their theater which included steel beam reinforcement. The Isis Theatre opened here on January 26, 1916 with Edwin Stevens in “The Man Inside” supported by five vaudeville acts. Rose and Ivory were the colors of choice with green everywhere else.
Butterfield and Johnson Theatres (aka B&J Theaters and, latter Butterfield Theaters) took on the venue. It was wired for sound and then closed for a major refresh on June 1, 1938. Just the walls and a bit of the ceiling work remained in place as the venue received a streamline makeover and name change to the Center Theatre.
Working with plans drawn by architect Roger Allen who also did the Majestic streamline refresh concurrently, the interior accents moved to aluminum and stainless steel while getting fresh red and forest green accents. Terrazzo floor and deco concession stand awaited new customers. That date was August 17, 1938 and the films were “Kentucky Moonshine” with “Gold Mine in the Sky.”
The Center appears to have ceased operations at the end of a 20-year leasing agreement on February 2, 1958 with a double feature of “The Brain from Planet Arqus” and “Teenage Monster.” In June, a fire next door almost was the end of the venue but firefighters save the former Center. The Civic Theatre made the venue its home in 1959/1960; though it was booted out on June 2, 1962 due to an urban renewal project. That led to the demolition of the theater.