Frauenthal Center for the Perfoming Arts
425 W. Western Avenue,
Muskegon,
MI
49440
425 W. Western Avenue,
Muskegon,
MI
49440
14 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Schlossman Theaters Inc., W.S. Butterfield Theaters Inc.
Architects: Charles Howard Crane
Functions: Movies (Silent), Performing Arts
Styles: Spanish Renaissance
Previous Names: Michigan Theater
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
231.722.9750
Nearby Theaters
The Michigan Theater opened on September 16, 1930 with a seating capacity of 1,848. Built during the Depression, by Schlossman Theatre Inc., and designed by famed theater architect C. Howard Crane, descriptions of the theater from this time talk of an extraordinary beauty and grace. It was equipped with a Barton 3 manual 8 ranks organ.
The theater was purchased in October 1976 by the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, with a generous grant of $475,000 provided by A. Harold Frauenthal.
From 1995 to 1998, a $7.5 million restoration project returned this gem to its original beauty.
Recently, the theater has served as the location of the Cherry County Playhouse, as well as the Miss Michigan Scholarship Program.
Contributed by
Rob Huisingh
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Recent comments (view all 20 comments)
Here is an October 2008 ad for a Buster Keaton double feature:
http://tinyurl.com/nn8aqv
I just learned of this beautifully restored theater with Barton organ in western Michigan after being at an energy conference in western NYS.
I’ve read about Buster Keaton on this link…was he from Muskegon?
I’ve read about Buster Keaton on this link…was he from Muskegon?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buster_Keaton
Had a great Keaton convention again this year. the theater-projectors-Barton organ—all did a wonderful job. The theater turns 80 this year and they are planning a year of celebration starting with Dale and Gale Zieger presenting an afternoon of just plain old fun with the Barton organ and grand piano. Oh yes there will be a short comedy silent film with Dale at the Barton!!It will be Sunday afternoon at 3;00 January 31.
The Barton Theater Pipe Organ started out in 1927 as a style 23, Opus 513, that cost $5,630 in the Regent Theater in Muskegon as a 2/6 (manual/rank, keyboards/sets of pipes). It was moved to this theater when it opened and enlarged to a 3/8. Barton was in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Linkrot repair: The American Seating Co. ad with the photo of the Michigan Theatre auditorium in Boxoffice of June 7, 1952, is now at this link.
1944 post card added courtesy John D. Ostrom.
Grand opening ad posted.