Historic Vista Theater
218 Iron Street,
Negaunee,
MI
49866
218 Iron Street,
Negaunee,
MI
49866
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Delft Theaters Inc.
Architects: David E. Anderson
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Vista Theater
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The Vista Theater was constructed in 1925 and opening September 20th, 1926 with the film “Sparrows”. The Vista Theater closed as a movie theater in 1972. It has been used since then for live stage productions.
From the winter of 2003 the theater began showing classic, independent and foreign films as part of the programming and is also a music venue. The roof collapsed on August 26, 2020.
Contributed by
Ryan Henry
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
Modern photo here:
View link
BELA LUGOSI was here doing his Spook Show live once. I’ll get the year to you soon.
To Tordini: Do you have specific information on the live show that Lugosi did at the Vista in Negaunee. I believe the scheduled date was December 8, 1947 but my sources indicate he abandoned the live shows in the Midwest to return to New York a few days prior to the Negaunee scheduled date. Do you have information that would contradict what I have? If so, please post here or contact me at Thanks!
Added to the National Register of Historic Places. National Register information Status Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on July 22, 2005 Reference number 05000714 Architectural style American Movement: Early Commercial Areas of significance Architecture; Entertainment/Recreation Level of significance Local Evaluation criteria A – Event; C – Design/Construction Property type Building Historic function Theater Current function Theater Periods of significance 1925-1949; 1950-1974 Significant years 1926; 1938
According to the regional newspaper, movie screenings will return on a regular basis in 2017.
In the Photos Section I just posted a Vista Theatre poster promoting the Bela Lugosi In-Person screening of “Dracula”. December 8 was a Monday in 1947, as the poster indicates. So that confirms the above query about the date. Also on the poster Theatre is spelled with an “re” and not an “er”. Contrary to all other sources and their website. So possibly the printer’s interpretation.
Unfortunately, the roof collapsed on August 26, 2020.
https://www.miningjournal.net/news/front-page-news/2020/08/vista-theater-roof-collapses-no-injuries-reported-roof-drainage-failure-thought-to-be-cause/
Clickable link to roof collapse story.
The second photo in the slide show at this link is an interior shot.
Sorry, that second link isn’t working from here for some reason, but you should be able to reach it from this post at Facebook.