Civic Theatre
30 N. Division Street,
Grand Rapids,
MI
49503
30 N. Division Street,
Grand Rapids,
MI
49503
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Civic Theatre, Grand Rapids (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Consolidated Theatres, Goodrich Quality Theaters, W.S. Butterfield Theaters Inc.
Architects: Roger Allen, Colonal J.W. Wood
Functions: Live Performances
Styles: Neo-Classical
Previous Names: Majestic Theatre, Majestic Gardens Theatre
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
616.222.6650
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Nov 18, 2009 — Happy 50th, "Ben-Hur"
- Sep 25, 2006 — Meijer Majestic Theatre has Gala Reopening
The Majestic Theatre opened on November 23, 1903, with 1,800 seats. The interior decorations were by the Chicago based Echert Brothers. It became a movie theatre on August 28, 1915 and was renamed Majestic Gardens Theatre. It was operated by the Butterfield Theaters chain from 1929 until July 1974. It had a makover in 1938 to the plans pf architect Roger Allen. It was twinned and reopened on December 17, 1976, operated by Goodrich Quality Theatres. The Civic Theatre company moved into the building in 1979, reopening in October 1979.
It is one of the oldest community theaters in the country. With more than 6,000 season ticket holders, it is the largest community theater in the state of Michigan and the second largest in the United States. During a single season the theater reaches almost 100,000 people.
Each season there are a mix of main stage productions, two productions for children, and various other special events around the community. The theater is currently under the leadership of twelve professional staffers and more than thirty guest artists, and numerous local volunteers.
Contributed by
Charles Van Bibber
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
View link
http://www.grct.org/
Offical site
After viewing President Gerald R. Ford’s State Funeral and the funeral in his hometown I decided to see what theatres were and still are in Grand Rapids. This one and the Wealthy Theatre are very nice.
It was apparently 1915 when the Majestic first made the change from live theater to movies, rather than in the 1930s as some Internet and print sources say. The trade journal The Moving Picture World reported in its issue of August 21, 1915, that the Majestic Theatre in Grand Rapids would open on August 29 with feature pictures. Bert St. Johns, formerly manager of the Toyland Theatre in San Francisco, was to arrive August 22 to assume management of the house. The organist was named Ferdinand Warner.
Reopened as Majestic Gardens on August 28th, 1915. 1903 and 1915 grand opening ads posted.
Held an reopening on August 5th, 1938. Ad posted.
Closed in 1974 and reopened as a twin cinema by Goodrich Quality theatres on December 17th, 1976. Grand opening ad posted.
Working with plans drawn by architect Roger Allen who also did the Isis to Center Theater’s streamline refresh concurrently, the Majestic gets its shocking streamline interior refresh shown here prior to reopening on August 5, 1938.