Michigan Theater
603 E. Liberty Street,
Ann Arbor,
MI
48104
603 E. Liberty Street,
Ann Arbor,
MI
48104
18 people
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grand opening ad posted in the photos section
Please update, total seats 1811
Main Theatre 1632
The Screening Room 179
Link with 1976 photos.
https://aadl.org/taxonomy/term/117605?fbclid=IwAR2aT3cLDWSvgXPKeFEzbTqOGGOgNei3R—cdWnYs4VHk5wJB8_u181qQDI
it actually seats 1,590 people
‘'Buck Rogers in the 25th Century’‘ was out in 1978,(I think,I drove to the movie so it had to be then) they then made the TV show from the movie, Gil Gerard was the star of both.
I like the old style marquee better than the new one,which is always the case.
There was a lot of talk like that, including turning the building into a warehouse. The Michigan is the best kind of success story.
Maybe I’m the only person who remembers this, but back in 1978 when Butterfield moved out of the Michigan there was serious talk of Jacobson’s moving in, gutting the interior and making it a new store (with movie theaters in the balcony). Though I’ve been seriously disappointed by many (most) of the changes I’ve seen in my hometown, the restoration of the Michigan is a big plus.
The second screen at the Michigan is located in a new-construction addition built onto the back of the theater, leaving the auditorium in its original configuration/size. The Michigan is used for symphony, ballet, jazz, folk and contemporary events in addition to films, so “twinning” would not be an option. In regards to SNWEB’s comment about “Hats off to U of M” the University has nothing to do (directly) with the operation of the Michigan. The building is owned by the city (purchased by an overwhelmingly approved millage during an economically difficult year) and run by the non-profit Michigan theatre foundation. The foundation was formed to save the theater, which was well on its way to being gutted and converted into a “food court” mall type place, and to operate it as an auditorium/performing arts facility separate from the University’s whim and why. Henry, who has posted comments above, was really the person who began the movement to save the theater. Without his actions the theater may no exist today.
Lost Memory: Thanks for the photo. What a gorgeous exterior i.e. marquee and vertical sign! They all should look that nice!
Patsy, from the description given above, I don’t think the main auditorium was cut in half. It sounds like they acquired some space next door and expanded.
I spent a lot of time in that theater while going to U of M; heck, some of my film classes were held there, watching classic movies. I even made a short film in 16mm about the theater and its history. It included an interview with Russ Collins, who is still in charge some 20 years later.
Thanks for the marquee confirmation!
Lost Memory: Thanks for this 2007 photo as I was concerned that this marquee and vertical MICHIGAN marquee had been changed because of the “recent” photo shown with the stats on the theatre. Are you sure this is a 2007 photo? I hope so. And I wish it hadn’t been twinned, but perhaps it will be a single screen cinema again one day.
Thank you for sharing these great photos! Art is the extension of the soul, and I bless the dedicated theater owners on a successful & worthwhile restoration. This theater was recently granted an award by the League of Historic American Theaters (LHAT). A job well done!
I went to this theater while in college in the mid ‘80s. I remember seeing Gone With The Wind and a Marx Brothers double feature. I hadn’t been able to appreciate the older films until then. The experience was always fantastic, a trip back in time as they would have an organist performing prior to the show. As the the trailers would start and the big velvet curtains would part the organ along with player would lower out of sight.
Beautiful interior & exterior photos:
http://www.pbase.com/spepple/michigan_theater
Also to note on the marquee, it does not have MICHIGAN on all 3 sides, the replaced it on the right and left side with cool little detailing
The Michigan Theatre opened on 5th January 1928 with the movie “ Hero For a Night” starring Glenn Tryon, a stage show called ‘From Rags to Riches’ and Floyd Hoffman on the Barton 3Manual/13Rank theatre pipe organ. The original seating capacity was for 1,829.
Yes Joshua, I’m from Chattanooga.
Just drove by this theater today, I love the exterior, the archtiecture on the exterior is great. The photo above doesn’t do it justice, and it has a better looking marquee to it.
To follow up on what Henry said, I understand that the organ actually saved the Michigan. An organ-enthusiast society formed the core of the group that rescued and restored the theater.
Henry, you don’t happen to be from Chattanooga, do you?
I actually liked all the marquee’s I have seen on this site. The original marquee is the most attractive but I also liked the neon marquee. The 1950’s was the last decade where they constructed beautiful marquees. When they started to use plastic like the fast food joints it was the arrival of the ugly marquees from the 1960’s.A movie palace is not complete unless it has a decent marquee such as the Michigan.brucec
The new vertical is a bit smaller than the original which was actually too big for the facade of the theater. The new vertical is a better size.
I like the marquee and vertical, but they do not appear to really match the originals. Comparing the photos on this page, http://michtheater.org/theater_history.php, and http://michtheater.org/theater_today.php?id=0, the vertical appears to be somewhat smaller and lower than the original. Note that the I on the new vertical is in line with the arch, where on the original the G is in this line. Also, this entry says that the new marquee shows more of the building than the previous, but it looks to me like the current one is an adaptation of the one shown on this page, as it seems to have the same dimensions. That said, the new one does suit the facade better, and all the prior marquees for the Michigan seem to be unusually attractive, even the 1940s version http://michtheater.org/theater_history.php?id=5 This place has had an awful lot of looks! The 1950s one was pretty unfortunate, though…
The Michigan Theater has an original three manual thirteen rank Barton Theater Pipe organ. This instrument is maintained in excellent condition and is played prior to most film screenings. It is also used to accompany silent films to fill organ parts in compositions performed by the Ann Arbor Symphony. There are five staff organists.