Michigan Theater

The Michigan Theater

Seats 4,038

opened 8/23/26

address 238 Bagley at Grand River

Built at a cost of $3.5 million, the Michigan was designed in a French Baroque style (Some claim it to be closer to Italian Renaissance), and controlled by Paramount - Publix / Kunsky ( with Kunsky controlling 72% interest of the theatre) until 1933, when it became part of the United Detroit Theaters (UD) circuit. The theater was announced as the Balaban and Katz-Kunsky, but its name was thankfully changed to the Michigan as the theater was being built.

Many Detroiters remember the Michigan as the most beautiful of the downtown movie palaces. The lobby was four stories tall, and featured ten foot chandeliers. Carefully chosen oil paintings were found between the lobby's immense marble columns.

Eduard Werner left similar duties at the nearby Capital

(now the Detroit Opera House) to lead the orchestra. The Michigan's organ was a $50,000 Wurlitzer. Opening day was marred somewhat by the shocking news of Rudolf Valentino’s death the day before.

The Michigan's first film was You'll Never Know Women. Early advertisements for the Michigan advertised “an acre of seats,” but suggestions that the theater originally seated 4,926 was probably nothing more than hype.

The Michigan Theater hosted Paramount - Publix stage shows from opening day, and “Deluxe” Paramount - Publix shows from early 1928. The theaters first sound film was the short, Retribution (8/1928); the first sound feature was Sawdust Paradise on 9-9-1928.

During its heyday, many famous names appeared live at the theater, including Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Kay Kyser, Red Skelton, Harry James, Benny Goodman, John Phillip Sousa, The Marx Brothers, The Our Gang Kids, Rudy Vallee, Martha Raye, Betty Grable and Joe E. Brown. A famous local story tells of the time Bob Hope Played here and was given second billing to Jo Mendi, star of the Detroit Zoo’s troupe of performing chimps. Unlike all of the other movie palaces, the

Michigan’s daily stage shows and orchestra performed well into the thirties.

The Michigan's organ fell silent in 1936, and was sold in 1952 for $1000.00. The Michigan was the second area theater equipped with 3-D beginning with the Vincent Price horror classic, House Of Wax in May 1953. The theaters 10 - story marquee was condemned by the City of Detroit and removed that September.

The Michigan went to wide screen in February 1954 with The Command. It was the first theater in the area with the unique wide - screen process, Vista Vision; the film White Christmas, first seen on 10-27-1954.

United Detroit closed the theater on 3-6-1967, and the company announced plans to demolish the theater. on 10-3-1967 Nicholas George purchased the Michigan, remolded the theater slightly and reopened with The Valley Of The Dolls on 12-20-1967.

Nicholas George, always an exhibitor who longed for the good old days of showmanship, brought “Joe Vitale and the 16 - piece Michigan Theater Orchestra” to the house for a brief period. the theater struggled until it closed at 12:13 am on 12-2-1970. Fewer than 100 people were present for its final films, A Man From Cotton And Stiletto.

Purchased by Sam Hadous, the theater reopened on 3-27-1972, as a nightclub, the Michigan Palace. Duke Ellington appeared opening night, and $500.000 was allegedly spent on remodeling. The opening was marred by inadequate service, mediocre food and a dreadful sound system that was apparently never replaced. The nightclub closed just nine months later, on 12-31-1972. In its final years, the Michigan was rented out for rock concerts.

In February 1976 a promoters lease was broken with the buildings owners, and the theater remained empty from that April. Reaume and Dodds, Inc. Realtors (owners of the Michigan Building) converted the once beautiful movie palace into a three level, 160 car parking structure at a cost of $525.000, leasing it to the Charge Card Association.

Much of the lobby, upper balcony, projection booth and stage area are still intact. It seems that construction workers feared ripping out the theater completely would endanger the entire buildings safety. The theaters ghostly appearance today suggests a giant, indoor drive - in, and continues to draw theater historians from across the nation.