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Grand Riviera Theater facts for kids

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Grand Riviera Theater
Grand Riviera 1970.jpg
Grand Riviera in 1970
Location 9222 Grand River Avenue
Detroit, Michigan
Built 1925
Architect John Eberson
Architectural style Italian Renaissance Revival, Mediterranean Revival
Demolished June 1996
NRHP reference No. 82002901
Quick facts for kids
Significant dates
Added to NRHP April 22, 1982
Removed from NRHP June 10, 2020

The Grand Riviera Theater was a movie palace theater located at 9222 Grand River Avenue in western Detroit, Michigan. It took its name from Grand River Avenue. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1980, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, but was subsequently demolished in June, 1996. The building was removed from the National Register in 2020.

History

The Grand Riviera cinema was built in 1925, at a cost of over one million dollars. It seated over 3000, and was the first "atmospheric" theater in Detroit, using lighting, special effects, and interior design to make the audience feel like they were sitting outdoors in a garden.

Grand Riviera Theater Detroit DEMOLISHED
Empty lot where cinema formerly stood

The theater was immediately successful, and in 1927 an 1,800 seat annex was built. In 1957, the Riviera was converted to a stage theater. When the Fisher Theater reopened in 1960, however, the Grand Riviera took a back seat. The building was used for music concerts until it closed in the mid-1970s. Afterward, the structure deteriorated, to the point that it was considered unsafe and demolished in 1996.

Description

The Grand Riviera Theater was a three-story structure built from brown brick in an Italian Renaissance Revival and Mediterranean Revival style. An 80-foot-tall (24 m) octagonal pavilion sat on the corner of the structure. The pavilion had arched, multi-paned windows and substantial cream terra cotta decoration.

To the west of the pavilion was the three-story wing with commercial and office space. To the north was the auditorium section which was built with windowless paneled brick walls.

The interior design and decorations of the Grand Riviera were very ornate. The original "atmospheric" interior elements included a simulated courtyard, a dark blue ceiling with inset electric "stars" and projected moving clouds, and walls with artificial trees and vines.

Gallery

Images from 1970

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Grand Riviera Theater para niños

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