Grand Riviera Theater facts for kids
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Grand Riviera Theater
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Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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The Grand Riviera Theater in 1970
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| Location | 9222 Grand River Avenue Detroit, Michigan |
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| 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 |
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| Added to NRHP | April 22, 1982 |
| Removed from NRHP | June 10, 2020 |
The Grand Riviera Theater was a famous movie palace in Detroit, Michigan. It wasn't just a place to see a film; it was an experience. The theater was designed to make you feel like you were watching a movie in a beautiful outdoor garden at night.
For many years, it was a celebrated landmark. It was even named a Michigan State Historic Site in 1980. Sadly, the building was torn down in 1996.
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A Magical Movie Experience
The Grand Riviera was built in 1925. It cost over one million dollars, which was a huge amount of money at the time. It was one of the first "atmospheric theaters" in Detroit. This special design used lighting and decorations to create a unique mood, or atmosphere.
Inside, the ceiling was painted dark blue and had tiny lights that looked like twinkling stars. A special machine projected images of clouds that moved across the ceiling. The walls were decorated to look like the outside of fancy buildings, with fake trees and vines. It made the audience feel like they were in a romantic Italian garden.
The theater could seat over 3,000 people and was an instant hit.
The Theater's Story
A Popular Spot
The Grand Riviera was so successful that just two years after it opened, in 1927, an addition was built with room for 1,800 more people. For decades, it was one of Detroit's most popular places for entertainment.
In 1957, the theater was changed from a movie cinema into a venue for live plays. However, when the nearby Fisher Theater reopened in 1960, the Grand Riviera became less popular for plays. It then began hosting music concerts and continued to do so until it closed in the mid-1970s.
What Happened to the Theater?
After the theater closed, the empty building began to fall apart. Over the years, the damage became so bad that the building was considered unsafe. In June 1996, the Grand Riviera Theater was demolished.
Because the building no longer exists, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 but was removed from the list in 2020.
Design and Appearance
The Grand Riviera was a beautiful three-story building made of brown brick. It was designed in a style inspired by old Italian and Mediterranean buildings.
On the corner of the building was a tall, eight-sided tower. This tower had large, arched windows and was decorated with cream-colored terra cotta, a type of baked clay. Next to the tower were sections for shops and offices. The main theater part had large brick walls with no windows.
The inside was just as impressive as the outside. The goal of the "atmospheric" design was to transport the audience to another place. The starry sky ceiling, moving clouds, and garden-like walls all worked together to create a magical setting for watching movies.
Gallery
Images from 1970
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See also
In Spanish: Grand Riviera Theater para niños
