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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Grand Riviera 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 huge and fancy movie palace. It was located at 9222 Grand River Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. The theater got its name from Grand River Avenue, the street it was on.
It was named a Michigan State Historic Site in 1980. Later, in 1982, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Sadly, the building was torn down in June 1996. It was removed from the National Register in 2020.
Contents
History of the Grand Riviera Theater
The Grand Riviera cinema was built in 1925. It cost over one million dollars to build, which was a lot of money back then! This theater could seat more than 3,000 people.
It was the first "atmospheric" theater in Detroit. This special design made the audience feel like they were sitting outdoors. It used cool lighting, sound effects, and decorations to create the feeling of a garden or courtyard.
The theater was very popular right away. In 1927, they even added a new section with 1,800 more seats. In 1957, the Riviera changed from showing movies to hosting live stage plays.
When the Fisher Theater reopened in 1960, the Grand Riviera became less popular for plays. The building was then used for music concerts. It finally closed in the mid-1970s. After it closed, the building fell apart. It became unsafe and was torn down in 1996.
What the Grand Riviera Theater Looked Like
The Grand Riviera Theater was a three-story building. It was made of brown brick. Its style was a mix of Italian Renaissance Revival and Mediterranean Revival.
A tall, eight-sided tower stood on the corner of the building. This tower was about 80 feet (24 meters) high. It had arched windows with many small panes of glass. The tower was also decorated with fancy cream-colored terra cotta.
Next to the tower was a three-story part of the building. This section held shops and offices. The main auditorium part of the theater was to the north. It had solid brick walls with no windows.
The inside of the Grand Riviera Theater was very fancy. The "atmospheric" design made it feel like a courtyard. The ceiling was dark blue with electric "stars" that looked like the night sky. They even projected moving clouds! The walls were decorated with fake trees and vines.
Images for kids
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The Rotunda, a round room, in 1970
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The Foyer, an entrance hall, in 1970
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Inside the main Auditorium in 1970
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Another view of the Auditorium in 1970
See also
In Spanish: Grand Riviera Theater para niños
