Michigan Theater (Ann Arbor, Michigan) facts for kids
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Michigan Theater, 2008
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| Address | 603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor, Michigan |
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| Coordinates | 42°16′46″N 83°44′31″W / 42.27944°N 83.74194°W |
| Operator | Michigan Theater Foundation |
| Capacity | 1610 (auditorium) 200 (Screening Room) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | January 5, 1928 |
| Architect | Maurice Herman Finkel |
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Michigan Theater Building
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| Location | 603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor, Michigan |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1927 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Lombard Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001917 |
| Added to NRHP | November 28, 1980 |
The Michigan Theater is a beautiful old movie theater in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It's close to the University of Michigan. Today, it shows special movies, live plays, and amazing music concerts.
A designer named Maurice Herman Finkel from Detroit created the theater. It was built in 1927. The main room, called the auditorium, can hold 1610 people. It still has its original 1927 Barton Theatre Pipe Organ. It also has an orchestra pit, a stage, and many fancy designs.
The theater was first owned by Angelo Poulos. Later, it was rented to the Butterfield Theatres company until 1978. Now, a non-profit group called the Michigan Theater Foundation owns and runs it.
Contents
History of the Michigan Theater
The Michigan Theater first opened its doors on January 5, 1928. At that time, it was the most impressive theater in Ann Arbor. It didn't just show movies. It also had live shows called vaudeville acts. Famous performers like Jack Benny, Bing Crosby, Paul Robeson, and Ethel Barrymore all appeared there.
In 1956, the theater was updated. Sadly, many of its original fancy designs were removed. Later, not many people were coming to the theater. It was almost torn down in 1978. But people in the community and local organ players helped save it. They raised money to fix it up. They even brought back its original beautiful look.
In 1999, a second movie room was added. It's called the Screening Room. It has great sound and can show digital movies. This room can seat 200 people.
Today, the Michigan Theater is home to many events. It hosts the yearly Ann Arbor Film Festival. It's also where the Ann Arbor Symphony and the Ann Arbor Concert Band play. In 2006, it was named the "Outstanding Historic Theatre" by a group called the League of Historic American Theaters. The theater also has special shows for kids called "Not Just For Kids." Plus, it has a concert series called "The Legends of Rock & Roll."
The Special Barton Organ
The Barton theatre pipe organ in the Michigan Theater is very special. It was made just for this theater. It was put in place in November 1927. This was just before the theater opened in January 1928.
Many theatre organs were built between the 1910s and 1930s. About 7,000 were made in total. But the Michigan Barton organ is one of only about 45 that are still in their original spots. This organ has three keyboards, called manuals. It also has thirteen sets of pipes. Other Barton organs nearby usually had ten sets of pipes.
The organ can also make many fun sounds. It has different drums and bells. It also has a "toy counter" with special effects. These effects helped make silent movies more exciting. The organ's fancy console, or control panel, can even move up and down on a special lift.
The Barton organ was not used much in the 1950s. It also got damaged by water in the early 1960s. But it was fixed and started being played regularly in the 1970s. This organ helped get people excited to save the theater in 1978.
Since then, the organ has been used often. In 2014, its original air blower broke. It was rebuilt with a bigger motor. Between 2018 and 2020, the organ was fully rebuilt and restored. Now, it works like new. The organ is cared for by experts. Staff organists play it regularly before movies. They also play it for silent films. This makes it one of the most heard theater organs in the country!
Outside the Theater
The Michigan Theater Building is a big, two-story building. It includes the theater itself. It also has seven shops facing the street. There are offices upstairs too. The outside of the building is made of brown brick. It has cement and terra cotta decorations.
The main part of the front has the theater's entrance. It also has two shops on either side. This part looks like an old Romanesque style building. The other five shops are plainer. In this plainer section, two shops are set back a little. They are next to the stairs that go to the second floor. The name of the building is written on the roofline of each section.
The Romanesque theater entrance has cream-colored terra cotta columns and arches. These fancy parts are on the second floor. The first-floor parts were lost when the building was changed in 1956. Above the second-floor arches, there are green and blue terra cotta decorations. More designs are inside the arches.
Inside the Theater
Lobby Area
The inner lobby still has its original details. It has a rounded ceiling, called a barrel-vaulted ceiling. There are also Romanesque columns and arch decorations. You can see wood panels and fancy iron railings on the balcony and stairs.
Auditorium Room
The main auditorium can seat 1610 people. It is used for showing movies and for live events. This room still has some of its original beautiful details.
Gallery
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The console of the Barton theatre organ
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The theater lobby
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East Liberty Street at night
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The main auditorium seen from the balcony
