Search

Theaters News Links

Advanced search
 

Theater Guide

Now listing 26,635 theaters & 1,598 photos… more
Browse by...
 

Add Your Cinema Treasure!

Add Theater
Add Photo (offline)
Add Theater News
 

Newest Theaters

Nov 22 Fox Theatre
Nov 22 Queens Hall
Nov 21 Ada Theatre
Nov 21 Yale Theatre
Nov 21 Oklahoma Theatre
Nov 21 Lyric Theatre
Nov 21 Grand Theatre
Nov 21 The Sheung Wan…
Nov 21 Cinemas West 4
Nov 21 Pathe Vaise
more new theaters
 

Recent Comments

Nov 22 Cineplex Odeon… (10)
Nov 22 Radio City Music… (2545)
Nov 22 Trans-Lux Modern… (23)
Nov 22 Egyptian Theater (4)
Nov 22 Christown Cinemas (11)
Nov 22 Seventh Street… (4)
Nov 22 Hollywood Malibu… (9)
Nov 22 Colony Theatre (32)
Nov 22 Square Theatre (20)
Nov 22 Loew's Jersey… (1232)
 
 
 
  Discover. Preserve. Protect.

Whitney Theatre

Ann Arbor, MI
117-119 N Main Street
, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
(map)
Status: Closed/Demolished
Screens: Single Screen
Style: Renaissance Revival
Function: Unknown
Seats: 1500
Chain: Unknown
Architect: Unknown
Firm: Unknown
Add a photo for this theater!
The Whitney Theatre opened in a building which was constructed in 1871, and also contained the Milner (later Earle) Hotel. Its designer was Herman Pipp. The theater could seat over 1500 in its auditorium, which contained two balconies and 35 boxes.

The decor was neo-Renaissance, complete with imported French chandeliers and Italian marble floors, one of the most plush theaters in the state in the late 19th century, outside Detroit.

For much of its existence, the Whitney was a legitimate house, with actors such as Edwin Booth, John and Ethel Barrymore, Helen Hayes and Alfred Lunt appearing on its stage.

Although it showed its first movie in 1914, the Whitney didn't switch to a movies-only program until the mid-30s, when it was run by L.C. Mull, who also operated Ann Arbor's Majestic. In 1936, the Whitney was acquired by the Butterfield Theatres chain, which continued to run the theater until it closed in 1952.

Three years later, it was demolished, along with the adjacent Earle Hotel. Butterfield made plans to construct a new 1500-1800 seat theater on the site, but instead ultimately decided to build their theater, the Campus, elsewhere in Ann Arbor.
Contributed by Bryan Krefft


YOUR COMMENTS

 
This site has photos.

posted by Lost Memory on Sep 25, 2008 at 4:52pm
Comment
*

Notify me when someone replies to my comment?
Note: Please read our comment policy before posting. Comments which are off-topic, obscene, spam, or personal attacks will be removed. Help us keep the discussion productive!