Michigan Theater

The Michigan Theatre in Ann Arbor MI recently restored its front facade and replaced the 1950s marquee with one that's more appropriate for the theater's restored facade. You can see it on their web site at http://www.michtheater.com/

The Michigan Theatre in Ann Arbor MI was originally operated by W.S. Butterfield Theatres.

The new restored Michigan Theatre vertical sign has arrived and is being installed. The planned lighting of the new vertical sign, on the spot where the old vertical removed in 1956 was, is Friday night.

It was definitely a great idea to change the marquee. Hats off to U of M!

Seating capacity for the Michigan Theatre is 1700.

Pictures of the Michigan

The Michigan Theater has an original three manual thirteen rank Barton Theater Pipe organ. This instrument is maintained in excellent condition and is played prior to most film screenings. It is also used to accompany silent films to fill organ parts in compositions performed by the Ann Arbor Symphony. There are five staff organists.

I like the marquee and vertical, but they do not appear to really match the originals. Comparing the photos on this page, http://michtheater.org/theater_history.php, and http://michtheater.org/theater_today.php?id=0, the vertical appears to be somewhat smaller and lower than the original. Note that the I on the new vertical is in line with the arch, where on the original the G is in this line. Also, this entry says that the new marquee shows more of the building than the previous, but it looks to me like the current one is an adaptation of the one shown on this page, as it seems to have the same dimensions. That said, the new one does suit the facade better, and all the prior marquees for the Michigan seem to be unusually attractive, even the 1940s version http://michtheater.org/theater_history.php?id=5 This place has had an awful lot of looks! The 1950s one was pretty unfortunate, though...

The new vertical is a bit smaller than the original which was actually too big for the facade of the theater. The new vertical is a better size.

I actually liked all the marquee's I have seen on this site. The original marquee is the most attractive but I also liked the neon marquee. The 1950's was the last decade where they constructed beautiful marquees. When they started to use plastic like the fast food joints it was the arrival of the ugly marquees from the 1960's.A movie palace is not complete unless it has a decent marquee such as the Michigan.brucec

To follow up on what Henry said, I understand that the organ actually saved the Michigan. An organ-enthusiast society formed the core of the group that rescued and restored the theater.

Henry, you don't happen to be from Chattanooga, do you?

Just drove by this theater today, I love the exterior, the archtiecture on the exterior is great. The photo above doesn't do it justice, and it has a better looking marquee to it.

The photo shown above is outdated, even though the caption decribes it as a "recent" view. The theatre now has a vertical sign and the marquee has been changed to the "old-style" black background with illuminated white letters. A night-time photo of the new exterior was published in The New York Times on February 3, 2005, in The Arts section (page E3). The accompanying article says that Ann Arbor is behind other parts of the USA in getting some of the 'Oscar' nominated movies, but how many places can claim a still-operating movie palace as wonderful as this one?

Yes Joshua, I'm from Chattanooga.

The Michigan Theatre opened on 5th January 1928 with the movie " Hero For a Night" starring Glenn Tryon, a stage show called 'From Rags to Riches' and Floyd Hoffman on the Barton 3Manual/13Rank theatre pipe organ. The original seating capacity was for 1,829.

Also to note on the marquee, it does not have MICHIGAN on all 3 sides, the replaced it on the right and left side with cool little detailing

Photos of the Michigan in Ann Arbor.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y147/Chuck1231/Michigan%20Theatres/MichiganTheatreAnnArborMi.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y147/Chuck1231/Michigan%20Theatres/MichiganTheatreCircaBWAnnArborMi.jpg

Here is another vintage photo of the Michigan Theater.

That's from March.

This photo is supposed to be from June of 2004.

Beautiful interior & exterior photos:
http://www.pbase.com/spepple/michigan_theater

I went to this theater while in college in the mid '80s. I remember seeing Gone With The Wind and a Marx Brothers double feature. I hadn't been able to appreciate the older films until then. The experience was always fantastic, a trip back in time as they would have an organist performing prior to the show. As the the trailers would start and the big velvet curtains would part the organ along with player would lower out of sight.

Here is another photo:
http://tinyurl.com/h5xjb

This is a recent (2006) photo of the Michigan Theater.

Here is another 2006 photo. It looks different with the lights off.

There are a couple of recent photos of the Michigan theater at this link. Click each photo to expand it.

Thank you for sharing these great photos! Art is the extension of the soul, and I bless the dedicated theater owners on a successful & worthwhile restoration. This theater was recently granted an award by the League of Historic American Theaters (LHAT). A job well done!

Another recent photo of the Michigan Theater can be seen here.

Another great shot!!! Thanks!

Here is another recent Michigan Theater photo.

A more recent photo can be seen here.

Added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1980

Michigan Theater Building (added 1980 - Building - #80001917)
521-609 E. LIberty St., Ann Arbor
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event
Architect, builder, or engineer: Finkel,Maurice
Architectural Style: Other, Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals
Area of Significance: Performing Arts, Architecture
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: Private , Local Gov't
Historic Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Music Facility, Theater
Current Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Business, Theater

This is a 2007 photo of the Michigan Theater.

Lost Memory: Thanks for this 2007 photo as I was concerned that this marquee and vertical MICHIGAN marquee had been changed because of the "recent" photo shown with the stats on the theatre. Are you sure this is a 2007 photo? I hope so. And I wish it hadn't been twinned, but perhaps it will be a single screen cinema again one day.

Patsy....The photo claims to be "Taken on March 23, 2007". I have no reason to doubt that date. The marquee in the photo reads: "45th Ann Arbor Film Festival". This website shows that the film festival was held at the Michigan Theater from March 20, 2007 - March 25, 2007. That schedule falls inline with the date of the photo.

Thanks for the marquee confirmation!

Patsy, from the description given above, I don't think the main auditorium was cut in half. It sounds like they acquired some space next door and expanded.

I spent a lot of time in that theater while going to U of M; heck, some of my film classes were held there, watching classic movies. I even made a short film in 16mm about the theater and its history. It included an interview with Russ Collins, who is still in charge some 20 years later.

Here is a more recent photo of the Michigan Theater.

Lost Memory: Thanks for the photo. What a gorgeous exterior i.e. marquee and vertical sign! They all should look that nice!

I agree. This is one of the better looking theaters. And the best part is, its still open! ;)

This is a recent night view of the Michigan Theater.

Another recent photo of the Michigan Theater can be seen here.

Here is a recent close-up view of the Michigan marquee.

This is an October 2007 photo of the Michigan Theater.

Here is a November 2007 photo of the Michigan Theater.

How about a 1991 view with the old marquee.

The second screen at the Michigan is located in a new-construction addition built onto the back of the theater, leaving the auditorium in its original configuration/size. The Michigan is used for symphony, ballet, jazz, folk and contemporary events in addition to films, so "twinning" would not be an option. In regards to SNWEB's comment about "Hats off to U of M" the University has nothing to do (directly) with the operation of the Michigan. The building is owned by the city (purchased by an overwhelmingly approved millage during an economically difficult year) and run by the non-profit Michigan theatre foundation. The foundation was formed to save the theater, which was well on its way to being gutted and converted into a "food court" mall type place, and to operate it as an auditorium/performing arts facility separate from the University's whim and why. Henry, who has posted comments above, was really the person who began the movement to save the theater. Without his actions the theater may no exist today.

The Michgan Theater's website go to:
www.michtheater.org
there are some great pictures and information there.

This is a 2008 photo.

Great photo and taken just yesterday!

I only post "first run" photos for you Patsy. LOL

"first run"....clever! LOL

Here is a nice July 2008 photo.

This is a nice August 2008 photo that shows both the Michigan and State theaters.

Another photo is here.

Here are photos from 1974, 1977 and 1983:
http://tinyurl.com/dkq96t
http://tinyurl.com/d4jycm
http://tinyurl.com/dfhfay

Maybe I'm the only person who remembers this, but back in 1978 when Butterfield moved out of the Michigan there was serious talk of Jacobson's moving in, gutting the interior and making it a new store (with movie theaters in the balcony). Though I've been seriously disappointed by many (most) of the changes I've seen in my hometown, the restoration of the Michigan is a big plus.

There was a lot of talk like that, including turning the building into a warehouse. The Michigan is the best kind of success story.