Ready Theatre

420 E. Main Street,
Niles, MI 49120

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Additional Info

Operated by: Moore Family Theatres

Previously operated by: Paramount Pictures Inc., W.S. Butterfield Theaters Inc.

Architects: Charles Howard Crane, Myrle Smith, William P. Whitney

Previous Names: Ready 4 Theatre

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 269.683.1112
Manager: 269.683.1112

Nearby Theaters

1934 photo courtesy of Penny Meyers Churchill‎.

Opened in 1927, the Ready Theatre is listed in the Film Daily Yearbook, 1941 edition, with a seating capacity of 1,000.

In the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. the seating capacity is given as 1,144.

In the 1940’s it was operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary W.S. Butterfield Theatres Inc and Butterfield Michigan Theatres Co.

In recent years it had been split into four screens and was last operated by Moore Theatres who closed it in February 2005.

In 2009, the dividing walls erected for the four screen theatre have been removed and the building is being renovated to reopen as a live theatre venue, with some move theatre use.

Contributed by KenRoe

Recent comments (view all 14 comments)

Jeff M.
Jeff M. on November 22, 2011 at 7:29 pm

My folks have lived in Niles, MI since 1968. In July of 1980, during one of my visits, I got permission to take pictures of the auditorium, one of which has been posted here. The Barton organ was purchased and removed by the late Father Jim Miller who installed it in his home. He may have made a recording on it but I’m not sure. I certainly hope they can restore it to its original glory. Those brass entry doors would look great polished.

Jeff M.
Jeff M. on September 4, 2012 at 7:59 pm

Good News! I arrived in Niles this past Thursday and when I drove past the Ready I noticed that work was being done. Today I was allowed into the theatre and shown the auditorium which is almost completely restored. The walls and ceiling have been painted and leafed. Seats have not yet been installed and the lobby is presently in the process of being returned to it original splendor. The owners have scheduled a grand reopening for sometime in October. I am not quite sure what venues are being planned for the theatre but it will wonderful to have the Ready Theatre back in operation.

tirzarideout
tirzarideout on August 26, 2013 at 8:19 am

I was a young movie goer at this theater before it closed. I always looked wistfully at the boarded up windows, hoping that someone would restore it to its (imagined) former glory. I’m glad they’re finally doing it. It would be great if they could redo the old marquee on the outside of theater. It would be a great facelift to historic downtown Niles.

jstanley
jstanley on October 8, 2014 at 5:27 am

Hey, everyone. My group and I are doing an oral history on Ready Theatre and we are going to interview someone who has memories of the Ready Theatre. If anyone is interested or would like to help out email me at ! Thank you!

GratefulDeadhead
GratefulDeadhead on March 12, 2015 at 12:23 pm

I found some footage of the theater in the “home movies” section of archive.org. The theater appears at 3:48 –

https://archive.org/details/97028_hm_niles_michigan_and_elsewhere

The Movie on the marquee is “Let Freedom Ring”, released in 1939.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on August 28, 2015 at 8:18 pm

07/15/15 photo added credit Anita Rodgers‎. Elevators and restrooms being added. Handicap access etc., in keeping with the historical aspect of the theatre. Apparently small theatre rooms and a bar too.

Via the “If you grew up in Niles/SW Michigan then you remember what…..who….” Facebook page.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on August 28, 2015 at 9:10 pm

1934 photo added courtesy of Penny Meyers Churchill‎. This from Wally Eberhard: “That’s me standing in front of my dad, Ray Eberhard, Ready manager…and my big bro Jack is kneeling at far right.”

pnelson
pnelson on August 29, 2015 at 7:07 pm

Beautiful interior design here. Light is deco but the rest looks Italien or French to me. Window murals are great. Nice to see it is returning for all to enjoy. Too many ugly mega-plex boxes out there.

gaul
gaul on December 23, 2017 at 10:37 am

I had many fine memories at the Ready Theater back in the 60’s. I ate fudge bars frozen from the second floor. Wish I was a kid again in Michigan.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on February 14, 2019 at 1:49 pm

1927 construction photo added courtesy of Joe Barron‎.

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