Ready Theatre
420 E. Main Street,
Niles,
MI
49120
420 E. Main Street,
Niles,
MI
49120
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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.
2009 photo of the Ready Theatre.
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2010 photo of the Ready Theatre. From the photo it don’t look like too much is being done to renovate the theatre.
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1979 Photo
I am so glad to know that Carl Moore is restoring this theatre. I wish him much success.
The Ready Theater is now undergoing renovation/restoration. All the dividing walls which made it a four room movie theater have been removed, and the art deco detail is being repainted. The owner (still Carol Moore) intends to re-open it as a multiple use theater, featuring live performances when possible, and showing movies on a retractable 40 foot screen when no live acts are scheduled. The theater itself is largely being restored, but the lobby is being expanded into the back of the original seating area. Four-hundred fifty seats have been purchaced for the ground floor, and the owner intends to put a greater number in the balcony, bringing the total seating to close to one thousand seats. New marble bathrooms are planned, as well as a cafe. The theater has a 27' x 6' orchestra pit, which will seat about 18 musicians.
A Barton theater organ size 2/8 was installed in the Ready Theater in 1927.
Here is a closeup of the marquee:
http://www.pjchmiel.com/photo/signs/ready.jpg
This is a 2007 photo of the Ready 4 Theater.
The theater was built in 1927 by Mr. Ready and Butterfield theaters, with the original seating capacity around 1500. The opening night was October 20th 1927, with the newest paramount movie “Swim Girl Swim” staring Bebe Daniels. With the admission prices of $0.50 for an adult and $0.25 for a child under 12. The theater continued to have its doors open until January of 1981, when Butterfield theaters decided that it was no longer making any profits. The building stayed vacant for a couple years and was purchased by Carol Moore in December or 1983, and re-opened its doors again march 2, 1983. When it opened in 1983 Mrs. Moore had it renovated to be a three screened theater, it was then renovated again in the late 80’s-early 90’s into a 4 screen theater.
The theater was originally designed by Myrle Smith (from South Bend, IN) and W.P. Whitney (from Chicago, IL). Those big, beautiful shinny entrance door were made of nickel-silver and bronze and were installed by Kawneer Co.
This is another photo of the Ready 4 Theater which is now closed.
The Ready 4 Theatre closed in February of 2005.Here is a link with a vintage photo and a current photo.
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