Janes Theatre

1709 Janes Avenue,
Saginaw, MI 48601

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Additional Info

Architects: Fred H. Witters

Firms: Cowles & Mutscheller

Functions: Church

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Janes Theatre

Designed by Fred H. Witters, who also owned and operated by theatre. He was assisted by architectural firm Cowles & Mutscheller. It opened as Janes Theatre on December 27, 1934, and operated until at least 1950.

It was on the urban side of town. I do not stay in the neighborhood anymore, but when I go in the neighborhood I always go pass there so I can keep my memories.

Contributed by charles walton

Recent comments (view all 5 comments)

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on April 25, 2011 at 9:58 am

Water Winter Wonderland has a page for the Janes Theatre, and gives the address as 1709 Janes Avenue. It doesn’t mention Bel Air Theatre as an aka, and the site lists no indoor theaters called the Bel Air, only the Bel Air Drive-In, which was also on Janes Avenue. It says the Janes Theatre operated from 1935 to 1955, and seated “508+”

There is a photo of the building in later years as the Emmanuel Church of Deliverance, and the church is still listed at the theater’s address now. The building was still standing when the Google Street View truck last went by, so it probably still is.

TenPoundHammer
TenPoundHammer on April 25, 2011 at 9:34 pm

It was indeed called the Janes and never the Bel Air. Please fix the listing.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on August 6, 2014 at 11:22 pm

The Janes Theatre was designed by its original owner, Fred H. Witters, with some critical structural elements planned by the Saginaw architectural firm of Cowles & Mutscheller. A three-page article about the project, with several photos, appears in the June 29, 1935, issue of Motion Picture Herald.

ojohng
ojohng on February 19, 2021 at 1:28 am

Janes Theatre Attendance Give-Aways / Dish Nights

I am a collector of vintage silverplate service sets. One of my recent additions included a Guarantee Certificate for the Wm. Rogers Mfg. Co.

The Guarantee Certificate is stamped in red with “JANES THEATRE, SAGINAW MICH” and a date of 4/14/53 is written at top of certificate.

I suspect that this silverplate set was won by a lucky customer of the Janes Theatre in 1953 as part of a “Dish Night” type give-away.

rivest266
rivest266 on February 18, 2024 at 8:42 pm

Opened December 27th, 1934. No ad found.

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