Michigan Theatre
217 S. Washington Street,
Lansing,
MI
48933
217 S. Washington Street,
Lansing,
MI
48933
7 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 27 comments
Closed Monday September 1, 1980 with “Herbie Goes Bananas”. Grand opening as Michigan Theatre was Friday August 15, 1941. Articles for both events added, as well as several auditorium photos.
Also Water Winter Wonderland website below with multiple images not in gallery and from 2011.
http://www.waterwinterwonderland.com/movietheaters.aspx?LocTypeID=5&id=1289
Link with two 1927 photos of a street car promoting 2 films at the then Strand Theatre.
https://cadl.pastperfectonline.com/archive/8678F6C6-1F04-4F70-8003-347524366380
When the original Italian Baroque interior of the Strand was partly torn out and replaced by the more modern look of the Michigan Theatre in 1941, the architects who handled the job were… John and Drew Eberson. The ornate original facade was simplified at the same time.
1958 photo added courtesy of Dan Barber. Circa 1966 photos added courtesy of Gary Boynton.
moax429…. Per a check of the Lansing State Journal newspaper, “Grease” 1978 first run in the Lansing area was:
Michigan 6/16-9/7
M78 Drive-In 8/30-9/19
Plaza (Mason) 9/13-10/3
Meridian East 9/20-11/2
Meridian West 11/3-12/5
Library Of Congress link with a 1980 photo of the closed Michigan Theater.
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2017707963/
August 14th, 1941 grand opening ad as Michigan in the photo section.
This opened as Strand on April 21st, 1921. Its grand opening ad can be found in the photo section for this theatre.
Didn’t “Grease” first play here in 1978? And, if it did, what other Lansing area theater did it eventually move to? (I’m guessing the Meridian 8 in Okemos.)
My family and I moved to the Chicago suburb of Glenwood, Illinois on June 18, 1978 (we lived there until 1983, when we moved to New Jersey), and I do remember reading in the Lansing State Journal two weeks before we moved “Grease” was at the Michigan first (I first saw that movie at the Orland Square Cinemas in Orland Park, Illinois, on Friday, August 11, 1978; “Grease” was also the very first movie I ever heard in true Dolby Stereo, something very much taken for granted today).
From the 1960s a photo postcard image of Washington Street along with the Michigan.
a little more history, and a few more photos: http://themichmashcenter.blogspot.com/2011/08/strand-theater.html.
I did my Architectural Thesis on the Restoration of the Michigan Theatre in 1977-9. I also worked for a Not For Profit to raise the monies and had my office in the building. Lansing wasn’t up to the task to restore it. I remember we brought in Dave Brubeck in to perform to raise money, still no good. It had so much potential,and was in sound condition….now the auditorium is a parking lot….I still have 2 of the seats, carpet, etc…..sad.
Thom Greene, Architect-Chicago
These photos of the original balcony now a roof that still shows the decor design are truly amazing to view, yet very sad!
I’m looking for the date of a Louie Armstrong and The All Stars concert at the Michigan. Believe this would have been in 1950 or 51. Any resources for this type of info? There is an outside chance it might have been at the Gladmer but I doubt it. I was 8 or 9 at the time.
This theatre WAS a beautiful theatre and Lansing lost a gem when they chose to discontine this EBERSON creation!
Here is a short bio:
http://tinyurl.com/gjwdu
I decided to revisit this link and now recall the sad photo of the balcony with parking lot below! So very sad for the citizens of Lansing! I used to have a college roommate from Lansing so perhaps I should contact her to ‘pick her brain’!
yes I believe so
“Although the auditorium could not be saved, its grand lobby, ballroom and storefront areas were transformed to their 20s grandeur. The focal point of the office foyer space is now the large marble staircase.” Is this part of present day office and retail complex, the Atrium Center?
Neo: Thanks! I looked through the photos and read some of the information, but am a bit confused. The balcony photo looks like it’s out in the elements with no roof? And when you say ‘it’s part of a parking lot" what do you mean as I viewed photos of altered office space and an exterior facade that looked like though not a theatre anymore which is such a shame as it was an atmospheric-Eberson theatre! Such a treasure and Lansing didn’t choose to preserve it for future generations. :–(
Patsy go to the link I posted above and scroll to the bottom.
This grand theater became a nothing victim of the automobile… it’s park of a parking lot
Since this Eberson theatre is listed as closed does that mean there is still hope for this movie palace in Lansing MI? It’s hard for me to understand why a community that has an Eberson theatre would let it be listed as closed and not restored!
Pics:
View link
Looked like a grand theater
This vacant office building is owned by Paul Gentilozzi Real Estate. The Lansing State Journal listed the property value at $2.8 Million:
View link
If you have aspirations to turn this back into a theatre you better come correct with some jack in your pocket. It would take close to an overall $10 Million to make it cool again.
The theatre organ from this location has been installed in the Grand Ledge Opera House. Occasional concerts are held there.