Jack Loeks' Studio 28
1350 28th Street SW,
Grand Rapids,
MI
49509
1350 28th Street SW,
Grand Rapids,
MI
49509
4 people
favorited this theater
Showing all 21 comments
This is another cinema called Studio 28 in Paris, France. http://www.cinemastudio28.com/horaire.asp no connection with the theatre in Grand Rapids.
Did they strip and demolish this theater? did someone open across the street that was all stadium?
Nice way to go out on Marquee,so many theatres never have the chance.
PS I do miss theatre #1, the HUGE curved screen and THX…
Has anything been done at the building, I am not in GR, not easy to do a drive by… thanks,,,,,
There is another marquee photo on this site. Status should be changed to closed.
http://tinyurl.com/y8j3cfg
Hard to believe, but it’s now been exactly one year since the closing.
I really miss this place – saw a lot of movies here in my two years in Grand Rapids, and I remember how packed it could get in Theater #1 on opening night. One of the best cinemas ever – I’m sorry it couldn’t last.
View link
this will take you to a file on the Studio 28, I will be taking more photos tonight, the last night, and posting more.
Here is a recent photo.
http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=4197
A number of pics at Cinematour.
Here is an article with photos.
I wonder why it’s closing?
Nov. 23, 2008 will be the last day of operation of this theatre.
Cheers to the Studio 28, you will be missed, especially theatre #1.
I am going this next week, Ill get some photos and post them.
Photos of Studio 28 can be seen here.
Here is the website for this theater. Phone: 616.530.7469
Jack Loeks was the father of Jim Loeks, who along with his wife, Barrie Lawson-Loeks started Star Theatres (Loeks-Star). They were not involved at all in Jack Loeks cinemas (family falling-out). Jim and Barrie sold a 50% interest to Sony in the 90’s who then recruited them to run their Loews chain after chairman A. Alan Friedberg retired. Most of the theatres built by Loews during their tenure featured the “Star” design.
My theater of choice when I lived in West Michigan – it still looked good the last time I visited. The large glassed-in lobby remains one of my favorite features, plus the fact that they served cake and other bakery goods during morning shows on the weekends.
when enlarged to 20 screens in 1988, this was the biggest cinema in the world.
a Kinepolis in Madrid with 9000 seats now holds the record.
when enlarged to 20 screens in 1988, this was the biggest cinema in the world.
a Kinepolis in Madrid with 9000 seats now holds the record.
Moviegoing in the Detroit area was revolutionized around 1990 by the opening of several new theaters of a chain called “Loek’s Star Theaters”. Until then, first-run movies were dominated almost exclusively by AMC, whose theaters tended to be dingy, poorly staffed (20 minute wait for popcorn etc), and frequently equipped with tinny low-volume monaural sound, despite the first-run prices. How my friends and family flocked to the Loek’s Stars, with their big screens, full-throated stereo, and cheerful, efficient service. I’m sure it was the Loek’s Star chain that forced AMC to upgrade or close it’s more dismal facilities. (Now, sadly, Loek’s has been bought by Loews or Sony or some such, the Star Theater service has has become quite bad, and a chain called MJR chain is the bright and efficient upstart— but that’s another story).
Anyway — it’s interesting to see that there was a Jack Loeks theater in the western part of the state several years before the Stars popped up in Metro Detroit. I’m sure this must have been the embryonic form of the Star theaters, and I’d sure like to see some pictures, and hear more about it.