Michigan Theatre

In 1929, the Michigan Theatre in Flint acquired the 4-manual 15-rank Page Theatre Organ that had been installed in the studios of WHT Radio in the Wrigley Building in Chicago, IL. The organ was removed from the theatre in 1950 and installed in a private residence. The WHT/Michigan Theatre Page is now installed in the arts auditorium of Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain, GA.

Ken Black, are you related to Art Black, who was a manager for Butterfield for many years?

I worked part time at the Michigan for a year during 1953/1954. I worked as an usher/ticket taker/concession stand popcorn seller. I think I was paid .95 per hour for mostly saturday and sunday with a few weeknights.
I remember the saturday afternoon kiddy shows where several hundred kids spent more time throwing popcorn at each other and the screen than watching the movie.
I believe the theater was used for stage shows in the 1930s and 1940s because there was a tunnel that ran from the lobby basement to the back stage area so actors could get to that area during a show.
We had to wear uniforms when we working as ushers with short jackets, white shirts and black bow ties. And of course the flashlight to shine the couples setting in the back row to break up the necking.
Ken Black