Husband and wife team Mr. Eugene E. Saunders and Mrs. Bertha Saunders operated the Palace Theatre and original Saunders Theatre. They opened here as the New Saunders Theatre on December 15, 1925 replacing the original venue at a cost of $50,000. William Ward Construction tore down Haffner’s Saloon to create the new-build Saunders. The New Saunders opened with 350 seats. Harvard Mayor Colonel Joseph S. Maxon made an opening presentation prior to “The King on Main Street.” They added Western Electric Sound - a $15,000 investment - to remain commercially viable. Because Bertha objected to the smell of popcorn popping, Jay Vorhees operated a popcorn cart outside of the New Saunders.
“Gone with the Wind” was the only reserved seat film in the Saunders history - its biggest title. The Saunders' box office also offered notary services, hunting and fishing licenses, license plate service, and even check cashing to remain a part of the community. Bertha Saunders sold the venue to Harvard Theater Corporation headed by Bill Johnson in November of 1947 citing television as both a concern and different from theatrically exhibited films. A refresh bumped up seat count to 400. Alliance Amusement closed just prior to the end of its lease citing a $100 weekly loss versus a $300 monthly leasing obligation into Fall of 1965. It closed with “Under The Yum Yum Tree” on February 9, 1964. The Republican Party sublet the venue through November of 1964.
The theatre mounted an unlikely comeback costing $175,000 including 400 new cushioned seats and brand new automated projection gear. Bob and Roberta C. “Bobbie” Hume of Hume Inc. rebranded as the Harvard Theatre (#2 - as the original Opera House had been named the Harvard Theatre for its final three years of operation). The new Harvard opened on February 27, 1970 with “Doctor Zhivago.” By that summer, they were showing family films - including free merchant kiddy matinees for two years - on weekends and adult content at night. The Humes sublet the venue after showtimes of July 31, 1975 to Rockford’s Steven R. Yates and William H. Seaton who took the film full-time porno chic. They started the next day with the marquee reading: “Under New Management… Adult Hits… Double Feature… Rated X” at their lunch as The Show on August 1, 1975. The Humes exhausted a list of other potential exhibitors before allowing the transition. The films stopped in 1980 at the end of a 5-year sublease. On December 31, 1980, the theater rebranded to the Harvard Theatre with Antioch’s Ken Lyday trying a discount policy.
The Harvard closed with “The Watcher in the Woods” November 1, 1981. The next film was everyone’s favorite, “Closed for Repairs” (the heating system). That proved to be too expensive. Not finding another operator, the theatre’s 50+ year run was done. In June of 1983, it had been removed for opening of the D. & E. Meat Market.
The Fargo installed Vitaphone for sound film presentations beginning January 11, 1929 which cost $15,000. Eben Mitterling of Rockford’s Rex and Harvard’s Roxy took on the venue renaming it as the State Theatre.
The Dawn Theatre opened in the existing Jack Building by Dreamland Theatre operator Charles Vance on October 23, 1911 with vaudevillian Pauline Barry as the headliner and some short films. Dusk came to the Dawn in 1919. It was removed and became a Piggly Wiggly Grocery Store in July of 1919.
Vance and Duncan’s Theatrette opened April 9, 1907 with a sold out screening. Charles Vance carried on without Duncan changing the name of the venue to the Dreamland Theatre in late 1907. The Dreamland closed on December 30, 1915, had a fixture sale in January of 1916 with the Grand Union Team Company taking its place.
Lyric Theatre #1 was added to the Murdock Building at 411 Main Street opening on March 1, 1908 with “The Prodigal Son.” It closed; but on April 3, 1926 Eastern Illinois Theatres Circuit opened Lyric Theatre #2 on April 3, 1926 with Betty Compson in “Counsel for the Defense.” The second Lyric Theater’s last film was “Speedy” supported by “Lone Horseman” on May 25, 1930 never converting to sound. On June 17, 1930, the entire interior was torn out for retail purposes.
Grand opening ad with “Drusillia with a Million” in photos from October 29, 1925. It closed on October 13, 1926 with “Forbidden Cargo.” In 1927, the equipment was removed and use for a brief period as a revival venue. It was torn down long ago.
The Atlanta Theatre more or less replaced the Casino Theatre in town. The Atlanta opened September 4, 1936 with Bing Crosby in “Anything Goes.” The Casino closed a month later. (Atlanta also had the Star Theatre which opened in the Patton Building on June 22, 1911. The Atlanta Theatre was resdesigned by new operators, Mr. and Mrs. L.E. Deuterman, with a brighter streamline moderne approach reducing seat count to 250 at its reopening at the Palace Teatre on October 31, 1947 with “1001 Nights.” It closed as small town theaters struggled with marquee removed in the 1960s after its 30 year lease expiry and the Atlanta movie era ended permanently.
But the Palace made an unlikely comeback with new operators and a new marquee on September 28, 1973 reopening with “Sound of Music.” The Palace closed in 1975 and that was it.
Except the Palace was reopened on November 5, 1976 with “Other Side of the Mountain.” But it closed in March of 1979 and the town had no more movies.
Although, the sme Palace was reopened August 31, 1979 with “CHOMPS.” The theater closed again later in the year and that was that as small-town cinemas were closing with folks traveling to multiplexes.
However, a new operator reopened the Palace on February 27, 1980 with Linda Blair in “Roller Boogie” and closed later in 1980.
Based on no evidence, I’m guessing the air conditioning system didn’t work and each time the repair estimate was given, it was too high to make the money back.
The Warsaw Theatre closed at the end of its 25-year lease with “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” on August 27, 1972. The concession stand was open on Labor Day for the parade, however..
AMC Evanston 12 closed on July 19, 2026 to reopen after a renovation as the AMC Evanston 7. The theatre began with 12 mainstream screens and a six-screen art house. with 18 screens in total in 2000 under Century Theatres. Cinemark absorbed Century and closed the theater on March 16, 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic. They decided to make the closure permanent.
AMC reopened the 12-screener in November 22, 2022 with the Cine-Arts converted to a bounce house. A high-rise apartment building proposed at 900 Clark Street bites into the floor plan so it will re-emerge with new recliners and a multi-million update in 2027.
I think the Embassy Theatre was actually at 1418 Woodward Avenue with a tight seat count of 288 sporting a Reproduco Photoplayer Pipe Organ opening in 1927. It was within an existing building that, itself, had a different address - along with all of the buildings - prior to the Woodward Ave.’s renumbering in 1921.
The Embassy converted to sound. And I think the fire of September 16, 1931 there - in which a crowd of 10,000 showed up - both was its biggest night and its last night of operation. But feel free to go with your information if it’s preferable.
The Loop Theatre opened on February 17, 1928 and attracted second and third shift auto workers. (The Cadillac Clark Street auto plant was a quick streetcar ride a bit over a mile away.) The Loop was a grind house from its first days known for being open all night and playing third-run pictures and often having stage shows for 15 cents. The venue added sound in 1929 to remain commercially viable. The Loop was operated at the open by Alex Schreiber Enterprises which quickly was within Allied Theatres of Michigan with Schreiber operating Associated Theatres Circuit in the early to mid-1930s almost to the end of the theater’s run.
The Loop’s opening show on Feb. 17, 1928 featured Girlesk live shows and photoplays - unknown performers and unknown titles. For what it’s worth, it billed itself as the first “Girlesk” theatre in the world. The Loop additionally housed a short-lived Girlesk-branded operation that it extended to the new Times Square Theatre in 1929 and to anyone who wanted to license that term. When the Depression hit, the Times Square went dark in bankruptcy leaving the 24-hour trade to the Loop and, across the street, the Lyric. The Loop’s signage was by Electric Lu-Mi-Nus Signs Co. out of Chicago which also did theatre signage for Detroit-area venues including the Avalon, Uptown, Linwood, and Ramona.
During the Great Depression, the Loop’s neighborhood became increasingly populated by post-Prohibition liquor stores, nightclubs and bars, pawn shops, and cheap hotels while attracting a growing homeless population, as the eastern edge of Corktown gradually devolved into what was called Detroit’s Skid Row. One of the most high visibility spots was a block away in the Salvation Army Harbor Light Mission Center at 564 Michigan Ave.
The late night / overnight grind shows were now frequented by Skid Row folks trying to get a cheap overnight to escape cold and/or rainy Detroit nights. “Right now, as well as enjoying a good show the folks enjoy a good sleep,” said the manager of the Loop Fred Walton for much of the venue’s run. “Moreover, when anyone is fearful they won’t awake on time, all they have to do is leave a call at the box office and our user, Bill Rice, will see they are up on time."
The early Loop film contracts showed how low on the pecking order the theater was. The 1929 film, “Eternal Love,” played first run at the United Artists Theatre in downtown Detroit. Subsequent runs on the way down for the title went like this: Kramer - $250 rental; Annex - $225 rental; DeLuxe - $200 rental; Park - $175 rental; Strand - $150 rental; Senate - $140 rental; Great Lakes - $110 rental; LaSalle Gardens $100 rental; Loop $65 rental. The lower the terms, the more likely a playout would occur at the Loop.
Corden Candy Company opened its first ever theatre-centered confectionery inside the Loop Theatre. It was so successful that it followed it up with even more lucrative locations within the Colonial and the Senate theaters. The theatre was known for its two taglines in its halcyon days, “Always a good show” and “We never close.” In 1937, the competing Times Square came back on line also offering 24 hour shows. The Lyric would blink first closing in 1942.
The Loop closed on May 16, 1957 with “Away All Boats” and “Sleeping City” - check that - May 17, 1957 at 6:00a. The “We never close” sign remained in place, however. The Times Square closed in 1958 as 24 hour movie theaters were becoming obsolete. In 1960, the International Village was proposed and would lead to condemnation of that Michigan Avenue Skid Row area and all of Chinatown. Michael L. Duckett relit the Loop Theatre in late 1960 into early 1961 - it is assumed - simply to have the venue active as the boards met to determine property values.
In December of 1961, it was one of 213 parcels - three former theaters, several divey hotels including the Taylor Hotel and the White Star Hotel (both still charging just fifty cents a night at closure in 1962) and 35 (!) taverns - which were awarded condemnation funding. The Loop Theatre was awarded a rather austere $139,000.
By 1962, the International Village concept was DOA but the project continued as the Central Business District Project #1 that included the major highways that would sever former neighborhoods. That was cemented in February of 1962 when Arrow Wrecking of Dearborn received $587k to demolish the 59-acre “Skid Row” and 180 buildings that included both the Salvation Army, the Detroit Rescue Mission, and the Loop Theatre. The demolition was swift beginning in April of 1962 and completed by 1963.
The Times Square Theatre was opened by Alex Schreiber Enterprises as a partner to the Loop that had opened in February of 1928. There, the Girlesk live shows had sold out so he built a 1,700 seat venue to move the shows here which he did on October 9, 1929 with a screening of Colleen Moore in “Smiling Irish Eyes,” to boot. This was no cheap theatre. It was financed by gliding industry expert and Lockheed CEO Edward S. Evans at a cost of $300,000 - a ton of bucks for Corktown. The Spanish architecture was appropriate for the 1920s and the two-story Indiana Limestone building impressed. And the opening promised 40 people in the show.
At Schreiber’s Loop, the stage plus photoplay shows were general admission - 15 cents but at the Times Square, top tickets went for 60 cents on a reserved ticket policy. Possibly, that’s a manageable price point when times are good. But Schreiber’s Times Square opening was Time Bomb disastrous. The stock market crashed within three weeks of its opening and the Times Square policy was out of synch with the times.
The Times Square went dark three days after its First Anniversary on October 12, 1930. Schreiber Enterprises declared bankruptcy and nobody wanted to touch the liens on a one-year old, $300,000 White Limestone Elephant in the throes of the Depression. Further, the entire Corktown area would devolve into what was called Detroit Skid Row complete with flop house hotels, missions, and post-prohibition liquor stores and bars, and the two 24-hour theatres which attracted homeless folks after hours. One of those venues was Schreiber’s Loop Theatre - thankfully for him in a different corporate umbrella - that remained commercially viable along with the Lyric Theatre across the street. Both were open all night.
The Times Square was dark for more than six years. The Depression was easing somewhat. Gus Coplan formerly of the Columbia Theater, relit the Times Square - never opening the balcony which reduced capacity from 1,700 to 1,000. He stayed with it for about a year and a half and sold it to Joseph Bruzy who didn’t make it work. He then sold it to Jack Broder. Broder and Manager Hank Garish made the industry trade press for their wild programming. The Times Square programmed five to six features plus shorts for 15 cents - free parking - and, on Thursday, free dishes. There was a five cent surcharge that wasn’t shared with the studios. On changeover nights, you might see 11 features. A projectionist’s nightmare but a transient’s dream night.
The Times Square was the equivalent of a loss leader. The venue was open 24 hours a day trying to decimate the neighboring Lyric and the Loop. Those theatres wrote to distributors and to the trade press decrying the situation hoping to block clearances to the Times Square. Paramount did just that and the Times Square cut back to triple features and eliminating the spurious surcharge. The Lyric closed first and the Times Square and Loop did well with the all night format.
The Times Square Theatre and National both equipped with air conditioning by the early 1950s to become the better of the 24-hour theaters. And the Times Square survived all the way to December 4, 1958 closing with “Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison” and “Indian Fighter”… make that December 5, 1958.. at 6 a.m. The former theatre was in the path of the International Village proposal. It would lead to condemnation of that entire Skid Row area and all of Chinatown.
In December of 1961, the former Times Square was one of 213 parcels along with the Loop Theatre, several divey hotels, and 35 taverns - which were awarded condemnation funding. The building was razed in 1962. And in 1965, the International Village project was DOA and the former Times Square just looked like a field.
The Plaza Cinema opened on January 26, 1979 with “Goin' South.” Mayor Charles Fulgham cut the ribbon honoring Delta Drive-In and Plaza Cinema owners George Twiner and Ronald Potter. It was constructed to be twinned when necessary. That happened a year later when the Plaza became the Plaza Twin Cinema on February 8, 1980 with “Star Trek” and “Apocalypse Now.” The venue was operating almost unchanged other than digital exhibition into 2026 - and was offered for sale while operating
The Starlight Theater’s last advertised show was a double feature of “Lip Smackers” and “Psycho II” on August 15, 1983. As that times out with the expiry of a 30-year leasing period, it’s probably about right.
The original Princess Theatre opened with the live play, “Louisiana” on November 13, 1913. The venue switched to films and the Princess burned down in a nitrate film fire on October 4, 1916.
The Gem Theatre opened at least by 1910. It was equipped with sound to remain commercially viable. It was given a streamline moderne makeover for July 18, 1941. The Gem was equipped with widescreen to present CinemaScope films the theatre appears to have closed in January of 1958. The vacant theater was purchased along with the Central Hotel in 1971; both were razed that year.
This was the New Pal Theatre #2 opening December 15, 1936. Pal Theatres of Vidalia announced the project in September of 1936 and built this venue opening in mid-December.
This likely opened as the Olympic Theatre in the 1900s and which was showing movies in 1910 according to the trade press. It’s the same address of the Empress Theatre which appears to have failed to make the transition to sound films.
The long-standing Colonial Theatre was programming films by 1910. It added sound to remain commercially viable. The Colonial closed heading into the Summer of 1943 and not returning in the Fall - likely an indication of no air conditioning. It was reopened as the Victory Theatre on March 30, 1944 with “Two Yanks in Trinidad” and “Shut My Mouth.” Likely, it had some form of air conditioning operating year-round to 1949 but as a third-tier house and open to exploitation titles.
It was rebranded under new operators as the Main Theater. The April 1, 1949 reopening ad as the Main Theater is in photos and promising no more unsavory film bookings. People were so happy about the clean policy of the Main Theatre that it quickly reduced to weekend-only operation in the early 1950s; It appears to have closed as the Main Theater ceasing advertising after the September 4, 1954 showing of “Romance & Rhythm” and “San Francisco Story.”
Danvilleland’s latest movie theater was a suburban, Uptown streamline moderne venue costing $100,000. It was the 900-seat (at opening) Times Theatre and it opened on August 6, 1941 with the above-mentioned Gary Blankenburg as its opening manager and run by the Constan Brothers. The opening titles were “Comrade X” with Clark Gable and “One Night in the Tropics” with Abbott & Costello. The Carson Drug Store was the de facto concession stand for many patrons and a choice of The Milk Bar and Shaw’s Ice Cream after the show. Piggly Wiggly and Archie Bailey’s Grill were also part of the Uptown scene in 1941.
The architectural plans by Decatur-based Arthur E. Bramhall and Harry B. Carter of Bramhall, Dague & Carter included a cry room for loud, younger patrons. The venue was bathed in red and blue with an ivory dome light. The venue converted to widescreen projection in the 1950s to present CinemaScope titles. The venue made it to 1999 before closing. It was then demolished.
Husband and wife team Mr. Eugene E. Saunders and Mrs. Bertha Saunders operated the Palace Theatre and original Saunders Theatre. They opened here as the New Saunders Theatre on December 15, 1925 replacing the original venue at a cost of $50,000. William Ward Construction tore down Haffner’s Saloon to create the new-build Saunders. The New Saunders opened with 350 seats. Harvard Mayor Colonel Joseph S. Maxon made an opening presentation prior to “The King on Main Street.” They added Western Electric Sound - a $15,000 investment - to remain commercially viable. Because Bertha objected to the smell of popcorn popping, Jay Vorhees operated a popcorn cart outside of the New Saunders.
“Gone with the Wind” was the only reserved seat film in the Saunders history - its biggest title. The Saunders' box office also offered notary services, hunting and fishing licenses, license plate service, and even check cashing to remain a part of the community. Bertha Saunders sold the venue to Harvard Theater Corporation headed by Bill Johnson in November of 1947 citing television as both a concern and different from theatrically exhibited films. A refresh bumped up seat count to 400. Alliance Amusement closed just prior to the end of its lease citing a $100 weekly loss versus a $300 monthly leasing obligation into Fall of 1965. It closed with “Under The Yum Yum Tree” on February 9, 1964. The Republican Party sublet the venue through November of 1964.
The theatre mounted an unlikely comeback costing $175,000 including 400 new cushioned seats and brand new automated projection gear. Bob and Roberta C. “Bobbie” Hume of Hume Inc. rebranded as the Harvard Theatre (#2 - as the original Opera House had been named the Harvard Theatre for its final three years of operation). The new Harvard opened on February 27, 1970 with “Doctor Zhivago.” By that summer, they were showing family films - including free merchant kiddy matinees for two years - on weekends and adult content at night. The Humes sublet the venue after showtimes of July 31, 1975 to Rockford’s Steven R. Yates and William H. Seaton who took the film full-time porno chic. They started the next day with the marquee reading: “Under New Management… Adult Hits… Double Feature… Rated X” at their lunch as The Show on August 1, 1975. The Humes exhausted a list of other potential exhibitors before allowing the transition. The films stopped in 1980 at the end of a 5-year sublease. On December 31, 1980, the theater rebranded to the Harvard Theatre with Antioch’s Ken Lyday trying a discount policy.
The Harvard closed with “The Watcher in the Woods” November 1, 1981. The next film was everyone’s favorite, “Closed for Repairs” (the heating system). That proved to be too expensive. Not finding another operator, the theatre’s 50+ year run was done. In June of 1983, it had been removed for opening of the D. & E. Meat Market.
The Fargo installed Vitaphone for sound film presentations beginning January 11, 1929 which cost $15,000. Eben Mitterling of Rockford’s Rex and Harvard’s Roxy took on the venue renaming it as the State Theatre.
The Dawn Theatre opened in the existing Jack Building by Dreamland Theatre operator Charles Vance on October 23, 1911 with vaudevillian Pauline Barry as the headliner and some short films. Dusk came to the Dawn in 1919. It was removed and became a Piggly Wiggly Grocery Store in July of 1919.
Vance and Duncan’s Theatrette opened April 9, 1907 with a sold out screening. Charles Vance carried on without Duncan changing the name of the venue to the Dreamland Theatre in late 1907. The Dreamland closed on December 30, 1915, had a fixture sale in January of 1916 with the Grand Union Team Company taking its place.
Lyric Theatre #1 was added to the Murdock Building at 411 Main Street opening on March 1, 1908 with “The Prodigal Son.” It closed; but on April 3, 1926 Eastern Illinois Theatres Circuit opened Lyric Theatre #2 on April 3, 1926 with Betty Compson in “Counsel for the Defense.” The second Lyric Theater’s last film was “Speedy” supported by “Lone Horseman” on May 25, 1930 never converting to sound. On June 17, 1930, the entire interior was torn out for retail purposes.
Grand opening ad with “Drusillia with a Million” in photos from October 29, 1925. It closed on October 13, 1926 with “Forbidden Cargo.” In 1927, the equipment was removed and use for a brief period as a revival venue. It was torn down long ago.
Grand opening ad with “Drusillia with a Million” in photos.
The Atlanta Theatre more or less replaced the Casino Theatre in town. The Atlanta opened September 4, 1936 with Bing Crosby in “Anything Goes.” The Casino closed a month later. (Atlanta also had the Star Theatre which opened in the Patton Building on June 22, 1911. The Atlanta Theatre was resdesigned by new operators, Mr. and Mrs. L.E. Deuterman, with a brighter streamline moderne approach reducing seat count to 250 at its reopening at the Palace Teatre on October 31, 1947 with “1001 Nights.” It closed as small town theaters struggled with marquee removed in the 1960s after its 30 year lease expiry and the Atlanta movie era ended permanently.
But the Palace made an unlikely comeback with new operators and a new marquee on September 28, 1973 reopening with “Sound of Music.” The Palace closed in 1975 and that was it.
Except the Palace was reopened on November 5, 1976 with “Other Side of the Mountain.” But it closed in March of 1979 and the town had no more movies.
Although, the sme Palace was reopened August 31, 1979 with “CHOMPS.” The theater closed again later in the year and that was that as small-town cinemas were closing with folks traveling to multiplexes.
However, a new operator reopened the Palace on February 27, 1980 with Linda Blair in “Roller Boogie” and closed later in 1980.
Based on no evidence, I’m guessing the air conditioning system didn’t work and each time the repair estimate was given, it was too high to make the money back.
The Warsaw Theatre closed at the end of its 25-year lease with “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” on August 27, 1972. The concession stand was open on Labor Day for the parade, however..
Status : Open
AMC Evanston 12 closed on July 19, 2026 to reopen after a renovation as the AMC Evanston 7. The theatre began with 12 mainstream screens and a six-screen art house. with 18 screens in total in 2000 under Century Theatres. Cinemark absorbed Century and closed the theater on March 16, 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic. They decided to make the closure permanent.
AMC reopened the 12-screener in November 22, 2022 with the Cine-Arts converted to a bounce house. A high-rise apartment building proposed at 900 Clark Street bites into the floor plan so it will re-emerge with new recliners and a multi-million update in 2027.
The local newspaper contends that the Lyric Theatre opened in 1910 and was operated by Porter Alden Bush until 1930.
I think the Embassy Theatre was actually at 1418 Woodward Avenue with a tight seat count of 288 sporting a Reproduco Photoplayer Pipe Organ opening in 1927. It was within an existing building that, itself, had a different address - along with all of the buildings - prior to the Woodward Ave.’s renumbering in 1921.
The Embassy converted to sound. And I think the fire of September 16, 1931 there - in which a crowd of 10,000 showed up - both was its biggest night and its last night of operation. But feel free to go with your information if it’s preferable.
The Loop Theatre opened on February 17, 1928 and attracted second and third shift auto workers. (The Cadillac Clark Street auto plant was a quick streetcar ride a bit over a mile away.) The Loop was a grind house from its first days known for being open all night and playing third-run pictures and often having stage shows for 15 cents. The venue added sound in 1929 to remain commercially viable. The Loop was operated at the open by Alex Schreiber Enterprises which quickly was within Allied Theatres of Michigan with Schreiber operating Associated Theatres Circuit in the early to mid-1930s almost to the end of the theater’s run.
The Loop’s opening show on Feb. 17, 1928 featured Girlesk live shows and photoplays - unknown performers and unknown titles. For what it’s worth, it billed itself as the first “Girlesk” theatre in the world. The Loop additionally housed a short-lived Girlesk-branded operation that it extended to the new Times Square Theatre in 1929 and to anyone who wanted to license that term. When the Depression hit, the Times Square went dark in bankruptcy leaving the 24-hour trade to the Loop and, across the street, the Lyric. The Loop’s signage was by Electric Lu-Mi-Nus Signs Co. out of Chicago which also did theatre signage for Detroit-area venues including the Avalon, Uptown, Linwood, and Ramona.
During the Great Depression, the Loop’s neighborhood became increasingly populated by post-Prohibition liquor stores, nightclubs and bars, pawn shops, and cheap hotels while attracting a growing homeless population, as the eastern edge of Corktown gradually devolved into what was called Detroit’s Skid Row. One of the most high visibility spots was a block away in the Salvation Army Harbor Light Mission Center at 564 Michigan Ave.
The late night / overnight grind shows were now frequented by Skid Row folks trying to get a cheap overnight to escape cold and/or rainy Detroit nights. “Right now, as well as enjoying a good show the folks enjoy a good sleep,” said the manager of the Loop Fred Walton for much of the venue’s run. “Moreover, when anyone is fearful they won’t awake on time, all they have to do is leave a call at the box office and our user, Bill Rice, will see they are up on time."
The early Loop film contracts showed how low on the pecking order the theater was. The 1929 film, “Eternal Love,” played first run at the United Artists Theatre in downtown Detroit. Subsequent runs on the way down for the title went like this: Kramer - $250 rental; Annex - $225 rental; DeLuxe - $200 rental; Park - $175 rental; Strand - $150 rental; Senate - $140 rental; Great Lakes - $110 rental; LaSalle Gardens $100 rental; Loop $65 rental. The lower the terms, the more likely a playout would occur at the Loop.
Corden Candy Company opened its first ever theatre-centered confectionery inside the Loop Theatre. It was so successful that it followed it up with even more lucrative locations within the Colonial and the Senate theaters. The theatre was known for its two taglines in its halcyon days, “Always a good show” and “We never close.” In 1937, the competing Times Square came back on line also offering 24 hour shows. The Lyric would blink first closing in 1942.
The Loop closed on May 16, 1957 with “Away All Boats” and “Sleeping City” - check that - May 17, 1957 at 6:00a. The “We never close” sign remained in place, however. The Times Square closed in 1958 as 24 hour movie theaters were becoming obsolete. In 1960, the International Village was proposed and would lead to condemnation of that Michigan Avenue Skid Row area and all of Chinatown. Michael L. Duckett relit the Loop Theatre in late 1960 into early 1961 - it is assumed - simply to have the venue active as the boards met to determine property values.
In December of 1961, it was one of 213 parcels - three former theaters, several divey hotels including the Taylor Hotel and the White Star Hotel (both still charging just fifty cents a night at closure in 1962) and 35 (!) taverns - which were awarded condemnation funding. The Loop Theatre was awarded a rather austere $139,000.
By 1962, the International Village concept was DOA but the project continued as the Central Business District Project #1 that included the major highways that would sever former neighborhoods. That was cemented in February of 1962 when Arrow Wrecking of Dearborn received $587k to demolish the 59-acre “Skid Row” and 180 buildings that included both the Salvation Army, the Detroit Rescue Mission, and the Loop Theatre. The demolition was swift beginning in April of 1962 and completed by 1963.
The Times Square Theatre was opened by Alex Schreiber Enterprises as a partner to the Loop that had opened in February of 1928. There, the Girlesk live shows had sold out so he built a 1,700 seat venue to move the shows here which he did on October 9, 1929 with a screening of Colleen Moore in “Smiling Irish Eyes,” to boot. This was no cheap theatre. It was financed by gliding industry expert and Lockheed CEO Edward S. Evans at a cost of $300,000 - a ton of bucks for Corktown. The Spanish architecture was appropriate for the 1920s and the two-story Indiana Limestone building impressed. And the opening promised 40 people in the show.
At Schreiber’s Loop, the stage plus photoplay shows were general admission - 15 cents but at the Times Square, top tickets went for 60 cents on a reserved ticket policy. Possibly, that’s a manageable price point when times are good. But Schreiber’s Times Square opening was Time Bomb disastrous. The stock market crashed within three weeks of its opening and the Times Square policy was out of synch with the times.
The Times Square went dark three days after its First Anniversary on October 12, 1930. Schreiber Enterprises declared bankruptcy and nobody wanted to touch the liens on a one-year old, $300,000 White Limestone Elephant in the throes of the Depression. Further, the entire Corktown area would devolve into what was called Detroit Skid Row complete with flop house hotels, missions, and post-prohibition liquor stores and bars, and the two 24-hour theatres which attracted homeless folks after hours. One of those venues was Schreiber’s Loop Theatre - thankfully for him in a different corporate umbrella - that remained commercially viable along with the Lyric Theatre across the street. Both were open all night.
The Times Square was dark for more than six years. The Depression was easing somewhat. Gus Coplan formerly of the Columbia Theater, relit the Times Square - never opening the balcony which reduced capacity from 1,700 to 1,000. He stayed with it for about a year and a half and sold it to Joseph Bruzy who didn’t make it work. He then sold it to Jack Broder. Broder and Manager Hank Garish made the industry trade press for their wild programming. The Times Square programmed five to six features plus shorts for 15 cents - free parking - and, on Thursday, free dishes. There was a five cent surcharge that wasn’t shared with the studios. On changeover nights, you might see 11 features. A projectionist’s nightmare but a transient’s dream night.
The Times Square was the equivalent of a loss leader. The venue was open 24 hours a day trying to decimate the neighboring Lyric and the Loop. Those theatres wrote to distributors and to the trade press decrying the situation hoping to block clearances to the Times Square. Paramount did just that and the Times Square cut back to triple features and eliminating the spurious surcharge. The Lyric closed first and the Times Square and Loop did well with the all night format.
The Times Square Theatre and National both equipped with air conditioning by the early 1950s to become the better of the 24-hour theaters. And the Times Square survived all the way to December 4, 1958 closing with “Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison” and “Indian Fighter”… make that December 5, 1958.. at 6 a.m. The former theatre was in the path of the International Village proposal. It would lead to condemnation of that entire Skid Row area and all of Chinatown.
In December of 1961, the former Times Square was one of 213 parcels along with the Loop Theatre, several divey hotels, and 35 taverns - which were awarded condemnation funding. The building was razed in 1962. And in 1965, the International Village project was DOA and the former Times Square just looked like a field.
October 23, 1958
The Plaza Cinema opened on January 26, 1979 with “Goin' South.” Mayor Charles Fulgham cut the ribbon honoring Delta Drive-In and Plaza Cinema owners George Twiner and Ronald Potter. It was constructed to be twinned when necessary. That happened a year later when the Plaza became the Plaza Twin Cinema on February 8, 1980 with “Star Trek” and “Apocalypse Now.” The venue was operating almost unchanged other than digital exhibition into 2026 - and was offered for sale while operating
The Starlight Theater’s last advertised show was a double feature of “Lip Smackers” and “Psycho II” on August 15, 1983. As that times out with the expiry of a 30-year leasing period, it’s probably about right.
The original Princess Theatre opened with the live play, “Louisiana” on November 13, 1913. The venue switched to films and the Princess burned down in a nitrate film fire on October 4, 1916.
The Gem Theatre opened at least by 1910. It was equipped with sound to remain commercially viable. It was given a streamline moderne makeover for July 18, 1941. The Gem was equipped with widescreen to present CinemaScope films the theatre appears to have closed in January of 1958. The vacant theater was purchased along with the Central Hotel in 1971; both were razed that year.
This was the New Pal Theatre #2 opening December 15, 1936. Pal Theatres of Vidalia announced the project in September of 1936 and built this venue opening in mid-December.
Shouldn’t be changed - but had a cup of coffee as Dan’s Theatre under J.W. “Dan” Daniels beginning November 14, 1963.
This likely opened as the Olympic Theatre in the 1900s and which was showing movies in 1910 according to the trade press. It’s the same address of the Empress Theatre which appears to have failed to make the transition to sound films.
The long-standing Colonial Theatre was programming films by 1910. It added sound to remain commercially viable. The Colonial closed heading into the Summer of 1943 and not returning in the Fall - likely an indication of no air conditioning. It was reopened as the Victory Theatre on March 30, 1944 with “Two Yanks in Trinidad” and “Shut My Mouth.” Likely, it had some form of air conditioning operating year-round to 1949 but as a third-tier house and open to exploitation titles.
It was rebranded under new operators as the Main Theater. The April 1, 1949 reopening ad as the Main Theater is in photos and promising no more unsavory film bookings. People were so happy about the clean policy of the Main Theatre that it quickly reduced to weekend-only operation in the early 1950s; It appears to have closed as the Main Theater ceasing advertising after the September 4, 1954 showing of “Romance & Rhythm” and “San Francisco Story.”
Danvilleland’s latest movie theater was a suburban, Uptown streamline moderne venue costing $100,000. It was the 900-seat (at opening) Times Theatre and it opened on August 6, 1941 with the above-mentioned Gary Blankenburg as its opening manager and run by the Constan Brothers. The opening titles were “Comrade X” with Clark Gable and “One Night in the Tropics” with Abbott & Costello. The Carson Drug Store was the de facto concession stand for many patrons and a choice of The Milk Bar and Shaw’s Ice Cream after the show. Piggly Wiggly and Archie Bailey’s Grill were also part of the Uptown scene in 1941.
The architectural plans by Decatur-based Arthur E. Bramhall and Harry B. Carter of Bramhall, Dague & Carter included a cry room for loud, younger patrons. The venue was bathed in red and blue with an ivory dome light. The venue converted to widescreen projection in the 1950s to present CinemaScope titles. The venue made it to 1999 before closing. It was then demolished.