This was a UA Theatre.
This was the theatre that was first in Kalamazoo to run EARTHQUAKE in SENSURROUND.
It was run by a bitter, nasty, old lady named Elaine Hauser who didnt like kids, this theatre ran more R rated films to keep the kids out,( very rarely did a G rated picture play here, very very rarely) when a PG rated film ran, she stood guard and kept it running like a jail camp. If you attended an R rated movie, you got ID ed at the box office by the cashier, then she attacked you the second you entered the door, took your ID from your hand and after she was sure it wasnt a fake, tore your ticket and with a huff stepped aside to let you enter the lobby,and sometimes you got ID ed at the concession stand for a 3rd time !! she made you feel you HAD TO BUY concessions. THis place was a zoo when they opened GREASE !!!! When they addad other screens to this place, it make it more of an arm pit than it was before. I can count the times I attended this theatre on 1 hand. Dolby Stereo was FINALLY added in the main auditorium, in the mid 80s,(was in for ALIENS in 87) and the other screens were the typical screen 6 ft by 8 ft, 150 seats or less and no stereo, no personality.
By the time this mall was torn down ( in 1999) the theatre had a total of 10 screens.
I was never so happy to see this blight of theatres be torn down, sorry to say, it was nothing special.
Move me out there, put me up and I’ll run it.!!
I hope this treasure will be forever, I get a sick feeling everytime I read about ,yet, another theatre closing, or going on the auction block, or just losing its life and being turned into a pile of rubble. So much history, so much love, I can not think of a world with out “the Chinese Theatre”, The episode of I Love Lucy will not make any since if its gone,(Where Ethel and Lucy steal John Waynes(Waine, as Fred spells it,) block)
This will take you to a file of a few photos I took April 24, 2009 of the buiiding. Also check out the other photo sets I have, I have some other Detroit area theatres.
The original theatre, screen #1 at Studio 28 was also equipped to run 70MM. They had a special Breakfast Club 70MM showing in 86 or 87, a chairty showing. Eastbrook was awesome until it was split.
Very interesting ! I like to look at them all, read about the theatre etc. You re doing a great job on this. I live between Chicago and Detroit in Michigan, and I also, am looking forward to the Detroit segment on Cinerama.
And did Grand Rapids ever have a Cinerama for a short time ( like no more than 2-3 years)in the 50s when it came out, in an old downtown creeky filthy theatre? I had been told, but I can not find any information about it. And they could of been mistaken and ment CinemaSCOPE, also, having to do with a large screen. CHEERS.
This theatre used to play alternative and foreign films, I attened as offten as I could, I do not live in GR is why.Theatre #1 is a 1000 seat HUGE curved screen, THX. Im really sad this special place will go, the rest of the 19 theatres are just average, nothing special, but this started it off. I saw Titanic 3 times on it, was worth the drive.
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.
Excellent photos !! Ill take a small apartment on the second floor in the SW corner. I just have myself and my Yorkie, Motown. I always get ‘home sick’ when I see Hollywood photos. Long live the Warner Pacific Hollywood.
This was a UA Theatre.
This was the theatre that was first in Kalamazoo to run EARTHQUAKE in SENSURROUND.
It was run by a bitter, nasty, old lady named Elaine Hauser who didnt like kids, this theatre ran more R rated films to keep the kids out,( very rarely did a G rated picture play here, very very rarely) when a PG rated film ran, she stood guard and kept it running like a jail camp. If you attended an R rated movie, you got ID ed at the box office by the cashier, then she attacked you the second you entered the door, took your ID from your hand and after she was sure it wasnt a fake, tore your ticket and with a huff stepped aside to let you enter the lobby,and sometimes you got ID ed at the concession stand for a 3rd time !! she made you feel you HAD TO BUY concessions. THis place was a zoo when they opened GREASE !!!! When they addad other screens to this place, it make it more of an arm pit than it was before. I can count the times I attended this theatre on 1 hand. Dolby Stereo was FINALLY added in the main auditorium, in the mid 80s,(was in for ALIENS in 87) and the other screens were the typical screen 6 ft by 8 ft, 150 seats or less and no stereo, no personality.
By the time this mall was torn down ( in 1999) the theatre had a total of 10 screens.
I was never so happy to see this blight of theatres be torn down, sorry to say, it was nothing special.
Sun Theatre White Pigeon, MI
View link
file of new photos 7/2009
Move me out there, put me up and I’ll run it.!!
I hope this treasure will be forever, I get a sick feeling everytime I read about ,yet, another theatre closing, or going on the auction block, or just losing its life and being turned into a pile of rubble. So much history, so much love, I can not think of a world with out “the Chinese Theatre”, The episode of I Love Lucy will not make any since if its gone,(Where Ethel and Lucy steal John Waynes(Waine, as Fred spells it,) block)
If I had some $$, that theatre would be mine.
Beautiful looking theatre.
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I took some new pics of the building April 24 2009.
View link
This will take you to a file of a few photos I took April 24, 2009 of the buiiding. Also check out the other photo sets I have, I have some other Detroit area theatres.
I think this was a Pussycat Theatre when I lived there in 1981.
View link
This should take you to a photo of AL Parker in front of the theatre, for his premiere Flashback.
Great pics, always makes me a little homesick.
New interior pictures hit link in above box.
I think the last 70MM film I saw was Temple Of Doom, the second Indiana Jones, when it was released in 1984.
I will attend as much as possible, living in Michigan, its not like ‘just down the block.’ Hope its a success !
View link
This should take you to some photos.
The original theatre, screen #1 at Studio 28 was also equipped to run 70MM. They had a special Breakfast Club 70MM showing in 86 or 87, a chairty showing. Eastbrook was awesome until it was split.
Very interesting ! I like to look at them all, read about the theatre etc. You re doing a great job on this. I live between Chicago and Detroit in Michigan, and I also, am looking forward to the Detroit segment on Cinerama.
And did Grand Rapids ever have a Cinerama for a short time ( like no more than 2-3 years)in the 50s when it came out, in an old downtown creeky filthy theatre? I had been told, but I can not find any information about it. And they could of been mistaken and ment CinemaSCOPE, also, having to do with a large screen. CHEERS.
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.
View link
thsi link will take you to my Flickr file on the Riviera. Will be updated regularly.
This theatre used to play alternative and foreign films, I attened as offten as I could, I do not live in GR is why.Theatre #1 is a 1000 seat HUGE curved screen, THX. Im really sad this special place will go, the rest of the 19 theatres are just average, nothing special, but this started it off. I saw Titanic 3 times on it, was worth the drive.
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.
I loved working at this theatre, and the Paramount (El Cap) also.
So sad, the graffiti must go. Has any work happened to this theatre yet?
Excellent photos !! Ill take a small apartment on the second floor in the SW corner. I just have myself and my Yorkie, Motown. I always get ‘home sick’ when I see Hollywood photos. Long live the Warner Pacific Hollywood.
Beautiful ! Very nice.