Visited this theater two weeks ago for the first time, to see “The Founder,” and what a surprise gem! Beautiful old theater, updated with digital projection and surround sound, fresh popped popcorn, and only $5 per person. Had to go up three flights of stairs to the balcony for the second screen, but worth it. Will absolutely go back again, and anyone in the area that has not seen a film here, go. You’ll be happy you did.
It was not on Hall Road as noted above. It was on Gratiot, south of Hall Road (M-59). The map location is also incorrect. A former Dodge dealer is on the site now, or in the same general area. More detailed information:
A Staybridge Suites and Holiday Inn are almost finished being built on the site. There used to be a Wendy’s on the corner next to the theater, and there was talk of a Sonic going in but that never came to fruition.
I know the screen remained up in the early 1980’s, as we used to visit my Grandparents who had just moved to Traverse City in 1980. I distinctly remember seeing the screen with the words Grand Traverse Drive In on it. It was closed by then.
I will say this, the City of Wayne has no idea what they lost when they made the harsh decision to tear down the old Wayne Theater. I was born and raised in Wayne, and lived there all my life until this past November when I moved to Westland. Wayne is becoming a wasteland, no money, mismanagement and over reliance on Ford Motor Company, nothing downtown to draw folks in save for the State Wayne Theater, which thankfully the city sold to Phoenix Theaters who have turned a beautiful classic old theater into an even more spectacular place to see movies.
Closed and a Rite Aid drug store opened in the space, but the marquee and sign were left up and still operate, local events and such are listed on the marquee.
Visited this theater years and years ago when I was growing up and we would visit my Grandparents in Traverse City for a few days. I do remember seeing “Raiders of the Lost Ark” there in 1981. It was always neat to see the bright sign and marquee when you traveled down Front Street!
The Canton Cinema still continues to thrive today, despite competition from the nearby Emagine Theater east on Ford Road and the MJR Westland Grand Digital 16 a few miles further east on Wayne Road just north of Ford Road.
Yes, there were two theaters at Wonderland Mall, in Livonia, Michigan. Both were operated by AMC. The first was removed to make way for a Target store and a new theater was built behind Target. The only entrance was inside the mall. It closed not long before the entire mall finally closed. Target was the only store to remain open. A new Target was built on the east end of the property and when it was finished the entire mall was torn down and a Wal-Mart Supercenter built on the site. No new theater has been built there, though there was talk of that, and there is space, next to where a former Kmart store once existed to the west of Wal-Mart.
Sad to see the Quo Vadis gone. Grew up seeing many, many movies there. Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Trek II and III, Beverly Hills Cop 2, the three original Star Wars films when they were re-released, just some that stick in my memory. Downstairs and in the Penthouse. Was a great movie theater.
Saw quite a few movies here over the years. Just a mile or so south of the Quo Vadis Theater on Wayne Road. I am an office manager for Wade Shows, one of the largest traveling carnivals in the country, and we set up in that area just about every year through 2013 each Spring (until gangs ruined it and Westland stopped allowing carnivals). We set up at the Showcase the Spring of 2008, wrapped around the back and south end of the building. From the looks of it, MJR retained the roadside sign and used it for their sign.
Remember seeing Superman: The Movie there in 1978. Also visited a few times in the 1980’s and early 1990’s when the second and third run films were shown. Nice small theater. Had a big sign out front that said WESTBORN TWIN for years.
I drove by the Alger Theater on Saturday, March 12, 2016. Looks to be in good shape, but didn’t look like much of anything was happening other than a message on the marquee for a local business, and a phone number to call to put a message up. Not the greatest neighborhood, but better than others on the east side of Detroit.
Drove by Harpo’s today, Sunday March 20, 2016. The marquee was virtually empty and it does not appear to be open. Building looks to be in good shape, though.
Building is long gone, now a small shopping plaza.
Visited this theater two weeks ago for the first time, to see “The Founder,” and what a surprise gem! Beautiful old theater, updated with digital projection and surround sound, fresh popped popcorn, and only $5 per person. Had to go up three flights of stairs to the balcony for the second screen, but worth it. Will absolutely go back again, and anyone in the area that has not seen a film here, go. You’ll be happy you did.
West River shopping center now on this site (Target, etc.), including the Riviera theater.
It was not on Hall Road as noted above. It was on Gratiot, south of Hall Road (M-59). The map location is also incorrect. A former Dodge dealer is on the site now, or in the same general area. More detailed information:
http://www.waterwinterwonderland.com/driveintheaters.aspx?id=74&Type=1
A Staybridge Suites and Holiday Inn are almost finished being built on the site. There used to be a Wendy’s on the corner next to the theater, and there was talk of a Sonic going in but that never came to fruition.
I know the screen remained up in the early 1980’s, as we used to visit my Grandparents who had just moved to Traverse City in 1980. I distinctly remember seeing the screen with the words Grand Traverse Drive In on it. It was closed by then.
I will say this, the City of Wayne has no idea what they lost when they made the harsh decision to tear down the old Wayne Theater. I was born and raised in Wayne, and lived there all my life until this past November when I moved to Westland. Wayne is becoming a wasteland, no money, mismanagement and over reliance on Ford Motor Company, nothing downtown to draw folks in save for the State Wayne Theater, which thankfully the city sold to Phoenix Theaters who have turned a beautiful classic old theater into an even more spectacular place to see movies.
This theater should be marked as closed. It’s still standing, but has been closed for at least a few years now.
A Meijer now sits on the site, on Fort Street south of Eureka and north of Pennsylvania roads.
Closed and a Rite Aid drug store opened in the space, but the marquee and sign were left up and still operate, local events and such are listed on the marquee.
Bel Air Cinemas are located next to the Bel Air Shopping Center, to the east.
Visited this theater years and years ago when I was growing up and we would visit my Grandparents in Traverse City for a few days. I do remember seeing “Raiders of the Lost Ark” there in 1981. It was always neat to see the bright sign and marquee when you traveled down Front Street!
Well that’s good to hear. Just looked rather forlorn and empty when we drove by a week ago.
The Canton Cinema still continues to thrive today, despite competition from the nearby Emagine Theater east on Ford Road and the MJR Westland Grand Digital 16 a few miles further east on Wayne Road just north of Ford Road.
Yes, there were two theaters at Wonderland Mall, in Livonia, Michigan. Both were operated by AMC. The first was removed to make way for a Target store and a new theater was built behind Target. The only entrance was inside the mall. It closed not long before the entire mall finally closed. Target was the only store to remain open. A new Target was built on the east end of the property and when it was finished the entire mall was torn down and a Wal-Mart Supercenter built on the site. No new theater has been built there, though there was talk of that, and there is space, next to where a former Kmart store once existed to the west of Wal-Mart.
Photos of the destroyed screen from July 1980 can be seen here….
http://www.waterwinterwonderland.com/driveintheaters.aspx?id=100&Type=1
Anyone remember the storm of July 16, 1980? If I remember correctly it destroyed the screen of the Ecorse Drive In and it had to be rebuilt.
Sad to see the Quo Vadis gone. Grew up seeing many, many movies there. Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Trek II and III, Beverly Hills Cop 2, the three original Star Wars films when they were re-released, just some that stick in my memory. Downstairs and in the Penthouse. Was a great movie theater.
Saw quite a few movies here over the years. Just a mile or so south of the Quo Vadis Theater on Wayne Road. I am an office manager for Wade Shows, one of the largest traveling carnivals in the country, and we set up in that area just about every year through 2013 each Spring (until gangs ruined it and Westland stopped allowing carnivals). We set up at the Showcase the Spring of 2008, wrapped around the back and south end of the building. From the looks of it, MJR retained the roadside sign and used it for their sign.
Should also note, no, it’s not open.
As far as I know the building is still there. Photo is from 2011.
Should also note it was just a few blocks from the Calvin Theater in west Dearborn which was on Michigan Avenue, before it was destroyed by a fire.
Remember seeing Superman: The Movie there in 1978. Also visited a few times in the 1980’s and early 1990’s when the second and third run films were shown. Nice small theater. Had a big sign out front that said WESTBORN TWIN for years.
I drove by the Alger Theater on Saturday, March 12, 2016. Looks to be in good shape, but didn’t look like much of anything was happening other than a message on the marquee for a local business, and a phone number to call to put a message up. Not the greatest neighborhood, but better than others on the east side of Detroit.
Drove by Harpo’s today, Sunday March 20, 2016. The marquee was virtually empty and it does not appear to be open. Building looks to be in good shape, though.