Strand Theatre
202 N. Washington Street,
Owosso,
MI
48867
202 N. Washington Street,
Owosso,
MI
48867
1 person
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: W.S. Butterfield Theaters Inc.
Architects: George J. Bachmann
Previous Names: Owosso Opera House, Owosso Theatre
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Located on Washington Street near Exchange Street. The Owosso Opera House was opened by 1894. By 1909 it had been renamed Owosso Theatre. It was remodeled in 1916 and became the Strand Theatre. The Strand Theatre is shown as seating 603 and closed in the 1945 Film Daily Yearbook. It had reopened by 1950.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
Listed in Film Daily Yearbook; 1941 and 1943 editions as (Closed). In the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. it was open.
From the Internet Movie Database:
Back to God’s Country (1919)
Trivia: Critically ill, lead actor Ronald Byram left the shoot during the first two weeks and was replaced by Wheeler Oakman. It is probable that it is Byram in the close-ups in the sledge in the final chase scenes. Roy Laidlaw is frequently but erroneously referred to as Ralph Laidlaw in the trade press of the time. Edna Shipman did not act in this film as is sometimes claimed. The film opened at the Strand Theater in Owosso, Michigan where it played for three days.
Here is a link with a photo of the rear of the theater:
View link
A history of Genesee County published in 1916 features a biographical sketch of Flint, Michigan, architect George J. Bachmann, and mentions the Strand Theatre at Owosso as one of his works. Bachmann would later design the Capitol Theatre (Lebowsky Center) as well. The August 19, 1916, issue of The Moving Picture World said that the new Strand Theatre in Owosso had been opened on July 6.
Opened in July 1916 it was on the site of the old Owosso theatre, a legitimate house for half a century. Seated 602 & had 2x Motiograph projectors.
Source and more 1916 info at : archive.org/stream/movingpicturewor30newy#page/241/mode/1up
Here is an item from the April 15, 1916, issue of The Moving Picture World:
An item about the project in the February 15 issue of the same publication had said that the Owosso Theatre was to be remodeled as a ground-floor house at a cost of $15,000. Gus Hill’s 1914-1915 theater directory lists the Owosso Theatre as an upstairs house with 781 seats. The 1909-1910 Cahn guide lists the Owosso Theatre with 822 seats. A 1907 state directory lists the Owosso Opera House, no capacity given, and an 1897 directory lists an 800 seat Salisbury Opera House at Owosso. The 1894 Donaldson guide lists the 800 seat Owosso Opera House.This theater was located at 202-204 N. Washington Street, where the former Springrove Variety building is now. I believe the present building was built in the late ‘40s or early '50s, so the theater building was likely demolished shortly after closing.