Southfield City 12
23275 Greenfield Road,
Southfield,
MI
48075
23275 Greenfield Road,
Southfield,
MI
48075
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Fifty years ago today THE EXORCIST opened here. Americana was among only two-dozen cinemas in twenty-one North American markets to play the film at release launch.
I saw Superman here back in 1978 I believe and also Star Wars I believe in 1977.
August 3rd, 1990 grand opening ad as AMC Southfield 12 in photo section.
March 22nd, 1972 grand opening ad as Americana Complex in photo section.
June 18th, 1967 grand opening ad in photo section
I remember seeing Tommy here too. Was the first movie they charged $4. The theater was so packed we had to sit in the 1st few rows.
I also worked as an usher at this theater in 1978-79. I started when “The Wiz” was playing. They often showed premieres of new movies with local celebrities attending. We literally rolled out the red carpet and the ushers wore white gloves. We had jackets with braids on the shoulder signifying our role (white for ticket takers/doormen and the coveted gold braid for head usher – which I was when I left)
Was a great job compared to dishwashing (my first job) and got to see every movie there for free for 2 yrs.
The Southfield City was also near my house, and I remember my mom really not letting me go up there when I was a kid because of the metal detectors and wild behavior of the kids up there.
The Americana was among the theatres included in the original limited-market launch of “Star Wars.” The Americana’s 5/25/77 opening-day gross, as reported in Daily Variety, was a house record $11,532.
“I saw the movie "Tommy” there. That was when Dolby stereo first came out.“ (brian74)
“Tommy” was released in a variety of sound formats, including an early version of Dolby Stereo. Dolby Stereo was installed at the Americana in May 1977 for “Star Wars.” The theater upgraded to a 70mm six-track Dolby Stereo presentation of “Star Wars” in November 1977. In December ‘77, they began their 70mm run “Close Encounters Of The Third Kind” at which time the exclusive Detroit area 70mm showing of “Star Wars” moved to the Northland.
Other AKAs for this entry not included at the top of this page are Americana I-II-III (1972-), Americana I-II-III-IV (mid-70s), Americana Complex (late-70s/early-80s), and Americana 8 (1986-1990).
I remember seeing Toy Story at the Southfield City in 1997 when I was 13 with a friend of mine while our moms went to go see Waiting to Exhale. Toy Story played in the former large theatre which was split into 2 separate theaters. I remember the Metal detectors there, and the large gatherings of High-School aged teenagers hanging out before the 7 and 8 PM shows started and people at the bus stop waiting for the Greenfield bus to go to Northland.
It’s true that the Americana was well-known for it’s run of the “Star Wars” movies, but it was the Northland Theater that ran the first two Indiana Jones films. “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”, however, was shown first-run at the AMC Americana.
My wife and I used to patronize Nick George Theaters regularly. They featured two constants: A large framed portrait of Mr. George in the lobby; and wonderfully garish carpeting.
We regularly drove from downtown Detroit to the theater in its Americana and early AMC incarnation because of the wonderful giant screen and stereo sound, rarities in those days (1982-88). Some memories include “Aliens” and “Robocop”.
I saw the movie “Tommy” there. That was when Dolby stereo first came out. The lines there to see Star Wars 3 were incredible back then.
That theatre had all the first runs all the time. Unfortunately, it was not much to look at in the way of nostalgic architecture due to it’s modern design.
I saw the movie “Tommy” there. That was when Dolby stereo first came out. The lines there to see Star Wars 3 were incredible back then.
That theatre had all the first runs all the time. Unfortunately, it was not much to look at in the way of nostalgic architecture due to it’s modern design.