Michigan Building
Encyclopedia
The Michigan Building is an office building and former theatre
in downtown Detroit, Michigan
. It was constructed in 1925 and stands at 13 floors in height. It contains retail
space, office
s, and a parking garage.
The high-rise was constructed in the neo-classical architectural style, and is made primarily of limestone
.
, USA converted to a parking structure. It was built in August 1926 by the architectural firm
of Rapp & Rapp
for Detroit philanthropist
and movie theater owner John H. Kunsky
. The theater's construction cost $5 million (equivalent to $62 million in 2008). With a seating capacity of 4050, the concert hall/movie house was one of the largest in Michigan. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the theater changed ownership several times. It was subsequently used for various events: in the 1960s a closed-circuit television provided views of Red Wings
ice hockey
games for those who could not attend the actual event in nearby Olympia Stadium
, and in the 1970s the theater was a nightclub and concert venue for rock bands.
Upon its completion the Michigan Theater could seat 4,050 patrons (although theatre developer John Kunsky boasted 4,500 seats). The theater ceased operations after its last closing in 1976 under the name of The Michigan Palace. After the theater closed, the office tenants threated to leave unless they received adequate parking. To keep the tenants, the owner gutted and converted the theater into a parking structure.
The great arched window over the entrance is a false window, since the grand lobby is about 40 feet behind the window. This false window (largest of its kind in the country) has a curved back wall with over 50 ornate mirrors that used to reflect the former chandelier lights out towards the street. Although the tall narrow chandelier is gone, new lighting has been installed within the 5 story tall window chamber.
The Michigan Theater was closed and partially demolished in 1976. The main hall and lobby were demolished and converted into a parking structure. The theater could not be completely demolished and replaced by a parking structure because it is integral to the structure of the office building. The ornate plaster ceiling in the theater house (9 stories up) and grand lobby are still intact, as are parts of the mezzanine, and the 2nd and 3rd balcony foyers, and their staircases. The projection booth is also still intact. The Michigan Theater was built on the site of the small garage where Henry Ford
built his first automobile (the garage was transported brick by brick to The Henry Ford
Museum in nearby Dearborn
).
The Michigan is featured in two films. In 8 Mile
, the theater was used as the parking garage where the crew rapped before entering the Chin Tiki. A scene of The Island
was shot there, as a part of a future Los Angeles. Multiple episodes of Detroit 1-8-7
have filmed scenes in the theater as well.
produced by Jim Fields
about the struggle to preserve the disappearing historical theaters of America. The Michigan Theater, along with other historical but endangered theaters (most prominently the late Indian Hills Theater
in Omaha, Nebraska, which was demolished to make a parking lot) were documented in the film.
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
in downtown Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. It was constructed in 1925 and stands at 13 floors in height. It contains retail
Retail
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
space, office
Office
An office is generally a room or other area in which people work, but may also denote a position within an organization with specific duties attached to it ; the latter is in fact an earlier usage, office as place originally referring to the location of one's duty. When used as an adjective, the...
s, and a parking garage.
The high-rise was constructed in the neo-classical architectural style, and is made primarily of limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
.
History
The Michigan Theater was a theater in Detroit, MichiganMichigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, USA converted to a parking structure. It was built in August 1926 by the architectural firm
Architectural firm
An architectural firm is a company which employs one or more licensed architects and practices the profession of architecture.- History :Architects have existed since early in recorded history. The earliest recorded architects include Imhotep and Senemut . No writings exist to describe how these...
of Rapp & Rapp
Rapp and Rapp
The architectural firm Rapp and Rapp was active in Chicago, Illinois during the early 20th century. The brothers Cornelius W. Rapp and George Leslie Rapp of Carbondale, Illinois were the named partners and 1899 alumnus of the University of Illinois School of Architecture...
for Detroit philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
and movie theater owner John H. Kunsky
John H. Kunsky
John H. Kunsky was a Detroit area businessman who made his fortune by investing in movie theaters. He later became partners with George W. Trendle and invested in radio.-Movie theaters:...
. The theater's construction cost $5 million (equivalent to $62 million in 2008). With a seating capacity of 4050, the concert hall/movie house was one of the largest in Michigan. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the theater changed ownership several times. It was subsequently used for various events: in the 1960s a closed-circuit television provided views of Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
games for those who could not attend the actual event in nearby Olympia Stadium
Detroit Olympia
Olympia Stadium, better known as the Detroit Olympia and nicknamed The Old Red Barn, stood at 5920 Grand River Avenue in Detroit, Michigan from 1927 until 1987. It was best known as the home of the Detroit Red Wings hockey team of the National Hockey League from its opening until...
, and in the 1970s the theater was a nightclub and concert venue for rock bands.
Upon its completion the Michigan Theater could seat 4,050 patrons (although theatre developer John Kunsky boasted 4,500 seats). The theater ceased operations after its last closing in 1976 under the name of The Michigan Palace. After the theater closed, the office tenants threated to leave unless they received adequate parking. To keep the tenants, the owner gutted and converted the theater into a parking structure.
The great arched window over the entrance is a false window, since the grand lobby is about 40 feet behind the window. This false window (largest of its kind in the country) has a curved back wall with over 50 ornate mirrors that used to reflect the former chandelier lights out towards the street. Although the tall narrow chandelier is gone, new lighting has been installed within the 5 story tall window chamber.
The Michigan Theater was closed and partially demolished in 1976. The main hall and lobby were demolished and converted into a parking structure. The theater could not be completely demolished and replaced by a parking structure because it is integral to the structure of the office building. The ornate plaster ceiling in the theater house (9 stories up) and grand lobby are still intact, as are parts of the mezzanine, and the 2nd and 3rd balcony foyers, and their staircases. The projection booth is also still intact. The Michigan Theater was built on the site of the small garage where Henry Ford
Henry Ford
Henry Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry...
built his first automobile (the garage was transported brick by brick to The Henry Ford
The Henry Ford
The Henry Ford, a National Historic Landmark, , in the Metro Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan, USA, is a large indoor and outdoor history museum complex...
Museum in nearby Dearborn
Dearborn, Michigan
-Economy:Ford Motor Company has its world headquarters in Dearborn. In addition its Dearborn campus contains many research, testing, finance and some production facilities. Ford Land controls the numerous properties owned by Ford including sales and leasing to unrelated businesses such as the...
).
The Michigan is featured in two films. In 8 Mile
8 Mile (film)
8 Mile is a 2002 American hip-hop drama film written by Scott Silver, directed by Curtis Hanson, and starring Eminem, Mekhi Phifer, Brittany Murphy, and Kim Basinger....
, the theater was used as the parking garage where the crew rapped before entering the Chin Tiki. A scene of The Island
The Island (2005 film)
The Island is a 2005 American science fiction/thriller film directed by Michael Bay and starring Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson. It was released on July 22, 2005 in the United States, and was nominated for three awards including the Teen Choice Award....
was shot there, as a part of a future Los Angeles. Multiple episodes of Detroit 1-8-7
Detroit 1-8-7
Detroit 1-8-7 is an American crime drama series about Detroit's leading homicide unit, created by Jason Richman for ABC. It features an ensemble cast of actors including Michael Imperioli and James McDaniel...
have filmed scenes in the theater as well.
Preserve Me A Seat documentary
Preserve Me A Seat is an independent filmIndependent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
produced by Jim Fields
Jim Fields
James Wallace Fields is an American film director, producer, playwright and actor. Fields wrote, produced and directed the movies 416, Saving The Indian Hills, Preserve Me A Seat, Plain Living and, most recently Bugeaters, currently in production...
about the struggle to preserve the disappearing historical theaters of America. The Michigan Theater, along with other historical but endangered theaters (most prominently the late Indian Hills Theater
Indian Hills Theater
The Indian Hills Theater in Omaha, Nebraska, USA, was built in 1962 as a movie theater showcasing films in the Cinerama wide-screen format. The theater's screen was the largest of its type in the United States...
in Omaha, Nebraska, which was demolished to make a parking lot) were documented in the film.
External links
- Google Maps location of Michigan Building
- Michigan Building details at Emporis.com
- SkyscraperPage.com's Profile on Michigan Buildings