State Theatre (Ann Arbor, Michigan): Difference between revisions
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=== Predecessors === |
=== Predecessors === |
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Butterfield Theaters operated five theaters in Ann Arbor in 1940,<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://aadl.org/node/231093|title=State First New Theater In Fourteen Years|last=|first=|date=1942-03-17|work=The Ann Arbor News|access-date=}}</ref> including the Majestic Theater on Maynard Street, converted in 1907 from a [[roller rink]]. Butterfield planned to renovate the Majestic, but city officials denied permission for the work, prompting the construction of the State. The staff of the Majestic moved to the State, and Butterfield considered the State to be the Majestic’s direct replacement.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://aadl.org/node/220387|title=Butterfield Lease On Majestic Ends; Keys Turned Over|last=|first=|date=1942-12-31|work=The Ann Arbor News|access-date=}}</ref> |
Butterfield Theaters operated five theaters in Ann Arbor in 1940,<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://aadl.org/node/231093|title=State First New Theater In Fourteen Years|last=|first=|date=1942-03-17|work=The Ann Arbor News|access-date=|via=[[Ann Arbor District Library]]}}</ref> including the Majestic Theater on Maynard Street, converted in 1907 from a [[roller rink]]. Butterfield planned to renovate the Majestic, but city officials denied permission for the work, prompting the construction of the State. The staff of the Majestic moved to the State, and Butterfield considered the State to be the Majestic’s direct replacement.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://aadl.org/node/220387|title=Butterfield Lease On Majestic Ends; Keys Turned Over|last=|first=|date=1942-12-31|work=The Ann Arbor News|access-date=|via=Ann Arbor District Library}}</ref> |
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After it ceased operations, the Majestic was condemned as unsafe due to its primarily wood construction and prohibited from reopening. Butterfield’s lease expired at the end of 1942, and the building was demolished in 1948.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://aadl.org/aa_news_19480621-majestic_theater_being_razed|title=Majestic Theater Being Razed For Parking Lot|last=Emmons|first=Dick|date=1948-06-21|work=The Ann Arbor News|accessdate=2019-07-11}}</ref> |
After it ceased operations, the Majestic was condemned as unsafe due to its primarily wood construction and prohibited from reopening. Butterfield’s lease expired at the end of 1942, and the building was demolished in 1948.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://aadl.org/aa_news_19480621-majestic_theater_being_razed|title=Majestic Theater Being Razed For Parking Lot|last=Emmons|first=Dick|date=1948-06-21|work=The Ann Arbor News|accessdate=2019-07-11|via=Ann Arbor District Library}}</ref> |
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=== Design and construction === |
=== Design and construction === |
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In September 1940, Butterfield gave the first indication of building another theater in Ann Arbor when it served notices to vacate to the tenants of its property on South State Street at Liberty Street.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://aadl.org/aa_news_19400905-new_theater|title=New Theater Here Likely|date=1940-09-05|work=The Ann Arbor News|accessdate=2019-07-11}}</ref> Weeks later, plans were revealed for the theater, tentatively named the State, designed in [[Art Deco]] style by [[Detroit]]-based movie palace architect [[C. Howard Crane]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://aadl.org/aa_news_19401130-new_theater_planned_pg1|title=New Theater Planned For Ann Arbor|date=1940-11-30|work=The Ann Arbor News|accessdate=2019-07-11}}</ref> |
In September 1940, Butterfield gave the first indication of building another theater in Ann Arbor when it served notices to vacate to the tenants of its property on South State Street at Liberty Street.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://aadl.org/aa_news_19400905-new_theater|title=New Theater Here Likely|last=|first=|date=1940-09-05|work=The Ann Arbor News|accessdate=2019-07-11|via=Ann Arbor District Library}}</ref> Weeks later, plans were revealed for the theater, tentatively named the State, designed in [[Art Deco]] style by [[Detroit]]-based movie palace architect [[C. Howard Crane]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://aadl.org/aa_news_19401130-new_theater_planned_pg1|title=New Theater Planned For Ann Arbor|last=|first=|date=1940-11-30|work=The Ann Arbor News|accessdate=2019-07-11|via=Ann Arbor District Library}}</ref> |
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The State was designed as a movie theater, with a small stage and no dressing rooms. The Butterfield circuit continued to use the nearby Michigan for live shows, with both theaters showing first-run movies.<ref name=":0" /> |
The State was designed as a movie theater, with a small stage and no dressing rooms. The Butterfield circuit continued to use the nearby Michigan for live shows, with both theaters showing first-run movies.<ref name=":0" /> |
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=== Opening === |
=== Opening === |
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The State opened to great fanfare on March 18, 1942, showing [[The Fleet's In|The Fleet’s In]].<ref name=":0" /> Butterfield emphasized that construction had started before the United States [[United States home front during World War II|entered World War II]], and that no materials were taken from the war effort.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://aadl.org/node/231110|title=New Local Theater Most Modern Found In Michigan|date=1942-03-17|work=The Ann Arbor News|accessdate=2019-07-11}}</ref> |
The State opened to great fanfare on March 18, 1942, showing [[The Fleet's In|The Fleet’s In]].<ref name=":0" /> Butterfield emphasized that construction had started before the United States [[United States home front during World War II|entered World War II]], and that no materials were taken from the war effort.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://aadl.org/node/231110|title=New Local Theater Most Modern Found In Michigan|last=|first=|date=1942-03-17|work=The Ann Arbor News|accessdate=2019-07-11|via=Ann Arbor District Library}}</ref> |
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=== Modification === |
=== Modification === |
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The first major modification to the State was the replacement of the original {{convert|18|x|16|ft|m}} screen with a {{convert|43|x|24|ft|m}} screen in November 1953.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://aadl.org/node/347803|title=Theater Installs Huge New Screen|last=|first=|date=1953-11-13|work=The Ann Arbor News|access-date=}}</ref> |
The first major modification to the State was the replacement of the original {{convert|18|x|16|ft|m}} screen with a {{convert|43|x|24|ft|m}} screen in November 1953.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://aadl.org/node/347803|title=Theater Installs Huge New Screen|last=|first=|date=1953-11-13|work=The Ann Arbor News|access-date=|via=Ann Arbor District Library}}</ref> |
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The State’s balcony and main floor were each divided into two theaters in 1979, decreasing the total capacity by 200 seats. Manager Barry Miller cited economics and the need to book films for longer runs as reasons for the division.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://aadl.org/node/347797|title=State Theater splits its image|last=Klein|first=Pamela|date=1979-02-21|work=The Ann Arbor News|access-date=|page=D1}}</ref> |
The State’s balcony and main floor were each divided into two theaters in 1979, decreasing the total capacity by 200 seats. Manager Barry Miller cited economics and the need to book films for longer runs as reasons for the division.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://aadl.org/node/347797|title=State Theater splits its image|last=Klein|first=Pamela|date=1979-02-21|work=The Ann Arbor News|access-date=2019-07-13|page=D1|via=Ann Arbor District Library}}</ref> |
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=== Decline and partial conversion to retail === |
=== Decline and partial conversion to retail === |
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Butterfield, facing hard times, sold the State to the [[Kerasotes Theatres|Kerasotes Theater Corporation]] of [[Springfield, Illinois]] in December 1984. Kerasotes cut costs by dismissing the staff of unionized [[Projectionist|projectionists]], prompting picketing and boycotts that continued into at least 1986.<ref>{{Cite |
Butterfield, facing hard times, sold the State to the [[Kerasotes Theatres|Kerasotes Theater Corporation]] of [[Springfield, Illinois]] in December 1984. Kerasotes cut costs by dismissing the staff of unionized [[Projectionist|projectionists]], prompting picketing and boycotts that continued into at least 1986.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aadl.org/node/244631|title=Continue to boycott local theaters?|last=Nevel|first=Bonnie|date=July 1986|work=Agenda|location=Ann Arbor, Michigan|via=Ann Arbor District Library|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2019-07-13|issue=4|volume=1}}</ref> |
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Kerasotes sold the State to Hogarth Management at a loss<ref name=":2" /> in 1989. Hogarth was owned by Tom Borders, founder of [[Borders Group|Borders Books]], whose flagship store was located one block away from the State. Hogarth initially considered converting the entire building to retail space and potentially removing the marquee, but eventually settled on converting only the two downstairs theaters into retail space and retaining the [[Neon lighting|neon]]-lit [[Marquee (structure)|marquee]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite |
Kerasotes sold the State to Hogarth Management at a loss<ref name=":2" /> in 1989. Hogarth was owned by Tom Borders, founder of [[Borders Group|Borders Books]], whose flagship store was located one block away from the State. Hogarth initially considered converting the entire building to retail space and potentially removing the marquee, but eventually settled on converting only the two downstairs theaters into retail space and retaining the [[Neon lighting|neon]]-lit [[Marquee (structure)|marquee]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite magazine|last=Shackman|first=Grace|date=September 2003|title=Cinema's First Century|url=https://aadl.org/aaobserver/15538|magazine=[[Ann Arbor Observer]]|page=|pages=|doi=|issn=0192-5717|pmid=|access-date=2019-07-13|via=Ann Arbor District Library}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://aadl.org/node/252187|title=State Theater may become retail mall|last=Judge|first=Paul|date=1989-02-01|work=The Ann Arbor News|access-date=2019-07-13|via=Ann Arbor District Library}}</ref> |
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An [[Urban Outfitters]] store opened in the ground floor retail space in August 1989.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://aadl.org/aa_news_19890804-old_state_theater|title=Old State Theater Closer To Clothes Encounter|last=Daly|first=Tim|date=1989-08-04|work=The Ann Arbor News}}</ref> Remnants of the original theater are visible in the store, which is still operating as of 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/stores/urban-outfitters-ann-arbor/|title=Ann Arbor|work=Urban Outfitters|accessdate=2019-07-13}}</ref> |
An [[Urban Outfitters]] store opened in the ground floor retail space in August 1989.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://aadl.org/aa_news_19890804-old_state_theater|title=Old State Theater Closer To Clothes Encounter|last=Daly|first=Tim|date=1989-08-04|work=The Ann Arbor News|access-date=2019-07-13|via=Ann Arbor District Library}}</ref> Remnants of the original theater are visible in the store, which is still operating as of 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/stores/urban-outfitters-ann-arbor/|title=Ann Arbor|work=Urban Outfitters|accessdate=2019-07-13}}</ref> |
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=== Reopening as theater === |
=== Reopening as theater === |
||
Aloha Entertainment, owned by the Spurlin family of [[Canton, Michigan]], leased the space after years of vacancy, adding Hawaiian-themed decor. The theater reopened on November 13, 1992, showing second-run films at discount prices.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://aadl.org/aa_news_19920905-showtime_state_theater|title=Showtime! State Theater To Resume Showing Movies|last=Moilanen|first=Kathy Ann|date=1992-09-05|work=The Ann Arbor News}}</ref> |
Aloha Entertainment, owned by the Spurlin family of [[Canton, Michigan]], leased the space after years of vacancy, adding Hawaiian-themed decor. The theater reopened on November 13, 1992, showing second-run films at discount prices.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://aadl.org/aa_news_19920905-showtime_state_theater|title=Showtime! State Theater To Resume Showing Movies|last=Moilanen|first=Kathy Ann|date=1992-09-05|work=The Ann Arbor News|access-date=2019-07-13|via=Ann Arbor District Library}}</ref> |
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A group of investors doing business as State Theater LLC bought the building in 1997, and the Aloha Entertainment lease on the theaters was terminated. The investor group hired the [[Michigan Theater (Ann Arbor, Michigan)|Michigan Theater Foundation]] to provide booking and marketing services in 1999,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2017/11/see_photos_of_ann_arbors_state.html|title=A history of Ann Arbor's iconic State Theatre going back to 1940|last=Stanton|first=Ryan|date=2017-11-29|work=MLive|accessdate=2019-07-11}}</ref> reuniting the Michigan and State theaters. |
A group of investors doing business as State Theater LLC bought the building in 1997, and the Aloha Entertainment lease on the theaters was terminated. The investor group hired the [[Michigan Theater (Ann Arbor, Michigan)|Michigan Theater Foundation]] to provide booking and marketing services in 1999,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2017/11/see_photos_of_ann_arbors_state.html|title=A history of Ann Arbor's iconic State Theatre going back to 1940|last=Stanton|first=Ryan|date=2017-11-29|work=MLive|accessdate=2019-07-11}}</ref> reuniting the Michigan and State theaters. |
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=== Michigan Theater Foundation ownership and restoration === |
=== Michigan Theater Foundation ownership and restoration === |
||
In 2007, the Michigan Theater Foundation, still providing booking and marketing services, developed a contingency plan for the State in case the building’s owners wanted to convert the remaining theaters to other uses.<ref name=":1">{{Cite |
In 2007, the Michigan Theater Foundation, still providing booking and marketing services, developed a contingency plan for the State in case the building’s owners wanted to convert the remaining theaters to other uses.<ref name=":1">{{Cite magazine|last=Dunn|first=Patrick|date=November 2017|title=State of the State - The Michigan Theater gives its iconic neighbor a new lease on life.|url=https://annarborobserver.com/articles/state_of_the_state_full_article.html|magazine=Ann Arbor Observer|page=|pages=|doi=|issn=0192-5717|pmid=|accessdate=2019-07-11}}</ref> A formal proposal was made in 2013 to convert the upstairs theaters to offices or apartments, and the Michigan Theater Foundation responded by making efforts to buy the theaters.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mlive.com/business/ann-arbor/2013/11/will_ann_arbors_state_theater.html|title=Ann Arbor's State Theater owners exploring new options for historic space|last=Freed|first=Ben|date=2013-11-05|work=MLive|accessdate=2019-07-11}}</ref> An agreement to purchase the theaters, but not the retail space, was reached in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mlive.com/business/ann-arbor/2014/06/michigan_theater_signs_deal_to.html|title=Michigan Theater to buy State Theatre, plans for improvements|last=Alfs|first=Lizzy|date=2014-06-16|work=MLive|accessdate=2019-07-11}}</ref> |
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A major renovation began in 2017, which restored the original Art Deco style, including custom tiles and carpets featuring the original pattern, recreated from a sample preserved by a local historian.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2017/12/a_look_inside_ann_arbors_state.html|title=A look inside Ann Arbor's State Theatre as renovations enter final stretch|last=Stanton|first=Ryan|date=2017-12-07|work=MLive|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|accessdate=2019-07-13}}</ref> The two theaters, hastily converted from the original balcony in 1979, featured unusual sight lines;<ref>{{Cite |
A major renovation began in 2017, which restored the original Art Deco style, including custom tiles and carpets featuring the original pattern, recreated from a sample preserved by a local historian.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2017/12/a_look_inside_ann_arbors_state.html|title=A look inside Ann Arbor's State Theatre as renovations enter final stretch|last=Stanton|first=Ryan|date=2017-12-07|work=MLive|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|accessdate=2019-07-13}}</ref> The two theaters, hastily converted from the original balcony in 1979, featured unusual sight lines;<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Potter|first=Chris|date=May 2011|title=Ode to a Picture Palace - The State Theater and me|url=https://annarborobserver.com/articles/ode_to_a__picture_palace_full_article.html|magazine=Ann Arbor Observer|page=|pages=|doi=|pmid=|accessdate=2019-07-11}}</ref> the 2017 renovation divided the space into four fully accessible theaters with improved sight lines and contemporary projection and sound equipment. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 23:40, 13 July 2019
 The State Theatre's distinctive marquee, with the names of upcoming Midnight Movie selections. | |
 | |
| Location | 233 South State Street Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States |
|---|---|
| Owner | Michigan Theater Foundation (theaters) State Theater LLC (retail space) |
| Operator | Michigan Theater Foundation |
| Construction | |
| Opened | March 18, 1942 |
| Renovated | 1979; 2017 |
| Tenants | |
| Urban Outfitters | |
| Website | |
| statetheatrea2 | |
The State Theatre is an operational former movie palace located at the intersection of State Street and Liberty Street in Ann Arbor, MI.
The theater's central location and distinctive green, yellow and red marquee have made it an icon of Ann Arbor's downtown.
History
Predecessors
Butterfield Theaters operated five theaters in Ann Arbor in 1940,[1] including the Majestic Theater on Maynard Street, converted in 1907 from a roller rink. Butterfield planned to renovate the Majestic, but city officials denied permission for the work, prompting the construction of the State. The staff of the Majestic moved to the State, and Butterfield considered the State to be the Majestic’s direct replacement.[2]
After it ceased operations, the Majestic was condemned as unsafe due to its primarily wood construction and prohibited from reopening. Butterfield’s lease expired at the end of 1942, and the building was demolished in 1948.[3]
Design and construction
In September 1940, Butterfield gave the first indication of building another theater in Ann Arbor when it served notices to vacate to the tenants of its property on South State Street at Liberty Street.[4] Weeks later, plans were revealed for the theater, tentatively named the State, designed in Art Deco style by Detroit-based movie palace architect C. Howard Crane.[5]
The State was designed as a movie theater, with a small stage and no dressing rooms. The Butterfield circuit continued to use the nearby Michigan for live shows, with both theaters showing first-run movies.[1]
Opening
The State opened to great fanfare on March 18, 1942, showing The Fleet’s In.[1] Butterfield emphasized that construction had started before the United States entered World War II, and that no materials were taken from the war effort.[6]
Modification
The first major modification to the State was the replacement of the original 18 by 16 feet (5.5 m × 4.9 m) screen with a 43 by 24 feet (13.1 m × 7.3 m) screen in November 1953.[7]
The State’s balcony and main floor were each divided into two theaters in 1979, decreasing the total capacity by 200 seats. Manager Barry Miller cited economics and the need to book films for longer runs as reasons for the division.[8]
Decline and partial conversion to retail
Butterfield, facing hard times, sold the State to the Kerasotes Theater Corporation of Springfield, Illinois in December 1984. Kerasotes cut costs by dismissing the staff of unionized projectionists, prompting picketing and boycotts that continued into at least 1986.[9]
Kerasotes sold the State to Hogarth Management at a loss[10] in 1989. Hogarth was owned by Tom Borders, founder of Borders Books, whose flagship store was located one block away from the State. Hogarth initially considered converting the entire building to retail space and potentially removing the marquee, but eventually settled on converting only the two downstairs theaters into retail space and retaining the neon-lit marquee.[10][11]
An Urban Outfitters store opened in the ground floor retail space in August 1989.[12] Remnants of the original theater are visible in the store, which is still operating as of 2019.[13]
Reopening as theater
Aloha Entertainment, owned by the Spurlin family of Canton, Michigan, leased the space after years of vacancy, adding Hawaiian-themed decor. The theater reopened on November 13, 1992, showing second-run films at discount prices.[14]
A group of investors doing business as State Theater LLC bought the building in 1997, and the Aloha Entertainment lease on the theaters was terminated. The investor group hired the Michigan Theater Foundation to provide booking and marketing services in 1999,[15] reuniting the Michigan and State theaters.
Michigan Theater Foundation ownership and restoration
In 2007, the Michigan Theater Foundation, still providing booking and marketing services, developed a contingency plan for the State in case the building’s owners wanted to convert the remaining theaters to other uses.[16] A formal proposal was made in 2013 to convert the upstairs theaters to offices or apartments, and the Michigan Theater Foundation responded by making efforts to buy the theaters.[16][17] An agreement to purchase the theaters, but not the retail space, was reached in 2014.[18]
A major renovation began in 2017, which restored the original Art Deco style, including custom tiles and carpets featuring the original pattern, recreated from a sample preserved by a local historian.[19] The two theaters, hastily converted from the original balcony in 1979, featured unusual sight lines;[20] the 2017 renovation divided the space into four fully accessible theaters with improved sight lines and contemporary projection and sound equipment.
References
- ^ a b c "State First New Theater In Fourteen Years". The Ann Arbor News. March 17, 1942 – via Ann Arbor District Library.
- ^ "Butterfield Lease On Majestic Ends; Keys Turned Over". The Ann Arbor News. December 31, 1942 – via Ann Arbor District Library.
- ^ Emmons, Dick (June 21, 1948). "Majestic Theater Being Razed For Parking Lot". The Ann Arbor News. Retrieved July 11, 2019 – via Ann Arbor District Library.
- ^ "New Theater Here Likely". The Ann Arbor News. September 5, 1940. Retrieved July 11, 2019 – via Ann Arbor District Library.
- ^ "New Theater Planned For Ann Arbor". The Ann Arbor News. November 30, 1940. Retrieved July 11, 2019 – via Ann Arbor District Library.
- ^ "New Local Theater Most Modern Found In Michigan". The Ann Arbor News. March 17, 1942. Retrieved July 11, 2019 – via Ann Arbor District Library.
- ^ "Theater Installs Huge New Screen". The Ann Arbor News. November 13, 1953 – via Ann Arbor District Library.
- ^ Klein, Pamela (February 21, 1979). "State Theater splits its image". The Ann Arbor News. p. D1. Retrieved July 13, 2019 – via Ann Arbor District Library.
- ^ Nevel, Bonnie (July 1986). "Continue to boycott local theaters?". Agenda. Ann Arbor, Michigan. Retrieved July 13, 2019 – via Ann Arbor District Library.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ a b Shackman, Grace (September 2003). "Cinema's First Century". Ann Arbor Observer. ISSN 0192-5717. Retrieved July 13, 2019 – via Ann Arbor District Library.
- ^ Judge, Paul (February 1, 1989). "State Theater may become retail mall". The Ann Arbor News. Retrieved July 13, 2019 – via Ann Arbor District Library.
- ^ Daly, Tim (August 4, 1989). "Old State Theater Closer To Clothes Encounter". The Ann Arbor News. Retrieved July 13, 2019 – via Ann Arbor District Library.
- ^ "Ann Arbor". Urban Outfitters. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
- ^ Moilanen, Kathy Ann (September 5, 1992). "Showtime! State Theater To Resume Showing Movies". The Ann Arbor News. Retrieved July 13, 2019 – via Ann Arbor District Library.
- ^ Stanton, Ryan (November 29, 2017). "A history of Ann Arbor's iconic State Theatre going back to 1940". MLive. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
- ^ a b Dunn, Patrick (November 2017). "State of the State - The Michigan Theater gives its iconic neighbor a new lease on life". Ann Arbor Observer. ISSN 0192-5717. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
- ^ Freed, Ben (November 5, 2013). "Ann Arbor's State Theater owners exploring new options for historic space". MLive. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
- ^ Alfs, Lizzy (June 16, 2014). "Michigan Theater to buy State Theatre, plans for improvements". MLive. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
- ^ Stanton, Ryan (December 7, 2017). "A look inside Ann Arbor's State Theatre as renovations enter final stretch". MLive. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ Potter, Chris (May 2011). "Ode to a Picture Palace - The State Theater and me". Ann Arbor Observer. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
