Century Theatre (Detroit)

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The Century Theatre in Detroit shares a lobby with the Gem Theatre. The 200 seat theatre has seating at cabaret tables, and the stage hosts a variety of shows, such as Forbidden Broadway, Menopause the Musical, and Late Night Catechism.

Originally built in 1903, the building stands as a tribute to the rich heritage of women in the City of Detroit. The theatre's building, originally called The Century Building, holds the title as the first building title issued in a woman's name in the City of Detroit. It's founders, the 20th Century Club, built the structure to house their organization and to create a place "suited to the uses of the various women's societies - literary, musical, philanthropic and social." - The Century Association, 1903.

Designed by Detroit architect George Mason at a cost of roughly $35,000, the building is constructed in the Arts & Crafts or Mission Style with a Spanish Revival facade and roof. When originally constructed, the building stood by itself at the corner of Elizabeth and Witherell streets in downtown Detroit. The upper ballroom, now The Century Theatre, featured a small stage, hardwood floors, and an astonishing 14 floor to ceiling arched windows with juliette balconies on both the east and west sides of the room. When the 20th Century Club, also known as the 20th Century Association, comissioned the adjoining Gem Theatre in 1928, the theatre's 7 western facing windows were removed.

When the city of Detroit began work to build a new baseball stadium for the Detroit Tigers, the Century Building was slated with demolition. With public support, owner Chuck Forbes was able to convince the city that the building should be saved. At a cost of several million dollars, Mr. Forbes was able to have the building with the adjoining Gem Theatre moved five blocks to its current location at 333 Madison Avenue. Unfortunately decades of neglect had left the building in poor conditions prior to the move. To enable safe transporation of the building, the inside of the Century was dismantled and a steel reinforcement structure was created to hold the building in place during the move. At the new location, restoration began using historical photographs, architechtural records, and personal stories to recreate the building's original style and ambience.

A preservationist, Chuck Forbes also incorporated pieces from other historic Detroit Buildings that were unable to be saved during the construction of Comerica Park. The Century Grille's lobby and restaurant bar incorporate pewabic tile from the city's YWCA's swimming pool. Three historic fireplaces adorn the building taken from the historic YMCA and YWCA. On the building's staircase visitors find the beautiful stained glass window from the YWCA's original chapel. Behind the bars on all three levels are leaded-glass cabinets taken from the YMCA, and visitors to the building pass by the historic YWCA's roof-top ballestrade, re-assembled along the Century Building's front patio. In addition, historic chandeliers and sconces adorne the Century Lobby & Gem Theatre auditorium taken from historic theatres and hotels from around the United States prior to their demolition.

Today The Century Building stands as a beautifully restored gem in the heart of Detroit's revitalized entertainment district. It houses the Century Grille Restaurant and Century Theatre with its adjoining Gem Theatre.