Grand Riviera Theater
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Grand Riviera Theater | |
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Grand Riviera in 1970 | |
| Location |
9222 Grand River Avenue Detroit, Michigan |
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| Coordinates | 42°21′58″N 83°7′51″W / 42.36611°N 83.13083°WCoordinates: 42°21′58″N 83°7′51″W / 42.36611°N 83.13083°W |
| Built | 1925 |
| Architect | John Eberson |
| Architectural style | Italian Renaissance Revival, Mediterranean Revival, other |
| Demolished | June 1996 |
| Governing body | Private |
| NRHP Reference # | 82002901[1] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | April 22, 1982 |
| Designated MSHS | October 2, 1980[2] |
The Grand Riviera Theater was a movie palace theater located at 9222 Grand River Avenue in western Detroit, Michigan. It took its name from Grand River Avenue.[3] It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1980,[2] and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982,[1] but was subsequently demolished in June, 1996.[3]
History
The Grand Riviera cinema was built in 1925, at a cost of over one million dollars.[3] It seated over 3000, and was the first "atmospheric" theater in Detroit, using lighting, special effects, and interior design to make the audience feel like they were sitting outdoors in a garden.[3]
The theater was immediately successful, and in 1927 an 1,800 seat annex was built.[3] In 1957, the Riviera was converted to a stage theater. When the Fisher Theater reopened in 1960, however, the Grand Riviera took a back seat.[3] The building was used for music concerts until it closed in the mid-1970s. Afterward, the structure deteriorated, to the point that it was considered unsafe and demolished in 1996.[3]
Description
The Grand Riviera Theater was a three story structure built from brown brick in an Italian Renaissance Revival and Mediterranean Revival style.[2] An 80-foot-tall (24 m) octagonal pavilion sat on the corner of the structure.[2] The pavilion had arched, multi-paned windows and substantial cream terra cotta decoration.[2]
To the west of the pavilion was the three-story wing with commercial and office space. To the north was the auditorium section which was built with windowless paneled brick walls.[2]
The interior design and decorations of the Grand Riviera were very ornate.[2] The original "atmospheric" interior elements included a simulated courtyard, a dark blue ceiling with inset electric "stars" and projected moving clouds, and walls with artificial trees and vines.[3]
Gallery
Images from 1970
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2008-04-15.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Grand Riviera Theater - Demolished from the state of Michigan
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Grand Riviera Theater (Demolished) from the city of Detroit
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grand Riviera Theater. |
External links
- Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. MI-270, "Grand Riviera Theatre, 9222 Grand River Avenue, Detroit, Wayne County, MI", 28 photos, 6 measured drawings, 25 data pages
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