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Looking Back

April 1931

Step back in time to see what our movie palaces were presenting in April 1931. Also included is interesting history about other area movie theaters. Film titles are linked to the Internet Movie Database.

Area movie fans saw the first two films of Clark Gable's 23-year-long association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The Michigan in Ann Arbor showed The Easiest Way, which starred Constance Bennett, Adolphe Menjou and Robert Montgomery. Later that month, the Redford screened Dance, Fools, Dance, one of many MGM films to feature Gable and Joan Crawford. Gable appeared in 12 movies in 1931.

Also showing at the Michigan was Charlie Chaplin's City Lights, which ran for a full week (instead of the usual three or four days). On April 2 at the Michigan, a drawing was held between movies for a Philco 96 Highboy radio. Spring Festival Week (which started Sunday, April 12) included a Michigan stage appearance of "The Third Annual Tour of the Michigan Blossom Queen and the Bud Princesses of Her Flower Court".

The popular Cimarron, which had opened in downtown Detroit in February, worked its way into neighborhood theaters, including the Redford. Two years before the end of Prohibition, the Redford showed See America Thirst. This comedy about bootlegging starred Harry Langdon, whose career peaked in silent films. Also at the Redford was The Devil to Pay!, with Ronald Colman, Loretta Young and Myrna Loy.

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