Detroit Movie Palaces
The Film Programs of the Detroit
Film Theatre, Michigan Theater and Redford Theatre
The Film Programs of the Detroit Film Theatre, Michigan Theater and Redford Theatre
Your Guide to Classic
Movie Theater Fun!
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theater history!
Your Guide to Classic Movie Theater Fun!
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Michigan Theater
More Than A Megaplex
The Michigan, which opened in 1928, carefully
walks a fine line between an art film cinema and a megaplex theater. First
time visitors will find many of the theater's features familiar, including
much of the concession stand food, 
previews
of coming attractions, and the daily showings of different films in multiple
auditoriums.
But where the similarities end, the magic begins. At the concession stand, it's not just candy and popcorn. Locally owned Zingerman's serves up baked goods like brownies and cookies. You can cool off with Stucchi's ice cream or a Minute Maid fruit juice.
Contributing to the friendly personality of the theater is Helga's Store, where you can buy theater memberships; discount tickets; CDs of music by theater organist Steven Ball; and items with the Michigan Theater logo (like sweatshirts and coffee cups). The store is run by Helga Hover, a delightfully friendly lady whose crisp German accent adds to the flavor of the Michigan.
In the theater auditoriums, you'll sometimes
hear film introductions by theater Executive Director/CEO Russ Collins,
Annual Gifts/Membership Director Laura Barnes, or other theater staff
members. Collins often contributes insightful comments to articles in
The Ann Arbor News about the movie theater 
business
in the Ann Arbor area. Collins also recently participated in a panel discussion
at the Sundance Film Festival (and contributed an article to the festival
newspaper).
Audiences at the Michigan can be lively, thanks in part to the young families and University of Michigan students who attend movies there. At a showing of The Adventures of Robin Hood, the crowd burst into applause at several dramatic entrances of Errol Flynn. For the Marx Brothers' A Night at the Opera, visitors imitated Groucho with fake noses, glasses, and mustaches. At Christmas, everyone is invited to help decorate a Christmas tree in the Grand Foyer (main lobby), which adds to the enjoyment of the many holiday movies shown at the Michigan.
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