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Read
about recent events
in the Detroit Movie Palaces blog! |
Explore
theater history Gaylord Carter Plays at Redford (May 1981) |
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Get
a world of laughs at the Alliance
Francaise Comedy Film Shorts Series at the DFT
May 31.
|
|
Learn more about the grieving process in the documentary Transforming
Loss at the Michigan
May 30.
|
|
The renovated Redford re-opens with Julie Andrews flying high as Mary Poppins July 12-13. |
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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).
In the theater auditoriums, you'll often hear film introductions by theater Executive Director/CEO Russ Collins, Development Director Laura Gabriel, Director of Sales/Marketing Consultant Drew Waller or other theater staff members. Russ often contributes insightful comments to articles in the local media about the movie theater business in the Ann Arbor area. Russ 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.
Next Page: Multiple Viewing Options
This web site is not affiliated with the Detroit Film Theatre, the Michigan Theater, or the Redford Theatre.
Web Site copyright © 2013 by Robert Hollberg Smith, Jr.
Launched November 25, 2005.
Last updated May 15, 2013.
Graphics courtesy of the Absolute Web Graphics Archive and Christmas Graphics Plus.
Videos courtesy of YouTube and Turner Classic Movies.