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The Grand Riviera Theater was a movie palace theater located at 9222 Grand River Avenue in western
from the city of Detroit The building was removed from the National Register in 2020.
The theater was immediately successful, and in 1927 an 1,800 seat annex was built. 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. 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.
from the state of Michigan An octagonal pavilion sat on the corner of the structure. The pavilion had arched, multi-paned windows and substantial cream
Free to Use and Reuse: Movie Magic
February 24, 2020 by Neely Tucker. {{National Register of Historic Places in Michigan Movie palaces Theatres in Detroit Theatres completed in 1925 Demolished buildings and structures in Detroit Buildings and structures demolished in 1996 Historic American Buildings Survey in Michigan Michigan State Historic Sites National Register of Historic Places in Detroit Mediterranean Revival architecture in the United States Renaissance Revival architecture in Michigan Theatres on the National Register of Historic Places in Michigan Former National Register of Historic Places in Michigan
Detroit
Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at t ...
, Michigan
Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and ...
. It took its name from Grand River Avenue. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1980, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
in 1982, but was subsequently demolished in June, 1996.Grand Riviera Theater (Demolished)from the city of Detroit The building was removed from the National Register in 2020.
History
The Grand Rivieracinema
Cinema may refer to:
Film
* Cinematography, the art of motion-picture photography
* Film or movie, a series of still images that create the illusion of a moving image
** Film industry, the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking
...
was built in 1925, at a cost of over one million dollars. 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.
The theater was immediately successful, and in 1927 an 1,800 seat annex was built. 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. 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.
Description
The Grand Riviera Theater was a three-story structure built from brown brick in an ItalianRenaissance Revival
Renaissance Revival architecture (sometimes referred to as "Neo-Renaissance") is a group of 19th century architectural revival styles which were neither Greek Revival nor Gothic Revival but which instead drew inspiration from a wide range o ...
and Mediterranean Revival
Mediterranean Revival is an architectural style introduced in the United States, Canada, and certain other countries in the 19th century. It incorporated references from Spanish Renaissance, Spanish Colonial, Italian Renaissance, French Colonia ...
style.Grand Riviera Theater - Demolishedfrom the state of Michigan An octagonal pavilion sat on the corner of the structure. The pavilion had arched, multi-paned windows and substantial cream
terra cotta
Terracotta, terra cotta, or terra-cotta (; ; ), in its material sense as an earthenware substrate, is a clay-based unglazed or glazed ceramic where the fired body is porous.
In applied art, craft, construction, and architecture, terracotta ...
decoration.
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.
The interior design and decorations of the Grand Riviera were very ornate. 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.
Gallery
References
External links
* * The United States Library of CongressFree to Use and Reuse: Movie Magic
February 24, 2020 by Neely Tucker. {{National Register of Historic Places in Michigan Movie palaces Theatres in Detroit Theatres completed in 1925 Demolished buildings and structures in Detroit Buildings and structures demolished in 1996 Historic American Buildings Survey in Michigan Michigan State Historic Sites National Register of Historic Places in Detroit Mediterranean Revival architecture in the United States Renaissance Revival architecture in Michigan Theatres on the National Register of Historic Places in Michigan Former National Register of Historic Places in Michigan