Grand Riviera Theater | |
Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
 Grand Riviera in 1970 | |
| Location | 9222 Grand River Avenue Detroit,Michigan |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 42°21′58″N83°7′51″W / 42.36611°N 83.13083°W /42.36611; -83.13083 |
| Built | 1925 |
| Architect | John Eberson |
| Architectural style | ItalianRenaissance Revival,Mediterranean Revival |
| Demolished | June 1996 |
| NRHP reference No. | 82002901[1] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | April 22, 1982 |
| Designated MSHS | October 2, 1980[3] |
| Removed from NRHP | June 10, 2020[2] |
TheGrand Riviera Theater was amovie palace theater located at 9222 Grand River Avenue in westernDetroit,Michigan. It took its name from Grand River Avenue.[4] It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1980,[3] and listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 1982,[1] but was subsequently demolished in June, 1996.[4] The building was removed from the National Register in 2020.[2]
The Grand Rivieracinema was built in 1925, at a cost of over one million dollars.[4] 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.[4]
The theater was immediately successful, and in 1927 an 1,800 seat annex was built.[4] In 1957, the Riviera was converted to a stage theater. When theFisher Theater reopened in 1960, however, the Grand Riviera took a back seat.[4] 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.[4]
The Grand Riviera Theater was a three-story structure built from brown brick in an ItalianRenaissance Revival andMediterranean Revival style.[3] An 80-foot-tall (24 m) octagonal pavilion sat on the corner of the structure.[3] The pavilion had arched, multi-paned windows and substantial creamterra cotta decoration.[3]
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.[3]
The interior design and decorations of the Grand Riviera were very ornate.[3] 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.[4]
Images from 1970
|
|---|
.svg) | ||
