Rediscovering American Picture Palaces

America's 20th century Grand Movie Palaces, and the thrilling fantasies that took place within them, played a crucial part of the American movie-going experience. These lavish, almost decadent motion picture theaters were arguably America's first true community centers, where people from all segments of American society could not only come together, but be treated as royalty. Sadly, few of these historic structures exist. Most have been destroyed, some have been adapted for other uses and fewer have been restored. With this, movie-going changed forever. This proposed exhibition whose mission is to reveal and celebrate the history of America's Grand Movie Palaces will take place at the Michigan Theatre, in Detroit, Michigan- one of the largest and most opulent movie palaces ever built. In 1976 this once opulent theatre was converted into a parking garage- and its magnificent plaster ceiling now sits in ruins over the top-level of the garage. History has created the perfect setting for this exhibition that aims both to celebrate the past while revealing the present. Not only will this project create an exhibition celebrating the American Picture Palaces, it will also involve the creation of a separate 10,000 square foot film and performance venue, within the theatre, that will become part of the ongoing revitalization efforts in Detroit. Detroit had a grand past and has an uncertain future. This exhibition will ultimately shed light on the importance of preserving - and honoring - both.

Author

• Pastore, Jay Anthony

Language

• English

Keyword

• Theater
• Detroit
• Movie
• Urban
• Michigan
• Revitalization

Date created

• 2014

Type of Work

• Master's Thesis

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Degree

• M.A.

Advisor

• Brown, Clare

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/6m311q38b