(DCH) The Gem Theatre Traditional Cache
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Detroit Cinema History:
The Gem Theatre
(and Century Club/Theatre)
AKA: Little Theatre, Rivoli, Drury Lane, Europa, Cinema, Vanguard
1928-1997: 58 East Columbia Street - Detroit
1997-present: 333 Madison Avenue - Detroit
OPEN: 1928 | CLOSED: 1978 (originally)
(Post-restore) OPEN: 1991 | CLOSED: 1997 (for moving)
Re-Opened post-move: 1998
SEATS: 453 (both theatres)
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1930 view of the Century Club (center) and Gem Theatre (right)
The front of the Theatre as the Vanguard Playhouse(1950's)
In 1927, the Century Club completed the construction of it's adjoining building and opened the facility in 1928 as The Little Theatre of Detroit. The Little Theatre had a full stage, orchestra pit, and balcony which sat about 200 patrons. The exterior resembled a Florentine Renaissance palace, while the interior contained minimal decor.
There was also a groundbreaking "first" with this theatre in that its first film was a foreign film, "Cyrano De Bergerac", which was also a first for Detroit as there had not been any theatres showing foreign films in the City before this time.
Hercule-Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac was a French dramatist and duelist.
In fictional works about his life he is featured with an overly large nose, which people would travel from miles around to see.
The small theatre continued to show artistic and foreign films until the the late 1920's when the Great Depression came. The Twentieth Century Club disbanded shortly thereafter and the Little Theatre and Century Club buildings were lost to foreclosure. The Century Club Building would then be transformed into a restaurant under several names until the 1950’s when it served patrons as The Russian Bear.
1949 As the "Cinema" Theatre. A small sign above the door reads: Detroit's -Art- Theatre
The Gem Theatre was always a theatre, even as its names, owners, and types-of shows would change over the years. It was a film theatre with names such as the Rivoli (1932), Drury Lane, Europa, and finally the Cinema (1936) through the mid-1950's. In 1959, the format changed to stage shows under the name the Vanguard Playhouse. In 1966 it changed again to burlesque and adult film showings as the Gem Art Theatre until its initial closure in 1978.
The Gem when it was on East Columbia (1980's)
The old "marquee" neon sign that was on the front of the Gem.
Also in 1984, Chuck Forbes purchased his small theater, the Gem and Century buildings, bringing them under single ownership again. Chuck Forbes was born in Detroit and raised in Highland Park and had grown-up with these theatres noting that he had visited the Fox when he was 12 years old. Little did he realize then that he would someday own the Fox Theatre. The Fox and State practically dwarfed the Gem, but they were all valuable to Forbes who had the vision and the ability to do something with them.
The front entrance to the Century Club (1930)
In 1990, Forbes began to restore the Gem using archive photos and other source-material. He had the original carpeting recreated, historical chandeliers and theatre seats relocated from the now-demolished Ambassador Theatre in St. Louis installed in the Gem to give it the extra historically-accurate look and feel of when patrons would come to see it.
It's premier show would be a musical review called 'the All Night Strut!' on December 31, 1991.
The auditorium of the Gem
This project would prove to have it's challenges, like any type of major move, as this would be one of the largest and heaviest buildings ever moved over any distance and was going to be a massive undertaking.
The Great Move
The beginning of the move of the Gem Theatre and Century Club
Before anything could be moved, the Century Club had to be substantially reinforced as most of that portion of the structure had been haphazardly modified over the years and it's interior framing removed....including it's entire second floor. The Club building had been in essence a "hollow shell" and it was determined that it could not withstand the stresses of moving. The Gem, unlike the Century Club, had been recently renovated and was in first-class condition complete with extensive ornate painting and decor.
Making progress while moving along
To facilitate the move of the structure, a gridwork of steel beams needed to be installed beneath both buildings and then the buildings would be lifted together with unified hydraulics to the proper moving height. After they were lifted, 71 rubber-tired dollies that were about the size of a small car were placed beneath the steel beams and a three-zone hydraulic system was used to keep the building level and on the same 'plane' while it was being moved.
Turning the building to face the opposite direction.
The two buildings weighed approximately 2,700 tons (5.4 million pounds) and had to be moved together approimately 1,850 from their original location to where they reside today. This move was 950' east, then another 900' south and included a 'rotation' of the orientation of the buildings midway through the move that spanned five city blocks.
Turning the building while it's being moved.
The move broke the 1986 Guinness Book of World Records listing as the heaviest building ever moved on wheels.
On steel and rubber the Gem Theater crawls toward its new foundation
the foundation, waiting for the Gem Theatre and Century Club to be moved on top.
On November 10, 1997, the Gem Theatre successfully completed its five-block journey, breaking the 1986 Guinness Book world record as the heaviest building ever moved on wheels. The Gem reopened at its new location in September 1998
The Gem and Century Club in-place above the foundation.
The Ellwood Grill, originally on Woodward, was moved in order to save it as well.
Using photos from the building’s 1903 opening, the facility was restored to its original Arts and Craft style, while preserving architectural artifacts from several demolished downtown buildings. Some of the artifacts used include the Pewabic tile from the YWCA pool located under the bar in the Century lobby, leaded glass from the YWCA behind the Century bars and the limestone balustrade, which originally lined the top of the YWCA, was located along the building’s outdoor patio. This also included the beautiful stained glass window from the YWCA chapel installed and located on the Century Club staircase. In addition to the renovations, there was the addition of a 200-seat theatre to create the Century Theatre and add to an already valuable piece of historical architecture.
The Century held it's first performance in April of 1999.
1999 view of the Century Club and Gem Theatre.
In the background right can be seen the
framework of Comerica Park being constructed.
Since that time, these treasures of downtown Detroit have been enjoyed by the many people who've seen and visited them. Most people may not have realized what it took to save this historic and beautiful building as well as the amount of planning and preparation it took in order to have it moved from one location to another.
These are truly....some of the Gems that were saved for many folks to enjoy.
IF you have any more information or details on this location, please email me and i will include it in the description.
Thank you.
BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS HERE.
MUGGLES ARE AROUND DAY/NIGHT/24-7.
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(Decrypt)
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