(MCH) The Gateway Theatre Traditional Cache
Hidden : 8/9/2013
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

The Michigan Cinema History (MCH) caches are dedicated to the local creation, viewing,
or enjoyment of movie and cinema-related items in the local area.

This can include, and is not limited to, people, places, and things of Cinema or both past-and-present.

(This series is a companion to the Detroit Cinema History (DCH) and Ontario Cinema History (OCH) series.)
Michigan Cinema History:
The Gateway Theatre
33870 Van Dyke - Sterling Heights, MI
OPEN: 1965 | CLOSED: 1981 | SEATS: 1432
(later known as the Premier Center concert venue from 1981-1993)

The building that once was the Gateway Theatre. The architectures still holds the
design cues from when the Gateway Theatre was here. It's now a private business.


The Gateway Theatre was a small, neighborhood moviehouse and opened in 1965 as part of the Suburban Detroit Theatres chain of theatres. It featured a single-screen and the seating capacity was 1432. The Gateway had an almost immediate draw popularity due to the area still being a township, as Sterling Heights had not yet incorporated as a City. Prior to that time, Sterling Heights was known as Sterling Township and that incorporation into a City would come in 1968.

The opening film was the James Bond movie, "Thunderball", starring Sean Connery. The Gateway had first-run movies during it's entire existance as a movie-theatre from 1965 through 1981.

1965 film 'Thunderball'

For one of the fall movie showings (most likely a horror-flick), local TV-personality Sir Graves Ghastly (played by the late Lawson Demming (1913-2007)) even had a 'haunting' performance here at the Gateway. His coffin was on stage and fake 'smoke/fog' was pumped through the entire auditorium from machines set around the entire room.

His show included his supporting characters of the Werewolf and the Mummy who ran throughout the audience, attempting to 'scare' the audience for some holiday-themed fun.



Detroit Television Icon, Sir Graves Ghastly

Business was profitable for the Gateway, but with the growth of the area in population, the nearby Showcase Cinemas was built and opened in 1974. This new facility became a major competitor for the crowds that had once visited the Gateway. This popularity was due to the Showcase having 5 screens when it opened, and later adding 5 more. It eventually topped-out at 15 screens before it closed in the mid-2000's.

After 1974, business at the Gateway sharply declined because of the competition and only a few short years later, the decision was made to close the Gateway in 1981. Fortunately, the building did not stay closed for long and it was reborn as a dance and concert venue known as the Premier Center.
The first performance at the new venue was by B.B. King on March 17, 1982.

B.B. King in 2009

As the Premier Center, it featured many Las Vegas-type acts such as comedienne Joan Rivers, singer Wayne Newton, and even the flamboiant showman Liberace who performed one of his last shows at the Premier Center in 1986.

During his performance he even mentioned to the audience at one point he was looking for either a new museum or a bigger venue to play. He paused, looked around the room and joked, "I wonder how much they want for this place?" The audience broke out laughing.

Liberace, wearing his shiny rings and dress (1987).

Musician and DJ Kid Rock even spun some tunes at the Premier Center...as it was a place to "be seen" in the time it was here.

The Premier Center eventually would eventually close due to the decline in profitability of the venue as well as the limited space that bigger acts were requiring to have in order to perform. The last performance there was December 14, 1992 with the rock band, Blue Öyster Cult on tour.

Blue Öyster Cult

After it's closing, the entire building including the marquee were painted black...without much reasoning to the general public. Maybe this was a testament to a time then-passed and as a way of memorializing what once had been a vibrant entertainment location.

The Gateway Theatre and later the Premier Center were both memorable to the people that visited here for their shows and performances during the 28 years that this was used as an entertainment complex.

The building was later sold, and as of 2008, the Projection Booth remained and the floor still sloped towards the former screen area. The building now has since been remodeled again on the inside for the current business that resides there.

The theatre itself may be gone, but the good memories for those who came here is what makes it part of Michigan Cinema History.

I've included a Waypoint that is the original location of the Gateway Theatre / Premier Center.

It is currently another business and has nothing to do with what used to be here.

It's for your benefit as a reference point.  Thank You.

Enjoy the hunt as much as i've enjoyed the hide. :)

The Cache is designed to bring you here... and give you some history on a piece of the areas cinematic past.

IF you have any more information or details on this theatre,
please email me and i will include it in the description.

Thank you.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Zntargvp

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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