Workmen are prepping for the premiere of the varsity Theatre, at Livernois
near McNichols (Six Mile Road), with the marquee promising a “big gala opening.”
Friday, September 4, 1936 saw an international historical event happening in Paris, France where 100,000 pro-Republican demonstrators held a march calling on the French government to lift its arms embargo against Spain.
This day also was the day that the Art-Deco designed Varsity Theatre would open here, all pretty, shiny and new.
The two opening films were to be "The White Angel", starring Kay Francis and Ian Hunter, and "Hot Money" which starred Ross Alexander and Beverly Roberts.
This movie house was designed by Hector Payne, who was responsible for at least four Theatres built within the City Limits of Detroit. These locations were the Varsity (here), the Norwest Theatre (opened in 1936 also) on Grand River near Southfield, The Ramona at McNichols (6 mile) and Gratiot, and the Alger Theatre, on East Warren and Outer Drive.
The Varsity was originally operated by the United Detroit Theatres chain, which had many locations across Metro Detroit at one time.
Of these four movie houses that Payne designed, only the Alger remains standing.
For a neighborhood theater, the Varsity was quite large with seating for just under 1,500 patrons. It was named, because of its proximity to the University of Detroit campus to the southeast.
Opening Ad in the Newspaper, September 1936
Like most venues of the time, they had many Saturday Matinees such as the "Pleasure Seekers" and "Mary Poppins" as well as other features that were usually around a quarter or so, which would give a patron the ability to enjoy shows all-day-long for little money.
It was closed temporarily in 1960 for a remodel, which included the physical seats from the then-remodeled Fisher Theatre which had been redone into a Live-Performance theatre, in Detroit's "New Center" area at Grand Boulevard and Woodward.
As time went on and the public moved out to the suburbs, many of the theatres that dotted the landscape of the City of Detroit would decline in business and eventually close.
In the 1970's, the end would finally come for The Varsity and it would close its doors for the last time. Just why the Varsity closed, is a mystery. Gil Green was the District Manager for United Detroit Theatres (chain) when it closed. The closure could have been due to lease problems, building maintenance, the limited parking available, or a host of other reasons. Whatever the reason was, it would never see life as a theatre again.
1938 view with the retail storefronts now built
After the closing, the Varsity building would be repurposed as a place of worship. Times changed and even that would close after a few years.
Redevelopment would come around 1985-86 (like so many other theatre buildings that were removed) when the former Varsity's building and surrounding storefronts here were demolished. This was for the new opportunity of a fast-food restaurant to be built on the site and serve the community in that form, especially with the University being so close to the location.
Another 1936 pre-opening view
The Varsity will long live-on in the memories of those that remember it, or saw a Saturday Afternoon Matinee there.