Pines Theatre
On May 30, 1941 the “Showplace of the North” opened to the public.
The Pines Theatre’s opening movie was Billy the Kid, starring Robert Taylor. A Houghton Lake tradition of "going to the Pines" began. Over two million people have visited the Pines. It was constructed to become a gem in the Olsen brothers’ theater holdings. They hired C. Howard Crane, of the Kellogg & Crane design firm, to design their last theater. Crane was the designer of the Fox Theatre in Detroit, as well as the Detroit Opera House and many other theaters in Michigan.
It was designed to resemble a hunting chalet. It was constructed of pine and tamarack full logs. It was meant to have a majestic presence on the main road. The large marquee alongside M-55 was crowned with the word “Pines” lit up in neon for all to see. The marquee was also constructed with logs to maintain the hunting chalet theme.
Once inside the large log edifice, moviegoers were in for a special experience. The hunting chalet theme continued throughout the building. The original lobby was designed with a floor-to-ceiling fieldstone fireplace. The interior was mostly log with an open log ceiling. The most unusual feature of the Pines was the large collection of high-quality trophy mounts adorning the walls. Two paintings were installed on each side of the screen. There is a debate about what the two paintings portray. Is it the goddess of summer and the goddess of winter? Regardless, they are a unique part of the Pines Theatre and both have been there since the 50’s.
The Pines Theatre is a movie venue and a museum experience.
info taken from the book, Images of America Houghton Lake by Deborah I. Gouin.
Cache: a small camo container hidden in the usual way. Parking in available in the Pines Theatre parking lot.