Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor, Besucherguide & was in der Nähe unternehmen

The Michigan Theater is a historic movie palace at 603 East Liberty Street in downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan, which opened in 1928 and still shows films today. It is one of the most recognisable buildings in the city centre, and a rare 1920s picture house that has stayed a working cinema and event venue.

The story behind it

The theater opened in 1928 as a movie and vaudeville house, just as silent film was giving way to sound. It was designed by the architect Maurice Finkel and built on a grand scale, with a large auditorium and a pipe organ made by Barton to accompany the pictures. Going to the cinema was meant to feel like an occasion, and the building was planned to match.

Like many big-city picture palaces, it faced an uncertain future as tastes and habits changed. By the late 1970s a local nonprofit had taken it over, and that community effort is why it is still open. Today it screens films and hosts live events, and it is the home of the long-running Ann Arbor Film Festival.

What to look for

• The marquee and vertical sign over East Liberty Street are the classic cinema signature, and they stand out most once the lights come on at dusk.
• The posters and listings by the entrance show what is playing now, so you can see how an old building serves a current programme.
• If you go inside for a screening, take a moment over the lobby and the decorative detail of the auditorium, which were designed to make an evening out feel grand.
• Look for mentions of the Barton theater organ, which is sometimes played at special screenings and events.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 10 to 15 minutes to see the exterior and the street, or a couple of hours if you attend a film or event.
• You can usually go inside by buying a ticket for a screening or show. Check current opening hours and the programme before you go.
• Evening is a good time for photographs, when the marquee is lit.
• The theater sits close to Nickels Arcade, the shops of State Street and the University of Michigan campus, so it combines easily with a stroll around downtown.

See it on a quest

The Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Ann Arbor quest passes the Michigan Theater as one stop on a longer walk through downtown. You reach each place on foot, the app tells you about it as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle right in front of what you are looking at. It suits anyone who likes a mystery theme with their sightseeing. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like, with no guide and no set departure time.