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Gem Theatre (Detroit)
Encyclopedia
The Gem Theatre in Detroit (built 1927) houses a two level theatre
with traditional row and aisle seating and intimate stage-level seating at cabaret
tables. It shares a lobby with the cabaret style Century Theatre
(built 1903). The theatre has stylings of Spanish Revival architecture. The structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1985.
In 1928, the member of the Century club contracted George D. Mason
to design a theater addition to the Century Club building. The resulting Spanish Revival-style building was leased to the Little Theatre chain, which showed foreign films, and the building was known as the Little Theatre.
In 1933, due to the Depression, the Twentieth Century Club disbanded. The Little Theatre, however, continued, suffering through several name changes, becoming The Rivoli in 1932, Drury Lane (and then the Europa in 1935, the Cinema in 1936, and the Vanguard Playhouse in 1960. The Vanguard offered live theater rather than movies.
Finally, in 1967, the theatre was named the Gem. The building was used as an adult movie house until it closed in 1978. Soon afterward, developer Charles Forbes
purchased the combined Gem/Century building, and began a complete restoration of the Gem Theatre in 1990. The refurbished Gem opened in 1991.
Protected from demolition during urban renewal
for Comerica Park
, the newest home of the Detroit Tigers
, the Gem Theatre and Century Theatre were moved five-blocks on wheels to its new location at 333 Madison Avenue on 16 October 1997. At a distance of 563 meters (1,850 feet) it is the furthest known relocation of a sizable building.
2010-2011 Plaid Tidings, Sister's Christmas Catechism (Century Theatre) Late Night Catechism 3:Til Death Do Us Part, Sister's Easter Catechism
2009-2010 Ethel Merman's Broadway, Forbidden Broadway Christmas, The Marvelous Wonderettes, Caveman (Century Theatre), The Male Intellect (Century Theatre)
2008-2009 Say Goodnight Gracie, The Rat Pack is Back, I Love You - You're Perfect - Now Change
2007-2008 Escanaba in Love, A Forbidden Broadway Christmas, Menopause The Musical
2006-2007 Menopause the Musical (Century Theatre), The Rat Pack is Back, Respect
2005-2006 Menopause the Musical
2004-2005 Menopause the Musical
2003-2004 Behind the Counter with Mussolini, Shear Madness
2002-2003 Triple Espresso
2001-2002 Shear Madness, 8-Track (Century Theatre), Fully Committed
2000-2001 Escanaba in the Moonlight, Dinner With Friends, Mind Games, Tropical Pickle (Century Theatre)
1999-2000 A Forbidden Hollywood (Century Theatre), A Forbidden Broadway Christmas (Century Theatre), Always Patsy Cline
1993 Forever Plaid
1991 All Night Strut
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
with traditional row and aisle seating and intimate stage-level seating at cabaret
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
tables. It shares a lobby with the cabaret style Century Theatre
Century Theatre (Detroit)
The Century Theatre in Detroit shares a lobby with the Gem Theatre. The theatre has seating at cabaret tables, and the stage hosts quirky shows, such as Forbidden Broadway, Menopause the Musical, and Late Nite Catechism. The theatre building houses a restaurant, The Century Grille, and is a popular...
(built 1903). The theatre has stylings of Spanish Revival architecture. The structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1985.
History
In 1902, the Twentieth Century Club, a group of cultural, socially prominent women, built a Mission-style building to house their club. The building, now the Century Theatre, is built of red brick trimmed with white sandstone. The first floor originally housed a dining room, while the second floor housed a 400-seat auditorium.In 1928, the member of the Century club contracted George D. Mason
George D. Mason
George DeWitt Mason was an American architect who practiced in Detroit, Michigan in the latter part of the 19th and early decades of the 20th centuries.Mason was born in Syracuse, New York , the son of James H. and Zelda E. Mason...
to design a theater addition to the Century Club building. The resulting Spanish Revival-style building was leased to the Little Theatre chain, which showed foreign films, and the building was known as the Little Theatre.
In 1933, due to the Depression, the Twentieth Century Club disbanded. The Little Theatre, however, continued, suffering through several name changes, becoming The Rivoli in 1932, Drury Lane (and then the Europa in 1935, the Cinema in 1936, and the Vanguard Playhouse in 1960. The Vanguard offered live theater rather than movies.
Finally, in 1967, the theatre was named the Gem. The building was used as an adult movie house until it closed in 1978. Soon afterward, developer Charles Forbes
Charles Forbes
Charles Forbes may refer to:*Charles Forbes , Admiral of the British Home Fleet and Royal Navy in World War II*Charles Fergusson Forbes, army surgeon*Charlie Forbes - Australian rules footballer*Charles Noyes Forbes - botanist...
purchased the combined Gem/Century building, and began a complete restoration of the Gem Theatre in 1990. The refurbished Gem opened in 1991.
Protected from demolition during urban renewal
Urban renewal
Urban renewal is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes and failures. Its modern incarnation began in the late 19th century in developed nations and experienced an intense phase in the late 1940s – under the rubric of...
for Comerica Park
Comerica Park
Comerica Park is an open-air ballpark located in downtown Detroit, Michigan. It serves as the home of the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball's American League, replacing historic Tiger Stadium in 2000....
, the newest home of the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, the Gem Theatre and Century Theatre were moved five-blocks on wheels to its new location at 333 Madison Avenue on 16 October 1997. At a distance of 563 meters (1,850 feet) it is the furthest known relocation of a sizable building.
Show History
Today, the Historic Gem & Century Theatres are two of Detroit's most intimate venues. They boast record breaking history as six of their shows are in the top ten longest running shows in Michigan: Menopause The Musical, Escanaba in Da Moonlight, The All Night Strut, Shear Madness, Forbidden Broadway, and Forever Plaid.2010-2011 Plaid Tidings, Sister's Christmas Catechism (Century Theatre) Late Night Catechism 3:Til Death Do Us Part, Sister's Easter Catechism
2009-2010 Ethel Merman's Broadway, Forbidden Broadway Christmas, The Marvelous Wonderettes, Caveman (Century Theatre), The Male Intellect (Century Theatre)
2008-2009 Say Goodnight Gracie, The Rat Pack is Back, I Love You - You're Perfect - Now Change
2007-2008 Escanaba in Love, A Forbidden Broadway Christmas, Menopause The Musical
2006-2007 Menopause the Musical (Century Theatre), The Rat Pack is Back, Respect
2005-2006 Menopause the Musical
2004-2005 Menopause the Musical
2003-2004 Behind the Counter with Mussolini, Shear Madness
2002-2003 Triple Espresso
2001-2002 Shear Madness, 8-Track (Century Theatre), Fully Committed
2000-2001 Escanaba in the Moonlight, Dinner With Friends, Mind Games, Tropical Pickle (Century Theatre)
1999-2000 A Forbidden Hollywood (Century Theatre), A Forbidden Broadway Christmas (Century Theatre), Always Patsy Cline
1993 Forever Plaid
1991 All Night Strut