Main Art Theater

The Main Art Theater was a movie theater located at 118 North Main Street in downtown Royal Oak, Michigan, at the corner of Main Street and 11 Mile Road. Opened on August 7, 1941 by Robert Anthony, it was originally a single-screen theater with 800 seats. In 1983, the original 800-seat theater was split into two theaters during renovations, and a third theater was added to the building in 1993.[7]

Main Art Theater
The Main Art in October 2021
Address118 N. Main Street
Royal Oak, Michigan
48067
Coordinates42°29′25″N 83°8′38″W
OwnerA.F. Jonna Management & Development[1]
OperatorJack Krass (former)[2]
Landmark Theatres (former)
TypeMovie theater
Capacity800 (1941)
Construction
OpenedAugust 7, 1941[3]
Renovated1983, 1993
ClosedJune 12, 2021[4]
DemolishedJuly 25, 2022[5]
ArchitectBennett & Straight
Dearborn, Michigan[6]

The Main Art specialized in art films and independent movies, and regularly held midnight showings of classic films on Friday and Saturday nights. The theater showed mainstream films prior to its arthouse renovation in 1983.

Landmark Theatres operated the Main Art from 1997 until its closure in 2021. In May 2022, A.F. Jonna Management & Development gained approval from the Royal Oak City Council to demolish the theater for a mixed-use building.[8] The Main Art was officially demolished on the afternoon of July 25, 2022.

History

The Main Art Theater was first opened in 1941 by Robert Anthony as a single-screen, 800-seat theater that specialized in mainstream films. In 1983, renovations and changes were done, which included the original single-screen theater being split in two to make two separate theaters. This was when the Main Art began to show art films and independent films. The Main Art was again renovated in 1993 to add a third theater. In 1997, Landmark Theatres took over the Main Art and operated it until its closure.[9] In summer 1999, the Main Art was one of only 15 theaters in North America showing The Blair Witch Project, and every show on the schedule was sold out with people coming from as far away as Indiana and upstate New York to see the movie.[10] As part of Landmark's Midnight Madness series, the Main Art also specialized in midnight showings of classic films from the early 20th century to present day such as North by Northwest, The Goonies, and Ghost in the Shell, along with cult films like Tommy Wiseau's The Room.[11][12]

The Main Art Theater at night with the marquee on in June 2019

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Main Art temporarily closed its doors in March 2020 before reopening on Christmas Day later that year.[13] In April 2021, the Main Art closed temporarily once again due to financial constraints.[14] On June 12, 2021, the Main Art closed down permanently when Landmark Theatres ended their lease of the building and returned the property to A.F. Jonna Management & Development.[15] Immediately after its closure, a nonprofit group called Friends of Main Art Theater formed with the intention of preserving the historic building; the group's goal, according to the site description, "is to foster and develop public appreciation of independent film and the arts, and to preserve the Royal Oak Main Art building as a movie theater for the enjoyment of the greater Metro Detroit community."[16]

In May 2022, the Royal Oak City Council voted to allow A.F. Jonna Management & Development to demolish the Main Art Theater and construct a mixed-use apartment complex on the theater site with the theater's old marquee.[17] The Main Art was officially demolished on the afternoon of July 25, 2022.

  • The main lobby of the Main Art Theater in 2019
    The main lobby of the Main Art in June 2019
  • The ticket and snack stands of the Main Art Theater in 2019
    The ticket booth and snack stand in June 2019
  • Theater 1 of the Main Art Theater in 2019
    Theater 1 during a midnight screening of Howl's Moving Castle in June 2019
  • The inside sitting room of the Main Art Theater
    The sitting room in June 2019
  • The marquee of the Main Art Theater
    The Main Art's marquee in June 2019

See also

References
  1. McConnell, Mike (May 27, 2022). "Royal Oak OKs development for Main Art Theatre Site". The Oakland Press. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  2. "Main Theater to Be Built on Erb Property" (PDF). Royal Oak Tribune. February 12, 1941. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  3. Kiska, Eric (February 18, 2015). "Main Art Theatre remains hub for indie films, cult classics in megaplex era". Motor City Muckraker. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  4. Graham, Adam (June 12, 2021). "Royal Oak's Main Art Theatre has gone dark; Birmingham 8 looks to 'pick up the slack'". The Detroit News. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  5. Baetens, Melody (July 25, 2022). "Main Art theater demolished Monday afternoon in downtown Royal Oak". The Detroit News. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  6. "Movie Theaters Designed by Bennett & Straight". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  7. "Historic Movie Theatres of Michigan". Michigan Explorer. February 24, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  8. McConnell, Mike (May 26, 2022). "Development planned to replace Main Art Theatre in Royal Oak". Royal Oak Tribune. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  9. "About Main Art Theatre - Landmark Theatres". Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  10. Graham, Adam (June 12, 2021). "Royal Oak's Main Art Theatre has gone dark; Birmingham 8 looks to 'pick up the slack'". The Detroit News. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  11. Graham, Adam (June 12, 2021). "Royal Oak's Main Art Theatre has gone dark; Birmingham 8 looks to 'pick up the slack'". The Detroit News. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  12. "Main Art Midnight Madness lineup, September 7 - October 27, 2018" (PDF). Landmark Theaters. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 4, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  13. DeVito, Lee (December 22, 2020). "Michigan movie theaters are reopening this week, but... why?". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  14. Marini, Miriam (April 23, 2021). "Royal Oak's Main Art Theatre temporarily closes amid financial stress of pandemic". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  15. "Controversial message removed from Royal Oak's Main Art Theater marquee; company says it's untrue". WXYZ-TV Detroit. June 12, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  16. "About - Friends of Main Art". Friends of Main Art. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  17. McConnell, Mike (May 27, 2022). "Royal Oak OKs development for Main Art Theatre Site". The Oakland Press. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
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