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Big screens and balconies. Enormous glowing and flashing neon marquees. Saturday afternoon matinees. The old single screen movie house is a distant memory in Lansing. These theatres all had charm and atmosphere that is all but lost today. Greater Lansing area residents had up to nine indoor theatres to choose from. Today, there are none. The boring big box multiplexes came, and took away all of our classic theatres. Today, we have multiple mini screens, stadium seating and cupholders. Click on each theatre thumbnail for more photos. |
| The Michigan Theatre was located on the east side of the street, at 215 S. Washington Ave, halfway between Allegan and Washtenaw streets. Butterfield Theatres opened it as the Strand Theatre in 1921. The theatre complex also housed an arcade, bowling alley and retail stores. The 2,000 seat Strand was renamed the Michigan Theatre in 1941, and continued on until it closed in September, 1980. The auditorium was demolished and replaced by a parking lot. The rest of the building was converted to office space. The former theatre balcony is still visible at the rear of the building. There is a historical marker at the site. |
 Michigan Theatre Photos |
 Gladmer Theatre Photos |
The Gladmer Theatre was located at 223 N. Washington Ave, on the southwest corner of Washington and Ionia St. It opened in 1872 as Buck's Opera House. It was renamed the Gladmer in the early 1900's, after the owners daughter and son, Gladys and Merrill. The Gladmer was completely renovated in 1939, and it remained a favorite downtown Lansing moviehouse for many years. Competition from the mall multiplexes helped bring about it's closing in 1979. It was demolished and the site is now a parking lot. |
The Lansing Theatre was located at 122 E. Michigan Ave, on the south side on the street near the corner of Michigan and Grand Ave. The Lansing Theatre was also named the Esquire and the Colonial at some point. The building was demolished long ago, and the site is a parking lot today. |
 Lansing Theatre Photos |
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The Capitol Theatre was on the east side of the street, at |
The Plaza Theatre was on the west side of the street at 211 N. Washington Ave, at the corner of Washington and Ottawa streets. It opened in 1914 and closed in 1956. The theatre was demolished, there is an office building on the site now. |
 Plaza Theatre Photos |
 Northtown Theatre Photos |
The Northtown Theatre was located on the northside of the street at 417 E. Grand River Ave, near the corner of Grand River and Cedar St. Another Butterfield theatre, the Northtown opened in 1939, and closed in the early 1960's. It has been demolished and there is now dirt lot on the site, directly behind the Speedway station on the corner. |
The short-lived Southtown Theatre was on the west side of the street at 2316 S. Cedar St, at the corner of Cedar and Rockford streets. It opened in 1940 and closed in the late 1950's. It was torn down many years ago, the site where it stood is a parking lot for a vacant Health Central building. |
 Southtown Theatre Photos |
 State Theatre Photos |
The State Theatre was located at 215 Abbott Rd in East Lansing, Near the MSU campus. It was on the west side of the street, near the corner of Abbott and Grand River Ave. Yet another Butterfield Theatre, the State opened in 1927 and closed in 1984. There is a parking lot on the site now. |
The Campus Theatre was on the north side of Grand River, directly across from the MSU campus. It was at 407 E. Grand River Ave, between Charles and Division streets. The Campus opened in 1950 and was originally called the Lucon Theatre, it was changed to Campus in 1962. It was twinned in 1979 and closed in 1987. The auditoriums were demolished to make way for a parking ramp. The lobby is now part of Student Book Store. |
 Campus Theatre Photos |
 Lansing Mall Theatre |
The 1000-seat Lansing Mall Theatre opened around 1970. It closed in 1986 and was demolished to make way for expansion of the Lansing Mall. The theatre building stood approximately where the Steve & Barry's (previously Mervyn's) store is now. |
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