Eagle Theater - Pontiac Michigan

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Eagle Theater

Name: Eagle Theater Street: 13-15 S Saginaw St

City: Pontiac State: MI Zip: Phone:

County: Oakland

Operator: Butterfield Theatres

Open: 1927

Closed: N/A

Capacity: 150

Status: Closed

Web Address: N/A

Notes: AKA: Grand Prix

Architect: August J. Kleist

Number of visits to this page since February 23, 2007: 9983

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Entry Date: 9/12/2004 - J. Barnfather: Since closing, the structure has been converted into a nightclub . . primarily for the "younger set."
It has changed ownership & names on several occasions.

Entry Date: 2/22/2003 - WaterWinterWonderland: The Eagle Theatre was one of the smallest venues.
Formerly the Arlington Hotel, it was Pontiacs first movie house.
IT seated only 150 persons and the screen was made of 2 bed sheets.

Entry Date: 2/13/2003 - Michigans Historic Sites Online: The Eagle Theater is the epitome of the late vaudeville, early movie theater. It is a fine example of the use of Moorish design influences on a cinema buildings. The three-story facade is masonry which is finished primarily in stucco and red quarry tile. At each side of the facade are vertical stucco "towers" decorated at the top with a corbeled cornice and at the base with red quarry tile. At the second floor of these "towers" the windows are surrounded by a Moorish or horseshoe arch treatment of red quarry tile. A decorative mansard style roof of clay tile shingles caps each bay. The two storefronts at the smaller bays are original and are highlighted by bronze glazing members, cast-iron trim, and decorative leaded glass transoms.

The primary significance of the Eagle Theater is derived from the uniqueness of the interior facilities originally constructed and the quality of its architectural detail. The Eagle Theater was constructed on the site of Pontiacs oldest movie house in 1927. The building was leased, shortly after its construction, to W.S. Butterfield, the owner of many movie theaters throughout Michigan. The interior of the theater displayed many Moorish elements, such as the Moorish arch proscenium and keyhole arches between the columns along the side aisles. On the second floor is a large room called the "green room" where performers and audience traditionally met after theater performances. The buildings third floor contains nine apartments originally intended to house travelling vaudeville performers. These are particularly unique because of their art deco bathrooms and "pullman" kitchens which must be some of the earliest prefabricated complete kitchen units in existence today. Throughout the interior of the building, finishes and colors are original and in superb condition making the theater one of the most architecturally complete in the State of Michigan and giving a truer picture of a facility constructed for the golden era of the American cinema.