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HomeMovie TheatersKeiths Theatre

Keiths Theatre

Address: 113-21 Lyon St NW

City: Grand Rapids

State: MI

Zip:

County: Kent

Open: 1914

Capacity:

Owner History: Butterfield Theatres

Number of visits to this page: 11452

Notes: AKA: RKO Keiths, Empress

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Info Updates:

9/9/2012 - Jim Fahlstedt

Wow! We were going to the Keith's! This was the top movie house in Grand Rapids, bar none. It was a former vaudeville theater. The interior had loads of ornamental plaster work, all of which had been painted over as it was no longer in vogue. The balconies (two) and the boxes were rarely used, but they added to the classy appearance. I loved this place. The Radio Keith's Orpheum chain owned this house when it became a first run movie theater. That was in the days when the studios controlled distribution and exhibition of their movies. It was destroyed in a wanton fit of misguided urban renewal which left Grand Rapids with a lot of characterless buildings.

1/19/2004 - WaterWinterWonderland

This theatre represents the heyday of movie palaces quite well. From the awesome exterior architecture, the provate boxes, the balcony, and the wonderful interior decor this house was certainly the picture of class in motion picture exhibition.

Photos:8

VINTAGE PIC

OLD MARQUEE SHOT

INTERIOR SHOT

STAGE AND SCREEN

AUDITORIUM

OLD POST CARD

OLD PIC FROM KARA TILOTSON