Lyric Cinema - Ludington MI

Address: 208 S James St
City: Ludington
State: MI
Zip: 49431
County: Mason
Open:
Capacity:
Owner History: GKC Theatres
Theater Type: Small Town Movie Palace
Number of visits to this page: 15094
Disclaimer:

Please note that location entries may feature older photos or post card views that may not represent the current appearance, features, addresses, phone numbers, or contact names of the attraction. This site is intended to be a historical as well as current record of various attractions but it is not always possible to have up-to-date information due to the vast number of locations featured here. We ask you consult the propietor for current information.

General Information:

Source: AW Fox

The Lyric was opened in 1925 after replacing an earlier theater of the same name. It originally consisted of one stage with seating all on one level. A simple lobby faced the street with gentleman's and ladies lounges on the floor above and storage and dressing rooms located in the basement. Soon after construction, a balcony was added to accommodate more seating.

In the early 1990's, the Lyric was heavily modernized, and split into a four screen movie theater. Bathrooms and a concession counter were carved out of the lobby and the stairs to the second floor and balcony were removed. The brick and windows of the facade were stuccoed over and painted red and white, leaving only the stone balastrade and pediment exposed at the top.

The dressing rooms, second floor lounges, and the stage - now under the fourth screen - still exist. Part or all of the original sky mural and plaster ceiling may also still exist. However murals along the back wall of the balcony were painted over during the renovation. When Harbor Cinemas opened in 2004, the Lyric was downgraded from first to second run movies. Since attendance has been very low, the future of this cinema is uncertain.

From Kara Tillotson

I had the opportunity today to take interior shots of the lyric theatre in ludington. It closed a few months ago. Its being leased by a church. They are using screen one for Sunday school, and knocked the wall out between screen 2 and three to make their sanctuary. The projection room still has all the projectors and platters up there.The big yellow ladder leaning against the wall in some of the photos indicates where the wall was knocked out.

Part of the old gorgeous ceiling was viewable as they had several tiles of the dropped ceiling removed.In one of the photos what appears to be a chunk of a wall of some sort still remains. In the basement are the dressing rooms.The stairs up to the projection booth are a gaudy blue, which is reminiscent of the same blue found at the Vogue in Manistee. Both theaters were owned by Butterfield at one point, so perhaps when they stopped using "Butterfield Green" they decided to use "so gaudy and bright you cant miss it" blue.

I was told by a gentleman there that the old original auditorium went the opposite direction, with the screen being on the furthest wall from the entrance, and that it was 1989 when it was multiplexed. Upon entering the "foyer" to the basement, with the exception of one very large white plaster wall that appears to be related to the ventilation system. To the right, as you go to the basement is a small doorway which appears to lead to storage with what i would guess to be an old circuit breaker of some sort on the wall. The old utility closet next to the door to go to the projection booth is still completely Butterfield Green on the inside.

Info Updates:
9/18/2007 - Andrew
The Lyric Cinema 4 in Ludington closed on September 6, 2007. Final show was "Balls of Fury." Two articles appeared in the Ludington Daily News: "End of an Era (09/06/2007) and "Final Credits Roll at the Lyric" (09/07/2007 - page 1). According to the above articles the theater opened in 1925. -Andrew the Librarian
 Photos:14
Lyric Cinema - From American Classic Images
From American Classic Images
Lyric Cinema - From American Classic Images
From American Classic Images
Lyric Cinema - Sanctuary From Kara Tillotson
Sanctuary From Kara Tillotson
Lyric Cinema - Ceiling From Kara Tillotson
Ceiling From Kara Tillotson
Lyric Cinema - Hallway From Kara Tillotson
Hallway From Kara Tillotson
Lyric Cinema - Old Ceiling From Kara Tillotson
Old Ceiling From Kara Tillotson
Lyric Cinema - Projection Platters From Kara Tillotson
Projection Platters From Kara Tillotson
Lyric Cinema - Screen From Kara Tillotson
Screen From Kara Tillotson
Lyric Cinema - Utility Closet From Kara Tillotson
Utility Closet From Kara Tillotson
Lyric Cinema - Basement From Kara Tillotson
Basement From Kara Tillotson
Lyric Cinema - Original Lyric From Kara Tillotson
Original Lyric From Kara Tillotson
Lyric Cinema - 2019 Street View
2019 Street View
Lyric Cinema - Ad From James Thompson
Ad From James Thompson
Lyric Cinema - Ludington Daily News June 28 1963
Ludington Daily News June 28 1963
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