The Gaslight Cinema will close at the end of this year, when the owners of the old Gaslight, which has been in operation since the 40's, plan to open a new, $3.5 million, eight-screen mulitplex down the road. The owners, who also have theaters in nearby Bellaire, Gaylord, Cheboygan and Mackinaw City, claim parking problems and space make the Gaslight impossible to expand.
Already converted into a five screen theater, the 950-seat Gaslight was reportedly too small for their profit margins and no additional auditoriums could be added. The Chamber of Commerce has tried to keep the theater downtown, but the owners decided to move elsewhere after six months of talks. The city will now look for new owners for the theater in an effort to keep the downtown landmark from demolition.
5 Screen - AKA Temple Theater
Source: Rufus Welsheimer
As of June 23rd at about noon the building is left in ruins as the demolition crew knocked down the last of the building to make way for a multi million dollar complex on the whole block. I can submit pictures if needed.