HomeMovie TheatersEastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook)

Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - Kentwood MI

Address: 2525 Lake Eastbrook Blvd SE
City: Kentwood
State: MI
Zip: 49546
County: Kent
Open: 1970's
Capacity: 1600
Owner History:
Theater Type: Shopping Center - Early Multiplex
Number of visits to this page: 8160
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:

AKA Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook

Update Jan 2024: The old Eastbrook Theatre/Orbit Room was demolished in March 2023.

Update from webmaster: The Orbit Room closed in 2018. Apparently there were safety issues with the venue and it was the site of some violent crimes. There were several news reports on it. Kind of a shame because lots of big music acts played there for years.

From Cinema Treasures

Located on Lake Eastbrook at the Eastbrook Mall. It originally opened as a single screen theatre. It was later twinned by dividing it down the middle. They failed to extend the projection booth and the projectors weren’t centered on the screens. It was annoying to the patrons because one edge was always slightly out of focus. The theatre closed in the late 1980’s and converted to a club called the Orbit Room operated by Clear Channel.

Source: James W. Ashley

I was a projectionist and assistant manager here (1981 - 1986). Lots of great memories. We ran Bauer and Simplex projectors, with Dolby sound. There was a remote startup panel behind the ticket booth on the ground floor that we sometimes used, but it was unreliable, and as often as not resulted in a run upstairs to get the slack out of the take-up reel. Attendance was poor to moderate and dwindled over the years ... Our biggest hit during my tenure was Poltergeist (1982), which we ran as an exclusive in town.

My greatest memory of this place, however, was seeing my favorite movie (2001: A Space Odyssey) at the age of 4 in 70 mm (Spring, 1968). Years later while I was working there, after the management learned that this was my favorite film, I was given several posters, one-sheets, promo cards, and even a 35 mm reel of the trailer that they still had in storage for some reason.

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Info Updates:
11/11/2022 - Sarah B
Cinema treasures page https://www.waterwinterwonderland.com/movietheaters.aspx?id=999&type=5
3/22/2021 - Eric Olsen
My first job was an usher at the theatre, was paid $1 dollar an hour, with lots of benefits, free popcorn, pop, and free movies. The first movie I remember was The Odd Couple. The big one in 1969 was 2001 A Space Odyssey, with reserved seating. The craziest movie for me was Alice's Restaurant, where we passed out for free the brownie recipe minus the magic ingredient. Now, we could give the patrons that missing ingredient. In 1969 Eastbrook seated 1201, the most of any theater in the area, and I believe had the biggest screen. The projectionists were union and nobody but union members were supposed to be in the booth, but one day when the boss was away I got to see those big projectors. It was quite a thrill for this 17 year old. If I wanted the big bucks (1.25 pr hr) I signed up for Saturday cleanup. Some 20 years later I came back for a concert, now called the Orbit Room. I didn't recognize the place. The stage was now where the back rows were.
2/9/2004 - John McDowell
Originally built as a single screen house, it was later twinned by dividing it down the middle (front to back). Unfortunately, they didn't extend the projection booth and therefore, the projector wasn't centered on the screens. This made it a bit annoying to watch the film because one edge was always slightly out of focus. It was equipped for 70mm (at least when it was a single screen). As a small town projectionist who only ran 35mm, I visited their booth and was allowed to thread a 70mm print. I remember that it took me as long to thread that as it did the first time I threaded a 35mm machine. ;-)
2/2/2004 - King Chuck
The theatre is now the Clear Channel-owned club Orbit Room, and hosts rock concerts and dances.
1/29/2004 - WaterWinterWonderland
This appears to be a typical multiplex that was built in a shopping center, many of which have given way to larger, stand-alone mega-plexes with stadium seating like the Celebration Cinema in nearby Grand Rapids.
 Photos:31
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - Demo Begins March 2023 From Woodtv
Demo Begins March 2023 From Woodtv
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - The Final Look Before Demo March 2023 From Wzzm13
The Final Look Before Demo March 2023 From Wzzm13
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - May 29 2022
May 29 2022
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - May 29 2022
May 29 2022
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - May 29 2022
May 29 2022
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - May 29 2022
May 29 2022
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - May 29 2022
May 29 2022
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - May 29 2022
May 29 2022
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - May 29 2022
May 29 2022
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - From Real Estate Listing
From Real Estate Listing
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - Dawn And Ron From James W Ashley
Dawn And Ron From James W Ashley
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - Theater 2 James W Ashley
Theater 2 James W Ashley
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - Bauers From James W Ashley
Bauers From James W Ashley
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - 1982 Ashley Usher Eastbrook From James W Ashley
1982 Ashley Usher Eastbrook From James W Ashley
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - Allison From James Ashley
Allison From James Ashley
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - Bill From James Ashley
Bill From James Ashley
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - Bill Schaefer From James Ashley
Bill Schaefer From James Ashley
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - Dr Ashley From James Ashley
Dr Ashley From James Ashley
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - Prices From James Ashley
Prices From James Ashley
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - 1990 Yearbook Photo
1990 Yearbook Photo
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - As The Orbit Room Concert Venue
As The Orbit Room Concert Venue
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - As The Orbit Room Concert Venue
As The Orbit Room Concert Venue
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - As The Orbit Room Concert Venue
As The Orbit Room Concert Venue
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - As The Orbit Room Concert Venue
As The Orbit Room Concert Venue
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - 1968 Ad
1968 Ad
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - Aug 1989 Ad
Aug 1989 Ad
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - Closed 2018
Closed 2018
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - Jan 1993 Ad
Jan 1993 Ad
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - Kids Lining Up In 2012
Kids Lining Up In 2012
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - Sept 1991 Article
Sept 1991 Article
Eastbrook Theatre (The Orbit Room, Club Eastbrook) - Shooting At Concert Venue
Shooting At Concert Venue
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