Welcome to CinemaTour!  Sign In

CinemaTour
 
Cinema History Around the World  
 HOME ·· CINEMAS ·· LINKS ·· BOOKS
 Contact Cinematour ·· Help & Hints ·· About Cinematour
 

Wayne Theater


1927 Photo from the Matthew Wilkinson collection.
35164 W Michigan Ave
Wayne MI

Demolished
Record #13329  
 Opened: August 27, 1927
 Closed: 1951
 Demolished: Yes (date unknown)
Capacity: 850 seats
Architect(s):
Architectural Style(s):
National Register:
Current Organ: none
 Also Known As: Shafer Wayne
 Previously operated by: Woodward Theatres

The Wayne was built for Henry Koppin, who leased the theater as part of the Woodard Vaudeville circuit, in 1927. The theater was managed by Walter Shafer until Koppin went under in 1930. Shafer borrowed $500 from his mother for the first month's rent and took over ownership of the Wayne. Later called the Shafer-Wayne, it was the family's first of many local theaters.

The Wayne closed in 1951 and was split to house the Wayne Amusement Company offices and a basement bowling alley. In 1985, a fire destroyed the theater's lobby and storefronts. It took 37 firefighters from four cities to put out the blaze.

A non-profit group called the Palace Theatre Company in the city of Wayne is currently holding fundraisers to attempt a restoration effort for the Wayne Theatre.

 Photos
 Photos remain the property of the Member and may not be reproduced without the written consent of the Member.

1927 photos from the Matthew Wilkinson collection.


80 KB · 625x484

53 KB · 625x492

79 KB · 625x485


---
---

Return to the top of this page   or   Return to the main page


Last featured 3/9/2005. Last edited 2/17/2014.


The content of this website is a research work in progress and is being provided to the public for informational purposes only. As such, articles may contain errors, bias, duplication, or need to be cleaned up. Some documents, images and logos contained in these documents belong to various organizations and corporations. Their inclusion here is for the benefit of the reader and for the benefit of the particular organization, but they are, in fact, the copyrighted property of those organizations. Their presence here does not imply any endorsement of CinemaTour by those organizations. CinemaTour is not affiliated with any cinema or circuit.

© 1995-2024 Vision Entertainment Services. All rights reserved.
Use of this site signifies agreement to terms of service.

www.cinematour.com :: 0.62 MB :: 6.34 MB