Explore & Enjoy // Art & Culture
Film Theatres
Paula Guthat
In 2013, my husband and I founded Cinema Detroit, still Metro Detroit’s only truly independent movie theater, and the only 7-day-a-week movie theater in Greater Downtown. I am the programmer, booker, marketing manager, and quite often, concessionista.
I bring a wide variety of films, from mainstream movies and indies to world cinema and work from underrepresented voices, to the City. Our theater promotes media literacy and arts education, and provides a community gathering place for watching films and discussing them.
I’m also the founder and co-host of @TCM_Party, the live-tweet of movies on TCM, and I occasionally still blog about, you guessed it, movies, at Paula’s Cinema Club.
There are many unique venues offering very different films. Cinema Detroit shows mostly current first-run and indie films, with some classic restorations and cult films, while Detroit Film Theatre offers more of the foreign films and restorations, and the Redford shows older films.
1
Cinema Detroit
Cinema Detroit - 3rd Avenue, Detroit MI
Cinema Detroit provides access to and discussions of all types of film, including those by underrepresented voices and/or local filmmakers. The theater has a friendly atmosphere in a former furniture store with reasonably priced concessions including fresh popcorn.
2
Michigan Theater
Michigan Theater - East Liberty Street, Ann Arbor MI
Built in 1927, the Michigan features a wide variety of films and live performances in three different spaces. The main room features one of only a handful of pipe organs remaining in our state.
3
The State Theatre
The State Theatre - South State Street, Ann Arbor MI
The Michigan’s newly renovated sister theater shows more mainstream fare right across the street.
4
Detroit Film Theatre
Detroit Film Theatre - John R Street, Detroit MI
Also built in 1927, this heritage theater is part of the Detroit Institute of Arts. It’s a gorgeous setting, with ornate details, for world cinema, restorations, and themed film series.
5
Redford Theatre
Redford Theatre - Lahser Road, Detroit MI
A restored 1928 theater owned and maintained by the Motor City Theater Organ Society, the Redford features classic and newer movies about four times a month. Each show is preceded by a 15-minute pipe organ intro.
6
Senate Theater
Senate Theater - Michigan Avenue, Detroit MI
Home of the Detroit Theater Organ Society and a 1928 Wurlitzer pipe organ, this 1926 theater presents classic films, including silents with organ accompaniment, about twice a month.
