Fisher Theatre Information
The Fisher Theatre, originally built as a movie/vaudeville
house within the confines of the Fisher Building,
opened on November 11, 1928. Although the Fisher Building
was designed by Albert Kahn, he left the theatre design
to the architectural firm of Graven and Mayger from
Chicago. They designed the movie house as a Mayan
Temple and utilized actual historic designs from such
places as Quirigua in central Guatemala; Chichen Itza
on the Yucatan Peninsula; Copan in western Honduras;
and southeastern Mexico. Sylvanus G. Morley, an Associate
in American Archaeology at the Carnegie Institute
in Washington D.C., helped authenticate these designs
and wrote an article about the Mayans for the opening
day program. Even the Fisher Theatre's Wurlitzer Organ
was designed in the Mayan style by Arsene Siegel of
Chicago. The theatre seated approximately 3,500 and
opened with a full orchestra, organ recital, stage
show, and the showing of Outcast starring Corinne
Griffith.
The Fisher Theatre became an all movie house just
as most other vaudeville theatres did after the advent
of sound motion pictures. It operated until the decline
of the neighborhood and lack of attendance, forced
it to close December 31, 1960. At this time the theatre
was gutted to be redesigned as a legitimate stage
theatre. The organ was saved and ultimately found
a home in the Senate Theater, which is the home of
the Detroit Theater Organ Society. Concerts are held
there monthly by world-famous artists and are open
to club members and their guests.
The "New Fisher Theatre" opened under the
management of the Nederlander Theatrical Corporation
in September of 1961. The interior was redesigned
by the architectural firm of Rapp and Rapp of Chicago.
Coincidentally both Graven and Mayger had worked for
them before they joined forces and opened their own
architectural office. The interior is resplendent
with marble, Indian rosewood and walnut paneling and
crystal and bronze decorative work. The stage and
lighting were designed by Ralph Alswang, a New York
theatrical lighting expert. The well-known firm of
Bolt-Baranek and Newman were hired as acoustical consultants
to insure perfect sound throughout the theatre. The
seating was scaled down to 2,089 seats to insure intimacy
and good sightlines, the last row of the balcony is
only 92 feet from the stage.
The theatre continues to operate today offering audiences
quality live theatrical productions and musical concerts
and is used frequently for corporate events and charitable
functions. As recently as 1996, President Bill Clinton
gave a major foreign policy speech at the Fisher Theatre.
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