Did you know that Romeo had two movie theaters going at once? They were the Romeo and Juliet Theatres, and both opened 90 years ago this year.
They were located in downtown Romeo almost next door to each other. The Romeo Theatre was at 145 South Main Street, in the area where the People Driven Credit Union is currently at. The Juliet Theatre was located at 117 South Main Street in the Parker Building. Today, Yorokobi Sushi occupies that space.
The Romeo Theatre was the first to open on January 29, 1936 - 90 years ago today! Its arrival was a big deal in Romeo as people wanted an up-to-date movie theatre for years, especially for "comfort and technical perfection."
Romeoites went to the movies for many reasons, especially to escape their everyday woes brought on by the Great Depression. They deserved a movie theater that provided comfortable seats and wasn't too hot nor cold.
The Romeo Observer publicized the Romeo Theatre two months prior to its opening. In the November 13, 1935 issue, The Romeo Observer provided an architectural drawing of what it would look like, which can be seen below.
The article entitled, "Romeo's New Theatre Building" mentioned that the structure will have "a light green metalon front and a large marques with many colored neon lights."
It also said that the Romeo Theatre will have 500 blue velour upholstered seats, a stage equipped for theatrical productions and amateur performances, a sound-proof room for mothers and crying babies and children, a heating system that provides both warmth and air conditioning, and be fire-proof and sound-proof.
When the Romeo Theatre officially had its grand opening, the newspaper included this advertisement in their January 29, 1936 edition with a bunch of businesses congratulating it (it's a coincidence that the movie theatre opened on the same day that issue came out).
Some of the movies that played at the Romeo Theatre when it first started were A Tale of Two Cities, Romeo and Juliet with Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard, The Great Ziegfield - the Winner of Best Picture in 1936, Poppy with W.C. Fields, Follow the Fleet with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and Mary of Scotland with Katherine Hepburn.
In the late 1930 and early 1940s, the Romeo Theatre produced door hangers to promote films they were going to show. One of them (both front and back) can been seen below. It's currently housed in our digital Romeo Photograph and Postcard Collection along with many other door hangers.
The Romeo Theatre ran for over 30 years years until it closed in 1968. It was dismantled in September 1973 to construct the Detroit Northern and Savings Bank building. That structure still stands today. By the time it was demolished, the Romeo Theatre was known as the Kaleidoscope.
Meanwhile, the Juliet Theatre opened on May 22, 1936 - nearly four months after the Romeo Theatre. The Juliet Theatre previously existed as the Parker Theatre. It operated from 1908 to 1936. The Parker Theatre ran silent films, talkies, and theatre performances. It also was a meeting venue for various organizations like the Romeo Monday Club. In 1935, the Parker Theatre was leased to the Schulte Amusement Company of Detroit, which spearheaded its remodeling.
The company sought to enlarge the theatre by removing the stage, thus "allowing an additional seating capacity, new seats, re-decorated ceiling and sidewalls and a modern front."
The work was done under the supervision of the Johnson & Bremer Co., builders, of Birmingham. With its new name, the Juliet Theatre was set to have its grand opening around May 1, 1936, but it was delayed for three weeks due to the remodeling.
The Romeo Observer included this advertisement for that movie theater on the front page of their May 20, 1936 edition. If you look at the bottom of the notice, you'll see how it boasts about having the most up-to-date air conditioning and lighting, the latest sound technologies, comfy seats, and a modern appearance.
The opening film was Mr. Deeds Goes to Town starring Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur - the original version of 2002's Mr. Deeds with Adam Sandler.
The Juliet Theatre ran for over a decade until it closed for the summer in 1949. By early 1951, the C.F. Smith Co. grocery store took over the movie theater's old space.
From 1936 to the late 1940s, the Romeo and Juliet Theatres ran nearly side by side. But, did they ever run the same film at similar dates? As far as I know, they didn't. Film was expensive at that period, and it took a long time for a movie to be seen all over the country. Additionally, it seems a little silly for two movie theaters located on the same street to show the same flick.
For example, the May 27, 1936 issue of The Romeo Observer displayed advertisements for both movie theaters, and there's not a single film they share.
Although the Romeo and Juliet Theatres are no longer with us, their histories remain. In addition, a different Romeo Theatre is here in Washington, so honor the past movie theaters' memories by seeing one there whenever you have the chance!
To learn more about the Romeo and Juliet Theatres, you can contact the Romeo Community Archives at rca@romemodistrictlibrary.org or call (586) 690-4890. If you want to search for articles on that topic, you can find the Romeo newspapers like The Romeo Observer on the Suburban Library Cooperative's Local History Digital Collection website.
Images and sources courtesy of the Romeo Community Archives; Romeo Photograph and Postcard Collection; Melvin E. and Joan D. Bleich Collection, The Romeo Observer, October 2, 1935, p.7; November 13, 1935, p.1; January 29, 1936, p.12; April 1, 1936, p.4; May 20, 1936, p.1; May 27, 1936, p.1 and p.4; July 7, 1949, p.8; March 29, 1951, p.I-1; August 23, 1973, p.1-A; and September 13, 1973, p.1-A and p.3-A
