Politics & Government

Royal Oak's Baldwin Theatre Earns Local Historic Designation

The Royal Oak City Commission on Monday voted to designate the Baldwin Theatre a local historic district, meaning a permit must be obtained before any work affecting the exterior appearance of a building can be performed.

Stagecrafters is thrilled with the recognition, said Colleen Muench, the community theater troupe's marketing manager. Stagecrafters purchased the building for $70,000 in 1984.

History of the Grand Old Lady

The Baldwin has been referred to as Royal Oak's "Grand Old Lady." Built in 1922 as a 1,400-seat silent movie theater, it soon transformed into an entertainment center. By 1929, it prided itself as the only theater in Royal Oak playing vaudeville each day of the week.

"On the stage of the Baldwin could be found comedians, acrobatic midgets, trained dogs, magicians, singers, yodelers, hoop rollers, roller skaters, escape artists and hand-to-hand balancing acts," writes the Royal Oak Historic District Study Committee in its study, which was reviewed and approved by the State of Michigan.

However by the 1930s, a new phenomenon transformed the entertainment world  —  talking pictures or "talkies"  — and the theater changed courses again. It was out with the old and in with the new and the Baldwin became the Washington in 1936.

The Washington was the place to be in the 50s, showing family movies, such as "Lady and the Tramp," Muench said.

Fond memories of the Washington
More people today recall seeing an Elvis Presley movie at the Washington than “14 Hotsy Totsy Jazz Pirate Girls” at the original Baldwin, so it's natural that there are many fond memories of the Washington, which worked to keep tickets prices low, according to the Royal Oak Historic District Study Committee.

"I miss that (Washington) marquee and the long walk past the ticket takers, down the aisle to the popcorn and refreshments, before deciding whether to head upstairs to the balcony for mayhem or the main floor to watch a can’t-miss movie such as "Sink the Bismarck!" said Patch columnist Gerry Boylan.

"I worked at Vanity Fair dress shop as a sales girl for my first job. We were right next door to the Washington theater. I remember having lunch at Kresge's lunch bar. We would sneak next door to the Washington for popcorn when our manager was not working," remembers Gloria Marlow.

"Perhaps ticket prices were too low," noted the committee’s study. By 1984, the City of Royal Oak took over the building due to non-payment of utility bills and taxes. Within days of the closing, a fire damaged the stage of the theater.

The Baldwin returns
The sullied theater sat vacant for many years while city officials feared it might take the path of the Studio North (now the Magic Bag) in Ferndale and show X-rated movies.

"At the time, many thought, 'We'll just tear it down, rather than have that influence,'" Muench said.

But City Planner Lew McDaniel had an idea and he collaborated with Stagecrafters to develop a plan to have the none-profit group purchase and renovate the theater. The rest, as they say, is history.

Volunteers from Stagecrafters spent an estimated 500,000 hours patching plaster, painting and refurbishing, according to Royal Oak Historic District Study Committee.

 "The paint was still drying when 'Music Man' opened in 1985," Muench said.

Nearly three decades later, Stagecrafters continues to wow audiences. It has the distinction of being selected the Best Community Theater by Hour Magazine for five years in a row and now its home has earned the title of The Baldwin Theatre Historic District.

Read the complete history of the Baldwin Theatre online on the City of Royal Oak’s website.

For information on Baldwin Theatre performances, show times and ticket prices, visit www.stagecrafters.org.

Share your favorite memories of the Wasington or Baldwin in the comments.    


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