Fisher Theatre

Fisher Theatre is a historic National Register of Historic Places-listed theater located in Detroit, Michigan, and is one of the oldest surviving Broadway (theatre)-style theaters in the United States. The theater was designed by renowned architect Joseph Urban and built by the Fisher Brothers, a group of seven brothers who were prominent Detroit-based entrepreneurs, including Charles Fisher (automotive pioneer), William A. Fisher, and Lawrence P. Fisher. The theater's construction was influenced by the works of Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Comfort Tiffany, and its design reflects the Art Deco style popular during the Roaring Twenties, with similarities to other notable Art Deco buildings, such as the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building.

● History

The Fisher Theatre was opened on November 11, 1928, with a performance of the Broadway (theatre) musical The New Moon (1928 musical), featuring Evelyn Herbert and Robert Halliday (actor). The theater quickly became a popular venue for vaudeville and live theater performances, hosting acts such as Charlie Chaplin, The Marx Brothers, and W.C. Fields. During the Great Depression, the theater continued to operate, offering affordable entertainment to the people of Detroit, with support from organizations like the Works Progress Administration and the Federal Theatre Project. The theater also hosted performances by notable jazz and blues musicians, including Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Bessie Smith, who were also associated with other famous venues, such as Carnegie Hall and the Apollo Theater.

● Architecture

The Fisher Theatre was designed in the Art Deco style, with a striking exterior façade featuring a terracotta and limestone exterior, and a ornate interior with intricate plasterwork, gilding, and stained glass windows, similar to those found in other notable Art Deco buildings, such as the 30 Rockefeller Plaza and the Guardian Building. The theater's design was influenced by the works of Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Comfort Tiffany, and its construction was overseen by the Fisher Brothers, who also developed other notable buildings in Detroit, including the Fisher Building and the New Center Building. The theater's auditorium features a large proscenium arch and a Wurlitzer organ, which was installed in 1928 and is still in use today, with similarities to other historic Wurlitzer organs found in theaters like the Radio City Music Hall and the Orpheum Theatre (Los Angeles).

● Performances

The Fisher Theatre has hosted a wide range of performances over the years, including Broadway (theatre) musicals, concerts, and comedy acts. The theater has been a popular venue for touring Broadway (theatre) productions, including The Phantom of the Opera (musical), Chicago (musical), and The Lion King (musical), which have also been performed at other notable theaters, such as the Gershwin Theatre and the Minskoff Theatre. The theater has also hosted performances by notable musicians, including Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and Michael Jackson, who have also performed at other famous venues, such as Madison Square Garden and the Hollywood Bowl. In addition, the theater has been used for film screenings and award shows, including the Detroit Film Critics Society Awards and the Michigan Emmy Awards, which have also been held at other notable venues, such as the Fillmore Detroit and the Fox Theatre (Detroit).

● Restoration

In the 1960s, the Fisher Theatre underwent a major restoration project, which aimed to restore the theater to its original Art Deco grandeur. The project was overseen by the Fisher Theatre Foundation, a non-profit organization established to preserve and maintain the theater, with support from organizations like the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Historic Preservation Society. The restoration project included the repair and replacement of the theater's ornate plasterwork, gilding, and stained glass windows, as well as the installation of new seating and sound and lighting systems, similar to those found in other restored historic theaters, such as the Orpheum Theatre (San Francisco) and the Warner Theatre (Washington, D.C.). The restoration project was completed in 1967 and has since been recognized with several awards, including the National Preservation Award and the Michigan Historic Preservation Award, which have also been awarded to other notable restoration projects, such as the Restoration of the White House and the Restoration of the United States Capitol.

● Notable Events

The Fisher Theatre has hosted many notable events over the years, including the Detroit premiere of the film Gone with the Wind (film), which was attended by Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh, who were also associated with other famous films, such as It Happened One Night and A Streetcar Named Desire (1951 film). The theater has also hosted performances by notable comedy acts, including Richard Pryor and George Carlin, who have also performed at other famous venues, such as the Comedy Store and the Improv. In addition, the theater has been used for fundraising events and charity functions, including benefits for the United Way and the American Red Cross, which have also been held at other notable venues, such as the Ford Field and the Joe Louis Arena. The theater has also hosted events in conjunction with other notable organizations, such as the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Michigan Opera Theatre, which have also performed at other famous venues, such as the Max M. Fisher Music Center and the Detroit Opera House.