Maltz Opera House
The Maltz Opera House is a historic theater in Alpena, Michigan, originally opened in 1879 and being restored for a planned return as a live-performance venue.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Maltz Opera House is a historic theater and cultural venue in Alpena, Michigan. It was named for George L. Maltz, a prominent Alpena banker, civic leader, former mayor, Michigan state treasurer, and University of Michigan regent. The original theater opened on November 11, 1879, as part of the Maltz Block, a larger commercial building in downtown Alpena. Its second-floor auditorium accommodated approximately 832 people and was equipped with an early electrical system and multiple scenery sets, supporting the theatrical conventions of the late nineteenth century. The original building was extensively renovated around 1924, but the Maltz Block burned in January 1925. The fire destroyed the original opera house and caused substantial property damage. A replacement theater opened later in 1925. Unlike the first venue, the rebuilt theater placed its auditorium on the first floor and used concrete, steel, and other fire-resistant construction materials. The venue entered a period of commercial cinema operation in the late 1920s. W. S. Butterfield Theatres acquired control in 1927, and sound-film equipment was installed in 1929. The first sound presentation, The Bellamy Trial, attracted more than 4,000 ticket sales across its opening-day showings, according to the theater's historical account. In 1955, the theater reopened after renovation under the name State Theater. The updated venue included air conditioning, CinemaScope capability, and a horizontal State marquee that replaced the earlier vertical Maltz sign. The reason for the renaming was not publicly explained by W. S. Butterfield Theatres. The building later passed through several cinema operators. Butterfield sold its theaters, including the State, to GKC Theatres in 1984. During the 1990s, GKC converted the former single auditorium into a multiplex, first separating the balcony from the main floor and later dividing the main floor into three auditoriums. Much of the original plasterwork and decorative material remained in place despite the conversion. Carmike Cinemas acquired the theater in 2005 in a transaction involving multiple GKC locations, operating it as Carmike State Cinemas. AMC Theatres acquired Carmike in 2016 and subsequently operated the Alpena venue. AMC closed the theater in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, local developers Jeff and Tina Konczak purchased the State and began work on the property. Early interior demolition revealed significant surviving elements of the historic Maltz theater, including plaster statues, murals, and performer signatures in the dressing rooms. The Konczak family restored the Maltz Opera House name and has stated an intention to reopen the building as a live-performance venue rather than continue it solely as a multiplex cinema. In 2022, the owners announced plans to pursue listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Restoration was still in progress in the latest cited account, and the venue's operating status and reopening date had not been established. The property therefore represents both a historic local theater brand and an ongoing preservation project.
History
The Maltz Opera House originated in Alpena's nineteenth-century commercial and civic development. Construction began in 1876 as part of the Maltz Block, named for banker and civic leader George L. Maltz. The theater opened on November 11, 1879, on the building's second floor. Its auditorium seated approximately 832 people and included an early electrical installation and ten complete scenery sets, making it an important regional entertainment venue. The building underwent major renovation around 1924, but the Maltz Block burned in January 1925. The fire destroyed the original opera house and resulted in significant property loss. A replacement Maltz Theater opened later that year. The rebuilt structure used a first-floor auditorium and emphasized fire-resistant construction, including concrete, steel, and other noncombustible materials. W. S. Butterfield Theatres took control in 1927 as part of its expansion across Michigan. In 1929, the theater received Movietone and Vitaphone equipment. The first sound film shown there, The Bellamy Trial, drew more than 4,000 ticket sales during its opening-day presentations. After another renovation, the venue reopened as the State Theater on August 3, 1955. The changes included air conditioning, CinemaScope technology, and a new horizontal State marquee. The theater had previously possessed a pipe organ, but the instrument was removed from theatrical use after the transition to talking pictures and was later sold to Immanuel Lutheran Church in 1976. W. S. Butterfield Theatres sold its locations to GKC Theatres in 1984. GKC modernized the Alpena theater during the 1990s by converting its original auditorium into a multiplex. The first phase, in 1990, separated the balcony from the main floor. A second phase, completed in 1994, divided the main floor into three auditoriums. Although the changes altered the historic spatial arrangement, much of the original plaster decoration and interior ornament survived. Carmike Cinemas purchased the theater from GKC in 2005. Under Carmike it operated as Carmike State Cinemas. AMC Theatres acquired Carmike in 2016 and continued operating the Alpena location under its theater network. AMC closed the venue in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Local developers Jeff and Tina Konczak, who had previously explored buying the theater, acquired the State in 2021. Restoration and demolition work soon exposed surviving features from the historic Maltz interior, including plaster statues, murals, and signatures left by performers in dressing-room areas. The family revived the Maltz Opera House name and described a plan to reopen the property as a live-performance venue. In 2022, the owners stated that they would seek National Register of Historic Places recognition. Restoration remained underway in the latest available account, and no confirmed reopening date or final operating status was available.
- 2022
National Register plans announced
[1]The owners announced plans to pursue National Register of Historic Places listing.
- 2021
Konczak acquisition and restoration
[1]Jeff and Tina Konczak bought the theater, uncovered historic interiors, and revived the Maltz Opera House identity.
- 2020
AMC closure
[1]The theater closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2016
AMC acquired Carmike
[1]AMC Theatres acquired Carmike Cinemas and subsequently operated the Alpena venue.
- 2005
Carmike acquired the theater
[1]Carmike Cinemas purchased the theater as part of a larger acquisition of GKC locations.
- 1994
Multiplex conversion completed in stages
[1]The main floor was divided into three auditoriums after the balcony had been separated in the first phase.
- 1990
Multiplex conversion began
[1]GKC started converting the former single auditorium into multiple screens.
- 1984
Ownership transferred to GKC Theatres
[1]W. S. Butterfield Theatres sold its theaters, including the State, to GKC Theatres.
- 1976
Pipe organ sold
[1]The theater's former pipe organ was sold to Immanuel Lutheran Church.
- 1955
Renamed State Theater
[1]The renovated venue reopened as the State Theater with air conditioning and CinemaScope capability.
Products and positioning
A locally significant historic theater being repositioned from a multiplex cinema into a restored live-performance and cultural venue.
Historic theater · 1879
Original Maltz Opera House
The original venue opened in 1879 as a second-floor auditorium in the Maltz Block. It seated about 832 people and was equipped with an early electrical system and ten scenery sets. This building was destroyed in the 1925 fire.
Theater and cinema venue · 1925
Maltz Theater
The replacement theater opened in 1925 after the original building burned. Its concrete-and-steel construction emphasized fire resistance, and it later became a venue for both theatrical use and motion pictures.
Cinema venue · 1955
State Theater
Renamed in 1955, the State Theater operated as a conventional cinema before being converted into a multiplex during the 1990s. It later passed through GKC, Carmike, and AMC ownership and closed in 2020.
Live-performance venue
Restored Maltz Opera House
The current owners are restoring the property and intend to return it to the Maltz Opera House name. Their stated concept is a live-performance venue that preserves historic plasterwork, murals, statues, and other surviving interior features.
Brand decisions
2021
Restore the historic identity and pursue live performanceStrategyBackground
After AMC closed the theater during the pandemic, Jeff and Tina Konczak acquired the property and discovered important historic features during demolition.
Action taken
The owners restored the Maltz Opera House name, began renovations, and stated an intention to reopen the building as a live-performance venue.
Aftermath
Restoration continued, and the owners later announced plans to pursue National Register of Historic Places recognition. A confirmed reopening date was not available.
1990
Convert the auditorium into a multiplexGeneration changeBackground
GKC Theatres sought to modernize the former single-auditorium State Theater for the multiplex era.
Action taken
GKC separated the balcony from the main floor and later divided the main floor into three auditoriums.
Aftermath
The venue gained multiple screens while retaining much of its historic plasterwork and decorative interior.
1955
Rename the venue as State TheaterStrategyBackground
Following renovation, W. S. Butterfield Theatres reopened the Maltz under a new name and updated its facilities for mid-century cinema.
Action taken
The Maltz name was replaced by State Theater, with air conditioning, CinemaScope technology, and a new marquee.
Aftermath
The building continued operating as a cinema for decades, although the reason for the name change was not explained.
Recent events
- 2022
Owners announced plans for historic-register pursuit[1]
Other
The owners announced that they intended to pursue National Register of Historic Places recognition for the theater.
- 2021
Konczak family acquired the theater[1]
M&A
Jeff and Tina Konczak purchased the former State theater and began restoration work.
- 2021
Historic interior features uncovered during restoration[1]
Other
Interior demolition revealed original Maltz-era plaster statues, murals, and performer signatures in dressing rooms.
- 2020
AMC closed the theater during the COVID-19 pandemic[1]
Regulation
AMC Theatres closed the State location amid pandemic-related theater shutdowns.
- 1990
GKC converted the State into a multiplex[1]
Product generation
GKC Theatres began a multistage conversion that divided the former single auditorium while retaining substantial historic decoration.
- 1955
Maltz Theater reopened as State Theater[1]
Product generation
Following renovation, the theater adopted the State Theater name and added air conditioning and CinemaScope presentation.
- 1929
The rebuilt theater added sound-film equipment[1]
Product generation
Movietone and Vitaphone equipment was installed, and The Bellamy Trial became the first sound film shown at the rebuilt venue.
- 1925
Original Maltz Opera House destroyed by fire[1]
Other
The original Maltz Block, including the opera house, burned in January 1925 after renovations had been completed.
Sources2 sources
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