State Wayne Theater

State Wayne Theater is a historic cinema and performance venue at 35310 Michigan Avenue in downtown Wayne, Michigan. Although formally opened as the State Theater, it became commonly known as the State Wayne because Detroit-area newspaper listings used the combined name to distinguish it from other theaters called the State Theater. The venue is now marketed as the Phoenix State Wayne Theater under a sponsorship-related naming arrangement. The theater traces its origins to plans developed by Walter Shafer and his family, who also owned Wayne Theater, a nearby cinema that operated from 1927 to 1951. The Shafers began planning a new theater around 1940 and acquired land, but construction was delayed by World War II. The building was eventually completed in 1946 as a fireproof brick-and-cinder-block structure with a modern Art Deco design. Its original auditorium seated approximately 1,500 people, making it a substantial entertainment venue for the community. A major modernization took place in 1964. Carpeting, seats, and upholstery were replaced, while the lobby and auditorium received a modern Asian-inspired decorative treatment. The renovation included an Indian fountain and lamps, as well as dragon murals painted by Dutch artist Anton Mom. The building was later divided into two screens. By the late 1970s, however, the theater faced pressure from suburban multiplexes and declining attendance. The venue closed in 1977 and was leased to the Michigan Opry, which intended to convert it into a live-music space. That plan ended after several years, and the theater reopened in 1980 with admission priced at 99 cents. The Shafer family sold the property to National Amusements in 1986, but the new owner closed it soon afterward. In 1991, the City of Wayne acquired the theater using more than $500,000 in downtown development authority funds and restored it. The city subsequently configured the building with three movie screens and a live-performance stage and operated it until 2012. Phoenix Theaters assumed management in August 2012. During its first year, attendance reportedly rose by 20 percent compared with the preceding year, and the operators received the Wayne Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year recognition for 2013. Phoenix Theaters purchased the theater outright in September 2014 and carried out additional improvements, including full reclining seats, Christie digital projection, and 7.1 Dolby Digital sound in each auditorium. The theater’s current programming combines first-run films with live events. Its three primary auditoriums show commercially released movies, while the stage hosts recurring performances of The Rocky Horror Picture Show presented by the Michigan Rocky Horror Preservation Society. These performances are held twice monthly and have frequently sold out, giving the venue a continuing role in local specialty entertainment beyond conventional film exhibition. The property is also associated with the Wayne History Mural on its east wall. The hand-painted mural uses trompe-l'oeil techniques and muted colors intended to resemble carved architectural decoration. Its panels address four themes: People, Pride and Progress; Industrial Growth; Community Life; and A Road Runs Through It. The project emerged from the public-art activity associated with Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm's Cool Cities initiative and Wayne's 2020 Committee. The mural was dedicated on October 16, 2007, and rededicated on October 28, 2008 after additional panels were completed. State Wayne Theater therefore functions both as a commercial cinema and as a preserved civic landmark in Wayne's downtown.

The State Wayne Theater developed from a prewar effort by Walter Shafer and his family to establish a major new cinema in Wayne, Michigan. The Shafers operated the nearby Wayne Theater, which had opened in 1927, and began planning another venue around 1940. They prepared architectural plans and acquired land, but the outbreak of World War II postponed construction. The project was eventually completed in 1946 as the State Theater. The completed building was designed in a modern Art Deco style and constructed from fireproof brick and cinder block. Its single auditorium seated about 1,500 people. Although the official name was State Theater, local residents and Detroit newspapers commonly referred to it as State Wayne. Newspaper listings used the hyphenated form State-Wayne in part to separate it from similarly named theaters in Ann Arbor and Pontiac. In 1964, the theater received a reported $75,000 modernization. The work replaced carpets, seats, and upholstery and introduced a modern Asian decorative concept in the lobby and auditorium. Features included a fountain, lamps from India, and dragon murals created by Dutch artist Anton Mom. The auditorium was later split into two screens, reflecting the broader industry shift toward multiplex-style exhibition. By the late 1970s, suburban multiplexes had weakened the theater's competitive position. It closed in 1977 and was leased to the Michigan Opry, which proposed using the space for live music. That conversion did not last, and the venue reopened in 1980 with low-cost 99-cent admission. In 1986, the Shafer family sold the property to National Amusements, which closed it soon afterward. The City of Wayne intervened in 1991, purchasing and restoring the building with more than $500,000 in downtown development authority funds. The municipal redevelopment converted the property into a three-screen cinema with a live stage. The city operated the theater for roughly two decades, maintaining it as both an entertainment business and a downtown preservation project. Phoenix Theaters assumed management in August 2012. The operator reported a 20 percent attendance increase in its first year and received the Wayne Chamber of Commerce's Business of the Year award for 2013. Phoenix acquired the property in September 2014 and upgraded the facility with reclining seating, Christie digital projectors, and 7.1 Dolby Digital audio in every auditorium. The venue continues to show first-run films across three screens and to host live events. Its recurring presentation of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, organized with the Michigan Rocky Horror Preservation Society, is a notable specialty attraction and is scheduled twice each month. The theater's east wall also carries the Wayne History Mural, a trompe-l'oeil public-art project developed through local civic initiatives. Dedicated in 2007 and rededicated in 2008 after further panels were added, the mural presents a visual history of Wayne through four thematic sections. The building consequently remains a hybrid of commercial cinema, performance venue, and local historic landmark.

• 2014

  Phoenix Theaters becomes owner

  [1]State Wayne Theateren.wikipedia.org

  Phoenix Theaters purchased the theater and implemented auditorium technology and seating upgrades.

• 2012

  Phoenix Theaters begins management

  [1]State Wayne Theateren.wikipedia.org

  Phoenix Theaters took over operation of the city-owned theater in August.

• 2008

  Wayne History Mural rededicated

  [1]State Wayne Theateren.wikipedia.org

  The mural was rededicated after additional panels were completed.

• 2007

  Wayne History Mural dedicated

  [1]State Wayne Theateren.wikipedia.org

  The east-wall public mural portraying Wayne's civic history was dedicated.

• 1991

  Municipal restoration

  [1]State Wayne Theateren.wikipedia.org

  Wayne acquired and restored the theater, dividing it into three screens and adding a live stage.

• 1986

  National Amusements acquisition

  [1]State Wayne Theateren.wikipedia.org

  The Shafer family sold the theater to National Amusements, which subsequently closed the venue.

• 1980

  Cinema reopens with discount admission

  [1]State Wayne Theateren.wikipedia.org

  The theater resumed movie exhibition with tickets priced at 99 cents.

• 1977

  Temporary closure and live-music conversion attempt

  [1]State Wayne Theateren.wikipedia.org

  The cinema closed and was leased to the Michigan Opry for a proposed live-music operation.

• 1964

  Interior renovation

  [1]State Wayne Theateren.wikipedia.org

  A major renovation replaced seating and finishes and introduced an Asian-inspired interior with decorative murals and fixtures.

• 1946

  State Theater opens

  [1]State Wayne Theateren.wikipedia.org

  The Art Deco theater was completed with a single auditorium seating approximately 1,500 people.

• 1940

  New theater planning begins

  [1]State Wayne Theateren.wikipedia.org

  Walter Shafer and his family developed plans and acquired land for a new theater in Wayne, but construction was delayed by World War II.

A locally significant historic cinema that combines current movie releases, specialty programming, and live performance in a restored Art Deco-era venue.

• Cinema programming

  First-run movie exhibition

  The theater operates three main auditoriums showing commercially released first-run motion pictures. Its post-1991 configuration allows the historic building to function as a small multiplex while retaining a live-performance stage.

• Specialty live cinema event

  The Rocky Horror Picture Show

  The venue hosts recurring performances and screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show with the Michigan Rocky Horror Preservation Society. The events are presented twice monthly and are described as frequently selling out.

• Live entertainment · 1991

  Live-performance stage

  Alongside its three movie auditoriums, the theater maintains a stage for live performances. The stage reflects the building's recurring use for non-film entertainment, including the Rocky Horror presentations.

• 2003Wayne History Mural civic-art initiative

  Wayne, Michigan, United States

  Local public-art planning developed in connection with Michigan's Cool Cities initiative and Wayne's 2020 Committee led to the creation of a large historical mural on the theater's east wall.

  Outcome. The mural was dedicated in 2007 and expanded and rededicated in 2008, becoming a visible civic feature associated with the theater.

  Source

• 2014

  Phoenix Theaters purchases the venueM&A

  Background

  After managing the city-owned theater for approximately two years, Phoenix Theaters moved to direct ownership.

  Action taken

  Phoenix Theaters bought the property in September and upgraded every auditorium with reclining seats, Christie digital projectors, and 7.1 Dolby Digital sound.

  Aftermath

  The venue continued operating as a three-screen first-run cinema with a live stage under the Phoenix State Wayne Theater name.

  Source

• 2012

  Phoenix Theaters assumes managementStrategy

  Background

  The city-owned theater was seeking an operating model for its restored cinema and stage facilities.

  Action taken

  Phoenix Theaters took over management in August and continued the venue's film and live-event programming.

  Aftermath

  Attendance was reported to have increased 20 percent in the first year of Phoenix management, followed by a 2013 local business award.

  Source

• 1991

  Municipal restoration and multiplex conversionStrategy

  Background

  After closure and unsuccessful private ownership, the City of Wayne sought to preserve the theater as a downtown asset.

  Action taken

  The city purchased and restored the building, creating three movie screens and a live stage.

  Aftermath

  The venue returned to operation as a hybrid cinema and performance facility.

  Downtown development authority restoration funding. More than $500,000 (1991)

  Source

• 1964

  Modernization and thematic redesignOther

  Background

  The theater undertook a major refurbishment as it adapted its historic interior for changing audience expectations.

  Action taken

  It replaced carpets, seats, and upholstery and introduced an Asian-inspired decorative scheme with an Indian fountain, lamps, and dragon murals.

  Aftermath

  The renovation preserved the venue's identity while substantially changing its interior presentation.

  Renovation cost. $75,000 (1964)

  Source

1. 1State Wayne Theateren.wikipedia.org
2. 2Phoenix Theaters State Wayne locationphoenixmovies.net