Main Art Theatre remains hub for indie films, cult classics in megaplex era

In an area brimming with eager artists, it’s unfortunate that metro Detroit doesn’t have more movie theaters dedicated to independent films. Buy levaquin 500mg

I asked several aspiring filmmakers from Detroit where they go to premiere their movies, and many of them answered, The Main Art Theatre in Royal Oak. Buy nexium 20mg

Robert Anthony opened the cinematic lair on August 7th, 1941, as a one-screen movie house with a capacity of 800 people. In 1983 they added two more screening rooms and continued to feature art films instead of tacky big budget flicks. Since then, it’s filled a niche on Main Street. Buy plavix 75mg

The building has been updated, but the interior of the theater still carries a Hollywood, golden-age nostalgia. Red curtains hang to the side of the screens, and the biggest theater has small but classic Greek theater art on the wall.

There’s also a lobby showcase that presents creations from metro Detroit artists. A marvelous, multicolored paper maîche exhibit by David Moroski is currently on display. Moroski is a Detroit-based artist who explores his abstract ingenuity with music, paintings and sculptures.

Aside from premiering local films and hosting the annual Mitten Movie Fest (one of the few movie festivals around metro Detroit), the Main Art has intrigued film buffs with Midnight Madness. Each Friday and Saturday at midnight they present a cult film for metro Detroit movie-lovers.

Some moviegoers even arrive in costumes, making films like The Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Big Lebowski especially entertaining. Future showings include Howl’s Moving Castle, The Blues Brothers, Mulholland Drive, Rebel Without a Cause, Psycho and Watership Down.

The movie-viewing experience is different than most. In a film culture that has been cluttered with iMax screens, 3D cinema and reclining seats, the Main Art is a unique cinematic experience. Even if the irritable employees look like they’ve haven’t left the projector’s room for 10 years, it’s all part of the atmosphere.

See what they’re showing next on the Main Art’s website.

Other entertainment stories:

• Yea, HopCat lacks diversity, but the beer and music are great
• Old Miami remains unique gem for music in the Cass Corridor
• Baker’s Keyboard Lounge retains remarkable jazz tradition in Detroit.
• Cadieux Cafe, a former speakeasy, serves up great live shows, Belgian beers
• Punk rock is not dead in Detroit. Trumbullplex, others keep genre alive
• Jack White’s Homecoming at Fox Theatre Was Final Piece of Puzzle
• ‘Whatever’ Festival transforms Detroit house into music festival
• Blue Mountain Belle brings unique sound to PJs Lager House
• Hamtramck’s premier music venue, Smalls, pays homage to 90s’s alternative scene
• Rodrigo Y Gabriela one of best live acts of past decade

  Eric Kiska, Festival, independent films, Movie festival, Movie theater, Movies, Royal Oak, suburbs

Eric Kiska

Eric Kiska graduated from Northern Michigan with a BS in English and writing and minor in art and design. He’s also a former video editor at Detroit Public TV.

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