Emerald Theatre
{{Short description|Theatre in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = Emerald Theatre
| image = Emerald Theatre Interior from Balcony.jpg
| image_caption = Grand opening in 2000
| nickname =
| location = 31 N. Walnut St.
Mt. Clemens, Michigan, United States
| coordinates =
| type = Concert and live performance venue
| architect = C. Howard Crane
| architecture =
| built =
| opened = 1921
| renovated = 2000, 2016
| expanded =
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner =
| former_names = Macomb Theatre
Club Hollywood
Great Lakes Dinner Playhouse
JD's Macomb Theater
Emerald Ballroom
Macomb Music Theatre
| seating_type =
| seating_capacity = General admission 1,640
| website = {{url|theemeraldtheatre.com}}
}}
The Emerald Theatre is a live multi-use entertainment and concert venue located in downtown Mt. Clemens, Michigan.
The venue
The 23,000 square foot venue contains a theater with a general admission capacity of 1,640 on three levels, with cabaret-style terraced seating and a dance floor that both convert to theater-style seating. The mezzanine level contains permanent theater seating and a standing room third floor grand balcony.{{cite web|title=Macomb Music Theatre|url=http://www.macombmusictheatre.com|accessdate=December 26, 2012}} The venue hosts a variety of local and national concert, comedy, corporate, weddings and entertainment events.{{cite web|title=The Emerald Theatre|url=http://www.showmemtclemens.com/emerald.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202042811/http://www.showmemtclemens.com/emerald.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 2, 2013|publisher=Show Me Mount Clemens|accessdate=November 18, 2012}}
History
Opened in 1921 as a grand movie palace and vaudeville live performance venue, the theater was known as the Macomb Theatre until 1987, when it went through a series of name, use and ownership changes.{{cite web|title=The Macomb Theatre|url=http://www.mtclib.org/local%20history/macomb%20theatre.pdf|publisher=Mount Clemens Public Library|accessdate=December 25, 2012}}
The theatre was designed by noted theater architect, C. Howard Crane, who also designed Detroit's Orchestra Hall and Fox Theatre.{{cite web|title=The Macomb Theatre|url=http://www.mtclib.org/local%20history/macomb%20theatre.pdf|publisher=Mount Clemens Public Library|accessdate=November 18, 2012}} One of the first grand movie palaces in the metropolitan Detroit area, the historic theater is the largest venue of its type in Macomb County.
From 2000 to 2012, the venue was known as the Emerald Theatre, and although one of metropolitan Detroit's most successful concert venues during that time, in July 2012, the theater was padlocked in foreclosure by Talmer Bank and Trust, closing the venue.{{cite news|last=Hotts|first=Mitch|title=Emerald Theatre shuts down – what’s next?|url=http://www.macombdaily.com/article/20120719/NEWS01/120719470/emerald-theatre-shuts-down--what-s-next-|accessdate=November 18, 2012|newspaper=The Macomb Daily|date=July 19, 2012}}
On November 5, 2012, the theater was purchased and renovations began on the historic property at an anticipated cost in excess of $2 million.{{cite news|last=Halcom|first=Chad|title=Emerald aims to shine again|url=http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20121111/SUB01/311119970/emerald-aims-to-shine-again|accessdate=December 4, 2012|newspaper=Crain's Detroit Business|date=November 11, 2012}} Under new ownership, it was renamed the Macomb Music Theatre.{{cite web|title=The Macomb Music Theatre|url=http://www.macombmusictheatre.com|accessdate=December 25, 2012}} The newly renovated venue opened its doors on April 13, 2013, with a sold out jazz concert featuring Grammy award winners and nominees Gerald Albright, Norman Brown and Alex Bugnon, followed by the Grammy award-winning comedy duo Cheech & Chong on April 21, 2013, but it closed after a short run in 2014 as a result of a falling out between the partners.{{cite news|last=Hotts|first=Mitch|title=Jazz triple bill opens new theater|url=http://www.dailytribune.com/article/20130412/ENTERTAINMENT01/130419881/jazz-triple-bill-opens-new-theater#full_story|accessdate=April 28, 2013|newspaper=Daily Tribune|date=April 12, 2013}}{{cite news|last=Hotts|first=Mitch|title=Macomb Music Theatre hosts Cheech & Chong, adds Mitch Ryder to lineup|url=http://www.macombdaily.com/article/20130420/NEWS01/130429964/macomb-music-theatre-hosts-cheech--chong-adds-mitch-ryder-to-lineup#full_story|accessdate=April 28, 2013|newspaper=The Macomb Daily|date=April 20, 2013}}{{cite news|last=Hotts|first=Mitch|title=Former Emerald Theatre to go on auction block|url=http://www.macombdaily.com/article/MD/20150820/NEWS/150829961|accessdate=April 26, 2017|newspaper=The Macomb Daily|date=August 20, 2015}}
New owners purchased the property in February 2016, and after further restoration and repairs including a new marquee, redesigned Rock Room bar, and a revival of the Emerald Theatre name, the venue reopened in December 2016, once again hosting live concerts, corporate, wedding and other private and entertainment events.{{cite news|last=Hotts|first=Mitch|title=Mount Clemens' Emerald Theatre is ready to re-open|url=http://www.macombdaily.com/article/MD/20161213/NEWS/161219858|accessdate=April 26, 2017|newspaper=The Macomb Daily|date=December 13, 2016}}
Productions
Notable live events at the venue include the taping of VH1's "Kid Rock Christmas", featuring Kid Rock and Carmen Electra, and the Sports Illustrated Super Bowl XL Party in 2006.{{cite news|last=Hotts|first=Mitch|title=Despite legal woes, Emerald Theatre still open, hosting shows|url=http://www.macombdaily.com/article/20120713/ENTERTAINMENT04/120719843/despite-legal-woes-emerald-theatre-still-open-hosting-shows#full_story|accessdate=December 1, 2012|newspaper=The Macomb Daily|date=July 13, 2012}}{{cite web|title=A Kid Rock Christmas (2003)|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1153042/|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=December 1, 2012}} Other artist performances at the venue include, among others, Uncle Kracker, Funkadelic, Vince Neil, Mike Posner, The Cult, The Insane Clown Posse, Styx, The Psychedelic Furs, Motörhead, Pearl Jam, and Michael Bolton.{{cite news|last=Horn |first=John |title=The Gem of the Clem |url=http://www.realdetroitweekly.com/detroit/the-gem-of-the-clem/Content?oid=1408741 |accessdate=December 1, 2012 |newspaper=Real Detroit Weekly |date=January 4, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202221617/http://www.realdetroitweekly.com/detroit/the-gem-of-the-clem/Content?oid=1408741 |archivedate= December 2, 2013 }}{{cite web|title=Emerald Theatre Past Concerts|url=http://www.songkick.com/venues/13827-emerald-theatre/gigography|publisher=songkick.com|accessdate=December 4, 2012}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Mount Clemens, Michigan}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Cinemas and movie theaters in Michigan
Category:Former cinemas in the United States
Category:Concert halls in Michigan
Category:Performing arts centers in Michigan
Category:Music venues in Michigan
Category:Theatres completed in 1921
Category:Event venues established in 1921
Category:Beaux-Arts architecture in Michigan
Category:Buildings and structures in Macomb County, Michigan