Alpine Four Theatre
3219 Alpine Avenue NW,
Grand Rapids,
MI
49544
3219 Alpine Avenue NW,
Grand Rapids,
MI
49544
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Grand opening ad posted.
Water Winter Wonderland link with additional photos.
http://www.waterwinterwonderland.com/movietheaters.aspx?id=905&type=5&fbclid=IwAR2mkoNOUuptGvQ0c0oX00oMxIqSjvYTbFIDoOPxvsOrVcDZl225Uhhxcyc
As cited in my retrospective article, “The Game Changer”, the Alpine (then a twin) held the longest-running engagement of “Jaws.”
thanks Cwalczak,Sure sounded like a rag tag operation.
Thanks Chris.
I know how the description sounds, but believe it or not, it was a high quality experience at the beginning. Jack Loeks might have always had one eye on the bottom line, but his theaters were, at least most of the time I went to them in Michigan, well-run and clean theaters with good projection and sound. After he sold out to Loew’s-Cineplex (which soon after merged with AMC), many of Loek’s former theaters declined considerably.
A manager started the movies and a concession stand girl handled the Box office and serving popcorn,and this a “classy” theatre.
A page of Boxoffice Magazine’s issue of October 25, 1971, was devoted to the Alpine Twin Theatre (its original name.) There were a few pictures of the theater. The twin auditoriums each had 325 seats in a continental arrangement. The side walls were curtained, and the back walls were faced with acoustic tile. The project was designed by Mel Glatz Associates.
Thanks, Amy. I think I read that the KMart on that side of Alpine is now history, too
Man, I can remember seeing so many movies here as a kid. It was only a dollar for the longest time, but did increase to two at the end. My mom would take us, and we would get candy at the K-Mart next door and sneak it in…
@Shanahan-it’s nothing now. There’s a big box strip mall there now. Remember the restaurant next door? (The Clock) That had a great old 50’s sign in front, and it, too is gone.
This used to be the Alpine Twin, until Loek’s theaters moved in across the street and against Jack’s wishes. (I really miss Jack Loeks running the theaters. He was a great guy.)
When it became the Alpine Four, I remember that the idea was to show older and special run movies. Unfortunately, it could not compete witht the big theater across the street.
This is the theater we “graduated” to when we were old enough to be trusted outside the drive-in. I saw a lot of movies in this great theater.
The only film I ever saw here was “Titanic” – I remember thinking it was a small but nice theater, even though I marveled at how many seats there were in just the one auditorium. I’m sorry to hear it no longer exists – what stands there now?
This is sad to hear, I only went to the theatre once (me being a resident of southeast MI), to see Star Wars:Episode I, but it was an experience I’ll never forget. The theatre was fantastic, and an artifact from a time long past, when Michigan was a fantastic place to live.