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Southfield City 12
2001 Photo from the Adam Martin collection.
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23275 Greenfield Rd
Southfield MI 48075
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| Record #4313 |
Opened: 1967
Closed: 2001
Demolished: 2002
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Capacity:
Architect(s):
Architectural Style(s):
National Register:
Current Organ: none |
| Also Known As: Americana |
| Previously operated by: AMC Theatres |
Information for this tour was contributed by Wayne Indyk. The Americana opened on May 5, 1967, as a single screen seating 1743. Opening day featured the film "Hurry Sundown" starring Michael Caine and Jane Fonda. Because of its 70mm equipment, the Americana soon became a roadshow house, featuring films like "Finian's Rainbow", "Hello, Dolly!" and "Windjammer".
In March 1972, the Americana II & III were added, and a fourth auditorium was added later, all designed by Louis Wiltse.
The Americana was "the place to be" on opening day for films in the 1970s and 1980s and had remarkably successful runs of films such as "Star Wars" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark". In November 1985, three more auditoriums were added. An eighth screen was added by the time the theater was sold to AMC Theatres.
In October 1988, two men were shot during an argument near the box office and then in November 1989, a man started shooting in the main auditorium on the opening weekend of Eddie Murphy's "Harlem Nights". Metal detectors were installed and the big auditorium was gutted and transformed into five smaller rooms at a cost of $2.5 million. With a total of 12 screens, the theater reopened in 1990 with the new name of Southfield City 12.
AMC finally closed the theater altogether in 2001 and the landlord immediately announced that the property was to be repurposed for other use. Photos
Photos remain the property of the Member and may not be reproduced without the written consent of the Member. |
July 2001 photos from the Adam Martin collection.
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Last featured 5/27/2002. Last edited 12/31/2005.
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