GC4QH9C (MCH) The Americana West Theatres (Traditional Cache) in Michigan, United States created by RayQix

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A cache by RayQix Message this owner

Hidden : 10/21/2013

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Geocache Description:

The Michigan Cinema History (MCH) caches are dedicated to the local creation, viewing,
or enjoyment of movie and cinema-related items in the local area.

This can include, and is not limited to, people, places, and things of Cinema or both past-and-present.

This series is a companion to the Detroit Cinema History (DCH)
and Ontario Cinema History (OCH) series.

Michigan Cinema History:
The Americana West Theatres
6750 Orchard Lake Road - West Bloomfield, MI

OPEN: 1980 | CLOSED: May 1999 | SEATS: 1650

The Americana West (now as a fitness facility)

Opened in 1980 for the Nicholas George chain of theaters, the Americana West was named after George's original Americana in Southfield which opened in 1967 on Greenfield near 9 mile road.

The West was built as a 4-auditorium facility (aka: quad) and featured two larger 550-seat auditoriums, and two smaller with 325 seats each. The West was designed by noted theater architect Louis Wiltse and was probably one of the last Michigan movie houses featuring curtains in front of its original four screens.

A Promo Penguin with the Americana West's sign behind him

The design of the Americana West was similar to that of his Denniston I & II Cinemas in Monroe, Michigan that was built in 1974. In 1986, the West was sold to the AMC-theatres chain, and four years later, the two larger auditoriums were each themselves split to make a total of 6 theatres onsite. This also added a "6" to the name making it the "Americana West 6".

The theatre was popular and was usually half-to-filled capacity given any weekend show. But alas, times would change through the 1990's and business would decline significantly.

The Americana West 6 closed in 2001, and would then be remodeled into a fitness center.

The box office

Thousands of old theatres around the country have closed, become new businesses, or even just been demolished, leaving vacant-land where once-magnificant houses of the imagination once-stood.

It was a very special place to many for many reasons, and still is to those that remember it in its' heyday. Whether it was the ambiance, the shows that were seen there, or just the entire movie-going experience that was part of the Americana West Theatres, those memories have kept the spirit of the theatre alive and going to this day.