Gem and Century Theatres

Spurred by the resounding success of the Fox [1], other theaters soon followed. One contrast to the cavernous Fox is the intimate Gem and Century Theatres (333 Madison Ave., 313/963-9800, www.gemtheatre.com [2]), a joint cabaret-style venue with 450 seats.

Founded in 1928 by a women’s group hoping to have an “uplifting influence on the community,” the Gem degenerated into a vaudeville house and a sleazy strip joint before foresighted businessman Chuck Forbes, owner of most of Detroit’s [3] vintage theaters, restored it as a complement to the Fox and a stop for national comedy acts, small plays, and musical revues. It reopened in 1992.

Threatened by the new Comerica Park ballpark—home to the Detroit Tigers [4]—it was moved to its present location in 1998. As the world’s largest commercial building to be moved, it even made the pages of Guinness World Records.