Century Theatre (Detroit)

Built in 1903 by the Twentieth Century Association and opened on December 26, the theater was the first building in Detroit to have a building permit issued in a woman's name. During The Depression, the Association disbanded and the theater foreclosed. The building housed a variety of businesses over the years until it finally closed in 1978. in 1990, developer Charles Forbes began a renovation to restore it. The Gem Theatre reopened on December 31, 1991 only to close again in 1997. Because of the fact it would be torn down due to Comerica Park, Forbes negotiated it so the theatre was moved five blocks away [2] November 10, 1997. It broke the 1986 Guinness Book of World Records for the heaviest building moved on wheels [3]

• Hauser, Michael; Marianne Weldon (2006). Downtown Detroit's Movie Palaces (Images of America). Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0-7385-4102-8.
• Hill, Eric J.; John Gallagher (2002). AIA Detroit: The American Institute of Architects Guide to Detroit Architecture. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-3120-3.
• Meyer, Katherine Mattingly and Martin C.P. McElroy with Introduction by W. Hawkins Ferry, Hon A.I.A. (1980). Detroit Architecture A.I.A. Guide Revised Edition. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-1651-4.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Sharoff, Robert (2005). American City: Detroit Architecture. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-3270-6.

• Gem and Century Theatres
• Photos at DETROIT: The Gem Theatre