![]() ![]() Dickey, who was formerly “connected with the Will Rossiter Music Publishing house in Chicago as a demonstrator of songs - that is, he taught professionals how they should be sung - Dickey has been connected with amusement enterprises for many years” ( Gazette). Renamed and reopened as Bijou Dream from to January 1910, with one hour 5¢ motion picture shows and illustrated songs (solo singer accompanying “magic lantern” projected slides). Kalamazoo Gazette, January 21, 1906, p. Flaitz handled the contract and did an expeditious and first-class job.” It was built in connection with property owned by Ira W. Butterfield and all concerned.Ĭomplete it cost in the neighborhood of $15,000. Well built, comfortably furnished and should prove a paying venture for Mr. On the whole, the Bijou is a very neat little theater. The house is well lighted and the electrical arrangements are entirely adequate. The theater is heated by steam, the heat coming from batteries of radiators on the side walls. This gives one dressing room to those taking part in each one of the fours acts. On either side of the stage are two second-story dressing rooms reached by stairs. ![]() The stage is 18×20 feet, which is plenty large enough to accommodate any ordinary vaudeville act. The view from the balcony is equally as good and in the dress circle.įrom the dome of the theater is suspended a beautiful lacquered brass chandelier, which adds much to the attractiveness of the place. The balcony, which is easy of access, will seat about 250, bench seats are being used there. These seats are Andrews opera chairs, attached to the floor, and are very comfortable to sit in. The floor slants toward the stage and the view will be excellent from any seat in the house. The theater, as yet, has not been decorated, the walls being plain white. The entrance to the theater proper is through two big swinging doors, making both a wide entrance and exit. On the same side and just beyond is the ticket office, which will be presided over by Miss Jennie Thurston. The front of the theater is painted white, and directly above, on top of the block, is a huge electric sign which reads:Īt the right, as one enters the lobby is the cigar and candy stand. The doors leading into the lobby are of the heavy swinging sort, with plate glass - the same, in fact, as those at the Academy. At the entrance is an open space about six or eight feet deep, for the display of picture boards and advertising matter. This space, 65×12½ feet, has been converted into an attractive lobby, wainscoated to a height of about four feet and papered in red. Burdick St.- ground floor - through what was formerly the plumbing establishment of Jacob DeKam. Now that the Bijou is practically completed a brief description of the cozy little amusement place may be of interest to our readers. Butterfield says in a pamphlet which he is sending out through the mails to Kalamazoo people: In regard to the class of entertainments to be given by the Bijou, Mr. The executive staff of the Bijouo theater is as follows: It gives a decent description of the interior of the Bijou Theater at the time of its public opening, as well as a list of those who were involved. The following excerpt is from an article published in the Kalamazoo Gazette in January 1906. Kalamazoo Gazette, December 7, 1905, p.5 Ransom and occupied by Jacob DeKam as a plumbing establishment, and will erect at once on the site a theater devoted exclusively to vaudeville, at a cost of from $12,000 to $15,000, to be known as the Bijou theater.” ![]() ![]() Butterfield of Battle Creek, manager of the Bijou theater in that city, and a member of the Consolidated Vaudeville Managers’ association, secured a five years’ lease on the property at 145 S. “A deal was closed yesterday through the real estate firm of W.L. Kalamazoo Gazette photo (Local History Room). “The management of the Bijou Theater of this city promises to keep vaudeville on the high plane set in the large cities and gives the assurance that all classes of theatergoers in Kalamazoo can feel perfectly safe in securing their children or taking their wives or sweethearts to the offerings of this house.” Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, 1908 (Library of Congress). Bijou Theatre circled (note rooftop sign). Butterfield transferred his holdings in the Bijou Dream to E.N. Renamed Bijou Dream and run mostly as a film theater from to January 1910. East side of S Burdick St., north of South St.īuilt and run as a vaudeville house from Januto the end of April 1908. ![]()
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