Historic movie palaces / Grosse Pointe Park
Esquire Theatre
Closed – archive entry · 1938–1988
An Art Deco cinema on East Jefferson in Grosse Pointe Park. It opened in 1938, stirred up the town in the 1980s with its video games and a scandalous screening, and the city shut it down in 1988.
Quick facts
- Opened
- 1938
- Closed
- 1988
- Architect
- Kenneth S. Frazier
- Style
- Art Deco
- Seats
- 992
02 / The story of this place
Make time for these
The Art Deco Esquire opened on East Jefferson in 1938 for the Esquire Theatre Corporation, designed by Kenneth S. Frazier, with 992 seats. Wisper & Wetsman later ran it as a first-run house. R & R Theater Company bought it in 1980 and switched to second-run films; its 14 lobby video games led Grosse Pointe Park to limit theaters to five machines, and a 1982 screening of Debbie Does Dallas caused another uproar. Eric and Ervin Steiner split it into four screens and went back to first-run films. In 1988 the city closed it, calling it a magnet for illegal activity, took possession and had it demolished in 1990.
- Art Deco, designed by Kenneth S. Frazier
- 14 video games in the lobby
- Split into four by Eric and Ervin Steiner
Plan your visit
The city closed the Esquire in 1988 and tore it down in 1990, so you won't find it on East Jefferson. For a movie night, pick one of the open cinemas in our guide.
Cinemas nearby
Back to cinemas ↗
Multiplexes / Canton
Emagine Canton
A 19-screen first-run multiplex on Ford Road in Canton, run by Michigan-owned Emagine: EMX and Super EMX premium screens with Dolby Atmos, cuddle chairs and a bar. Tickets are $5 on Tuesdays.
Multiplexes / Hartland
Emagine Hartland
A 10-screen first-run cinema on Hartland Road in Livingston County: an EMX premium room with laser projection and Dolby Atmos, heated recliners, a small screening room and a lobby lounge. Tickets are $5 on Tuesdays.
Multiplexes / Macomb Township
Emagine Macomb
A 9-screen, 1,171-seat first-run cinema on 23 Mile Road in Macomb Township, built inside a former Kroger. Every seat is a reserved leather recliner, the biggest room is an EMX with Dolby Atmos, and there's a full bar in the lobby.