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Local History

Arts & Entertainment

Chaffee, Ada Gilmore

Ada Gilmore Chaffee (Find a Grave) Despite living most of her life outside of Kalamazoo, the Kalamazoo-born artist Ada Gilmore Chaffee was a leading pioneer as a painter and woodblock…

Roots of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra

The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra (KSO) officially began in 1921 under the shrewd leadership of business manager and president Leta G. Snow, with Chester Z. Bronson directing. But this was not Kalamazoo's first symphony orchestra nor was it Chester...

Royal Theatre

East side of Portage Street, north of East South Street (169 Portage Street). Opened as a budget film theater on 27 October 1933 by Richard P. Early, a Kalamazoo realtor…

Social Music in 19th Century Kalamazoo

Before the days of the big bands; before jazz and ragtime; while military bands ruled street parades and open air concerts, Kalamazoo’s many dance orchestras filled nineteenth century assembly halls and ballrooms with the sweet strains of the...

State Theatre

When the State Theatre opened on the corner of S. Burdick and Lovell Streets in July 1927, it brought the "atmospheric" movie palace experience to Kalamazoo. Built for the W. S. Butterfield Theater chain, it was constructed in 9 months for...

Union Hall — Kalamazoo Opera House

West side of Portage Street (2nd floor), south of East Main Street (now East Michigan Avenue) (102 Portage Street). Built as “Union Hall” (seating capacity, 600) in 1866. Renovated and…

Uptown Theater

Built and run as a film theater from 24 August 1938 until 6 June 1959. Claimed to seat 725. No balcony, but included a “cry room” on the second floor…

Vaudette Theatre

West side of South Burdick Street, between Main Street (Michigan Avenue) and South Street (134 South Burdick Street). Opened and operated as a film and illustrated song house from February…

Whole Art Theater

Formed in 1976, the experimental Whole Theater Company was established in Lawrence, Michigan by the Czech-born Werner Krieglstein, who wanted to expose rural audiences to the experience of theater. For…

Wings Stadium

During the latter half of the 1970s and continuing into the new millennium, Wings Stadium, known as Kalamazoo’s “home of Rock and Roll,” hosted hundreds of pop and rock concerts by some of the biggest names in the business.

Wonderland Theatre

East side of South Burdick Street, north of South Street (143 South Burdick Street). Opened 3 July 1906 as a combination penny arcade and novelty act theater. Operated until 20…

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