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When construction started, the cost was quoted at $ 25,000 (equivalent to $ 753,000 in 2023), and the theatre was originally planned to seat 500. After the theatre's opening, its seating capacity was quoted as 800. The exterior features a decorative tile facade and a distinctive ribbon of windows
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The theatre experienced a decline in fortune in the mid-20th century, and
Butterfield was no longer in control of the theatre by the early 1970s. Initially, the "MARTHA" sign on the marquee was hastily converted to read "ART 1." The auditorium was split in two soon after, and became the "Art 1 &
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The Deja Vu
Showgirls club reopened, following a renovation. Under the terms of the settlement, the club must convert parts of the building to apartments and retail space, restore the historic marquee, and remove some slogans from the exterior of the building. The club had its soft re-reopening on
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The Martha
Washington Theatre was the second purpose-built movie theatre in Ypsilanti. The first was the Vaudette at 19 North Huron Street, which opened in 1907 in a former grocery store. The local press criticized the safety of the 40-seat Vaudette after fires at similar theatres, and it closed
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In late 2019, a dispute arose between the City of
Ypsilanti and the club. The city alleged that the club had expanded its business without the necessary construction permits, and was in violation of zoning laws. The club was ordered to close in March 2020 in response to the
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Multiple lawsuits were filed by the city and the club over the course of over two years, causing controversy among
Ypsilanti city officials and residents. The lawsuits ended with a settlement in late 2022, which resulted in a payment of $ 65,000 to the city.
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activist in early 20th-century
Washtenaw County. Signor was a founder of the Ann Arbor Equal Suffrage Association, which held its first meeting in 1910. Beyond her activities in suffrage, Signor was also engaged in real estate development.
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After it ceased operation under W. S. Butterfield
Theatres, the theatre became the Art 1&2 adult theater, which was later converted to the Déjà Vu Showgirls club. Déjà Vu closed in March 2020 due to the
192:. At its opening, the Martha Washington Theatre was touted in advertisements as "Ypsilanti's Most Sanitary, Properly Lighted, Well Ventilated, Prettily Decorated, and Fire-Proof Theatre."
120:. The Martha Washington was built and initially operated by Florence W. Signor of Ypsilanti, the only woman theatre operator in Michigan at the time. Signor sold the Martha Washington to
169:. The Martha Washington was purpose-built as a cinema, and was intended to be a luxurious experience. The interior featured plush blue seats, with decorations in light blue and pink and
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on the Ann Arbor and
Ypsilanti cinema market. In the 1940s, the Martha Washington was the Ypsilanti area's premier theatre, receiving the newest pictures and charging higher prices.
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in 1920, and eventually sold the theatre to W. S. Butterfield
Theatres in April 1925. That year, Butterfield bought out the nearby Wuerth Theatre, and gained a near-
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opined: "And I think I have about one of the best managers in the state, as she, — well, she is a lady, which expresses a lot in a few words."
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Motor City marquees : a comprehensive, illustrated reference to motion picture theaters in the
Detroit area, 1906–1992
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Signor's sole ownership and management of the theatre was unusual. An editorial published by the Martha Washington
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The theatre became the Déjà Vu Showgirls strip club in 1982. After its opening, the City of Ypsilanti changed the
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in under the principle of "nonconforming use," which allowed the club to continue operating, but not expand.
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676:"Ypsilanti v. Déjà Vu: A timeline of the city's dueling legal battles with downtown strip club"
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500:"Ypsilanti's New Photoplay House, Which Opens This Week, Will Rival Theaters of Large Cities"
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343:"Ypsilanti strip club settles dueling legal battles with city, has chance to reopen"
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described Signor as the "only remaining woman theatre manager in Michigan" in 1925.
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The Martha Washington Theatre opened on October 21, 1915. The first film shown was
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https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=925094062957129&set=pcb.925094136290455
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The Martha Washington Theatre was built for Florence Wilson Signor, a leading
699:"Déjà Vu is back: Downtown Ypsilanti strip club reopens after 4-year closure"
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518:"Martha Washington Theatre: Program for Thursday and Friday, Oct. 21–22"
597:"War-Constructed Willow Run Theatre Thrives on New Type of Patronage"
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in 1925, which operated it as a first-run cinema until the 1970s.
554:"Claude Cady Surrenders Lansing Interests to W.S. Butterfield"
274:, and the building was damaged by a major fire in July 2020.
631:"Video of Ypsilanti during the summer of 1970 is discovered"
536:"The Martha Washington Theatre: Washington at Pearl Street"
262:
View of the former theater from Pearl St, adjacent to the
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Photographed in 2023, in the midst of a renovation project
317:. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 170.
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in the area to prohibit adult businesses. The club was
132:, and the building was damaged by a fire in July 2020.
652:"Ypsilanti's Art 1&2, and the archeology of porn"
560:. Vol. 74, no. 1. May 2, 1925. p. 28.
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City of Ypsilanti Community and Economic Development
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748:Photos of the Martha Washington Theatre, 1936–1993
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287:March 1, 2024 and a grand re-opening on April 17.
216:Signor entered into a distribution agreement with
618:. March 3, 1942. p. 23 – via NewsBank.
777:Buildings and structures in Ypsilanti, Michigan
375:. Ypsilanti Historical Society. pp. 11–12.
482:"New Playhouse In City Approaching Completion"
757:Full text of the Déjà Vu settlement agreement
8:
161:on the second floor, variously described as
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674:Smolcic Larson, Lucas (November 7, 2021).
341:Smolcic Larson, Lucas (October 25, 2022).
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369:"Controversy at Ypsilanti's nickelodeon"
697:Smolcic Larson, Lucas (March 8, 2024).
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227:Florence Wilson Signor died in 1942 in
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614:"Obituary: Mrs. Florence W. Signor".
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391:Washtenaw County Historical Society
629:Maynard, Mark (October 19, 2018).
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650:Maynard, Mark (August 15, 2018).
387:"Local Leaders and Their Stories"
148:Line drawing of the theatre, 1915
578:. December 12, 1925. p. 534
542:. September 24, 1915. p. 5.
488:. September 24, 1915. p. 5.
457:"Historic Downtown Walking Tour"
212:Detail of the marquee, July 2023
524:. October 22, 1915. p. 3.
506:. October 22, 1915. p. 2.
417:. June 19, 1915. p. 1968.
1:
603:. April 26, 1947. p. 83.
438:. January 6, 1917. p. 75
116:is a former movie theater in
752:Ypsilanti Historical Society
282:Reopening after renovations
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772:W. S. Butterfield Theatres
309:Galbraith, Stuart (1994).
182:The Island of Regeneration
122:W. S. Butterfield Theatres
43:31 North Washington Street
737:Martha Washington Theatre
367:Bien, Laura (Fall 2012).
177:throughout the building.
114:Martha Washington Theatre
35:
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19:Martha Washington Theatre
264:Ypsilanti Transit Center
572:"Butterfield Enlarging"
540:The Normal College News
522:The Normal College News
504:The Normal College News
486:The Normal College News
239:Adult entertainment era
231:. She is buried at the
218:First National Pictures
98:; 108 years ago
77:42.242056°N 83.614583°W
411:"Short Michigan Items"
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96:October 21, 1915
82:42.242056; -83.614583
739:at Cinema Treasures
576:Moving Picture World
558:Moving Picture World
436:Moving Picture World
432:"For the First Time"
415:Moving Picture World
202:Moving Picture World
373:Ypsilanti Gleanings
118:Ypsilanti, Michigan
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46:Ypsilanti, Michigan
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244:2" adult theatre.
229:Bradenton, Florida
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324:978-0-89950-915-0
272:COVID-19 pandemic
233:Highland Cemetery
188:picture starring
136:Movie theatre era
130:COVID-19 pandemic
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68:83°36′52.5″W
65:42°14′31.4″N
15:
80: /
55:Coordinates
766:Categories
708:2024-06-09
657:2023-06-22
636:2023-06-28
582:2023-06-28
467:2023-06-23
442:2023-06-23
396:2023-06-22
291:References
173:images of
171:bas-relief
103:1915-10-21
750:from the
601:Boxoffice
186:Vitagraph
222:monopoly
101: (
40:Address
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249:zoning
93:Opened
703:MLive
680:MLive
347:MLive
319:ISBN
184:, a
112:The
165:or
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