After a brief hiatus, the old Burton School in Midtown is a movie theater once again. Paula and Tim Guthat have moved their Cinema Detroit into the former Cass Corridor school building. The married couple feature art house, indie, and local films Thursdays through Sundays. Classic movies such as the occasional film noir are also shown.
Cinema Detroit started as a series of pop-up theaters. The move to a permanent location allows the company the ability to show first-run films. The theater first started showing films at another pop-up that has since gone permanent,
Coffee and (____), on the city's East Side -- a "pop-up within a pop-up," as Paula tells it. The Guthats then lugged their projection gear across the city, showing movies at Corktown's Ponyride and New Center's Jam Handy Building.
Though the couple enjoyed their series of pop-up cinemas, the grind of loading and unloading the projection equipment became tedious and the Guthats began to search for a permanent location. At the same time, the owner of the Burton school building was searching for a new group to operate the theater there. It's a fit that has allowed the Guthats the ability to plan ahead. Permanence should do the former pop-up well.
"It's easier to get the word out because we know we're going to be in one place," says Paula. "It's easier to promote because people know it's going to be there. I'm starting to book movies as far ahead as I can."
Cinema Detroit should eventually operate seven days a week, as the business settles in and stabilizes. The Guthats, who are currently the only people operating the cinema, plan to hire part-time workers once business hours expand.
Source: Paula Guthat, owner of Cinema Detroit
Writer: MJ Galbraith