General Info

About Us The Historic Gem & Century Theatres and have a history of breaking records. 1903: Built by the Twentieth Century Association, a group of civic and philanthropic minded women, The Century Club set a precedent even before a brick was laid, holding Detroit’s first building permit issued in a woman’s name. The building opened at the corner of Columbia and Witherell Street on December 26, 1903. 1927: The Century Club completed construction of its adjoining building, The Little Theatre of Detroit. From its beginning, the Little Theatre broke new ground opening with the first foreign film shown in Detroit, Cyrano De Bergerac. The small theatre continued to show artistic & foreign films until the great depression when The Twentieth Century Club disbanded and the Little Theatre and Century Club were lost to foreclosure. End of Great Depression – 1978: The Century Club Building operated as a restaurant under various names until the 1950’s when it was known as The Russian Bear. Over the years, The Little Theatre changed names, ownership, and uses, operating as a movie theatre (Rivoli, Drury Lane, Cinema & Europa), a repertory theatre (The Vanguard) and finally as an adult movie & Burlesque theatre (The Gem) until its closure in 1978. Soon after, developer Charles Forbes purchased the entire building, bringing the Gem & Century under single ownership again. 1990: Mr. Forbes began a complete restoration of the Gem Theatre using archive photos, re-creation of the original carpeting found in the building, and historical chandeliers and theatre seats from the demolished Ambassador Theatre in St. Louis. 1991: The theatre reopened on December 31, 1991 as The Little Gem Theatre with the musical review, The All Night Strut! 1997: The theatre again closed. Faced with demolition for the construction of Comerica Park, Mr. Forbes negotiated a plan to save the historic structure by relocating it to the corner of Madison & Brush Streets. November 10, 1997: The Gem Theatre completed its five-block journey, breaking the 1986 Guinness Book world record as the heaviest building ever moved on wheels. After relocating, the Forbes family began renovation on the Century Club facility. Using photos from the building’s 1903 opening, the facility was restored to its original Arts & Craft style, while preserving architectural artifacts from several demolished downtown buildings. You can see these artifacts in the Pewabic tile from the YWCA pool, under the bar in the Century lobby, leaded glass from the YMCA behind the Century bars, the brick balustrade along the building’s outdoor patio, and the beautiful stained glass window from the YWCA chapel, now located on the Century staircase. Today: The building is one of Detroit’s most intimate & charming venues. The building has continued its record breaking history by presenting SIX of Detroit’s ten longest running shows: Menopause The Musical, Escanaba in Da Moonlight, The All Night Strut, Shear Madness, Forbidden Broadway, and Forever Plaid.