Michigan Theater Fountain

Location: Ann Arbor, MI

On January 5, 1928 the Michigan Theater, described as a shrine to art, opened on East Liberty Street. Designed by Maurice H. Finkel of Detroit, it had a seating capacity of 2000. The lease to operate the theater was not renewed in 1979. However, a fund raising campaign saved the theatre and it was restored in 1985.

A bronze drinking fountain originally located in the lobby (and an exact duplicate of those in New York’s famed Roxy Theater at West 50^th Street) was discovered in a storage room in the basement of the theater.

It is an education guess that the fountain was manufactured by either J. L. Mott or J. W. Fiske both of New York, who were two of the most well-known and prolific foundries of the 19^th century.

The fountain in the shape of an arch was decorated with foliate detailed fret. The canopy contained a recessed shell pattern and a grimacing stylized dolphin. A spigot protruding from the mouth delivered water into a fluted demi-lune basin.

Glossary:

• Demilune, half moon or crescent shape
• Fluted, a long rounded groove decorating the shaft of a column
• Foliate, decorated with leaves or leaf like motif
• Fret, running or repeated ornament