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Source: Michigans Historic Sites Online
The Eagle Theater is the epitome of the late vaudeville, early movie theater. It is a fine example of the use of Moorish design influences on a cinema buildings. The three-story facade is masonry which is finished primarily in stucco and red quarry tile. At each side of the facade are vertical stucco "towers" decorated at the top with a corbeled cornice and at the base with red quarry tile.
At the second floor of these "towers" the windows are surrounded by a Moorish or horseshoe arch treatment of red quarry tile. A decorative mansard style roof of clay tile shingles caps each bay. The two storefronts at the smaller bays are original and are highlighted by bronze glazing members, cast-iron trim, and decorative leaded glass transoms.
The primary significance of the Eagle Theater is derived from the uniqueness of the interior facilities originally constructed and the quality of its architectural detail. The Eagle Theater was constructed on the site of Pontiacs oldest movie house in 1927. The building was leased, shortly after its construction, to W.S. Butterfield, the owner of many movie theaters throughout Michigan. The interior of the theater displayed many Moorish elements, such as the Moorish arch proscenium and keyhole arches between the columns along the side aisles. On the second floor is a large room called the "green room" where performers and audience traditionally met after theater performances.
The buildings third floor contains nine apartments originally intended to house travelling vaudeville performers. These are particularly unique because of their art deco bathrooms and "pullman" kitchens which must be some of the earliest prefabricated complete kitchen units in existence today. Throughout the interior of the building, finishes and colors are original and in superb condition making the theater one of the most architecturally complete in the State of Michigan and giving a truer picture of a facility constructed for the golden era of the American cinema.