Royal Oak At 80

The Royal Oak Music Theatre in Michigan celebrated its 80th anniversary in style July 26 with a trip back to 1928 with silent movies, Shirley Temple drinks for the kids and 25-cent popcorn from an antique popper.

AEG Live, operators of the Art Deco venue, threw the party at the 2,200-seat theatre with a showing of "The Circus" starring Charlie Chaplin and an "Our Gang" short, according to the Daily Tribune.

David Heidt, grandson of theatre architect Frederick Madison, gave a short talk about his granddad who designed many of Royal Oak’s landmarks including the Washington Square Building, the Royal Oak Post Office and Dondero High School.

"He was such a big part of the architectural beginnings of Royal Oak, He kept going with a classic simple look and to this day it works," Heidt told the paper.

The public was invited to join in on the fun with tickets available for $10. Although the theatre opened during Prohibition, the birthday party included a cash bar for the adults. Ticketholders received 20 percent off their food bills at select local restaurants before and after the party.