History
The origins of Goodrich Quality Theaters can be traced to 1930, when William Goodrich left his family's rubber manufacturing business in order to purchase the Savoy Theatre in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. Previously, the Savoy Theatre had been a vaudeville theater; Goodrich renovated it as a single-screen movie theater and opened it in 1931 with "All Quiet on the Western Front". Business at the theater prospered, largely due to Goodrich's cheap double features. For just 15 cents, patrons could watch the high-budget main feature, followed by a less-glamorous B-movie. By comparison, the average price for a movie ticket nationwide hovered between 23 and 25 cents during the 1930s.
The Savoy was later converted into a two-screen theater and finally shut down in 1979. William Goodrich also operated the Majestic Theatre in Grand Rapids, which was later sold and currently exists as the Meijer Majestic Theatre, owned by the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre.
Control of the company was handed down to William's son, Bob Goodrich, who still heads Goodrich Quality Theaters. Bob Goodrich extensively expanded the company, founding new multiplexes and drive-ins around Michigan. Although Goodrich no longer owns any drive-in theaters, some of the "original" multiplex theaters are still in operation. Of course, many have since been expanded, and all have undergone technological renovations (such as the addition of digital sound).
Bob Goodrich eventually began expanding his business outside Michigan, establishing theaters in nearby states. Perhaps due to a high amount of competition in Michigan, in the past few years, Goodrich Quality Theaters has focused on renovating and building theaters outside of its home state.
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