Quo Vadis screens go dark, ending era
January 29, 2002 •• 675 words •• ID: det11678021
WESTLAND -- Nancy Bagnasco remembers the ushers handling the crowds waiting to get into the Quo Vadis
movie theater. "In the winter, the ushers used to wear capes," the Westland resident recalled. Eleanor
Geisler of Canton Township remembers the restaurant on the second level. "You could go in and have a
very nice dinner or lunch before your movie," she said. For Sue Shannon of Livonia, variety was an
attraction. "It was one of the first theaters that offered you three or four movies to choose from,"
Shannon said. But that was before megaplexes with stadium seating and stereo sound.

National Amusements of Massachusetts, which bought the Quo Vadis in 1986, closed the theater Jan. 21.
Not even the magic of Harry Potter could save it. "Declining economics," was the reason cited by Jennifer
Maguire Hanson, director of corporate communications for National Amusements. But when the theater
debuted in June 1996, the times were different. With a Roman motif, glass walls, electric drapes and a
restaurant/cocktail lounge called th Over 21 Club, the Quo Vadis offered moviegoers an evening of
entertainment on two floors. At one point, the theater featured 17 ushers, nine candy counter girls,
five cashiers, three projectionists, three ticket takers, three policemen and two doormen. "In its day,
it was a palace," said Michael Mihalich, president of MJR Theatres. He booked movies into the Quo Vadis
until it was sold to National Amusements.

The theater featured a large glass window that afforded patrons a view of the Algiers drive-in on the
site. "You could sit at the bar, put the headphones on and watch the show at the drive-in," Mihalich
said. Back to the future, National Amusements is marketing the Quo Vadis property. "I anticipate it
would be torn down and redeveloped," said Scott Veldhuis, director of economc development for Westland. "Its
proximity to Wayne Road across from the (Westland) mall is a huge plus. Its a very desirable location."
The Quo Vadis is likely not the last casualty. Older theaters across the country continue to go dim. "Its
whats going on," Mihalich said. "If you dont have stadium seating, digital sound and lots of screens for
multiple showtimes, you wont stay open."