I think most people realize that the single screen neighborhood movie theater was the norm through most of cinema’s history. Small independent theaters such as the Melvin served neighborhoods such as Dutchtown along Chippewa Avenue.
It was open, depending on who you ask, from 1914-1979, but some people say it was open into the 1980’s. A couple of years ago, it reopened as a music venue. Not sure if it’s still open or not.
Good story about the Melvin with comments from the son of the family who renovated it in the ’70s.
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/6666
It was definitely open well into the 80s. I specifically remember seeing “Pretty in Pink” there. I went there all throughout my high school years and after. I graduated in 1986.
Thanks, April. Theaters have nice benchmarks; if you remember seeing a movie there, it means it had to still be open by its release date. “Pretty in Pink” came out in 1986.