Con Foster and the Movies in Traverse City

Con Foster and the Movies in Traverse City. . This plaque marks the site of the City-owned Con Foster Museum, named in honor of movie theater manager and civic leader Conrad H. Foster (1875-1940), now operated by the Traverse City Film Festival as the Bijou by the Bay. Con Foster was Traverse City's first grand movie theater impresario, managing the State Theatre on Front St. from 1917-1918 and 1924-1940 (back when it was called the Lyric Theatre). He was a true showman with a passion for the movies. He was the first to bring the "talkies" to Northern Michigan, shortly after the advent of sound in film., Foster's impact extended far beyond his movie palace. He was a leader in all aspects of civic life, serving as City Commissioner, the City's first Parks Commissioner, and Mayor of Traverse City. Among his many accomplishments, Foster led the effort to clean up the Bayfront and to establish Clinch Park, after the Hannah Lay Lumber Mill closed., His vision for Clinch Park included a museum focusing on the region. He traveled over 15,000 miles throughout the Midwest to obtain Native American and pioneer artifacts. In 1934, thanks to President Franklin Roosevelt's Civil Works Administration, the building on this site was constructed to house the items Foster had collected for public display, which now includes over 10,000 artifacts, photographs, and documents. The Museum closed at this location in 1999, when the collection moved to the History Center of Traverse City, After years sitting vacant, the Traverse City Film Festival, under the leadership of filmmaker Michael Moore, with seed money provided by Richard and Diana Milock, offered to renovate and restore this historic building and, in honor of Con Foster, to build and operate for the City a year-round movie house inside - thus continuing Foster's vision and belief that the 'picture show" brings enjoyment, entertainment, education, and excitement for all., Image Courtesy of the History Center of Traverse City