Not a member yet? Register now.

Search

Theater Guide

Now listing 27,647 theaters & 1,598 photos… more

Browse by...

• Architect
• Chain
• Firm
• Function
• Location
• Newest
• Photo

• Screens
• Seats
• Status
• Style
• Updated
• VR

Also known as Oriental Theater, RKO Downtown Theater

Add to favorites

Downtown Theater

Detroit, MI

120 W. Adams Avenue

, Detroit, MI 48226 United States

(map)

Status:	Closed/Demolished
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Atmospheric, Moorish

Function:	Unknown
Seats:	2680
Chain:	Unknown

Architect:	Percival R. Pereira
Firm:	Pereira and Pereira

Opened as the Oriental Theater, this movie palace was the only Atmospheric style theater ever built in downtown Detroit, opening in late-1927. It had a Middle Eastern theme to its decor, and originally seated nearly 3,000. It was designed by Percival R. Pereira, his only theater built in the downtown area.

The opening day movie was called "Blood Ship" and despite its title, was an adventure and not a horror movie! The theater had a house orchestra in its early years, led by Frank Musial.

In 1930, the Oriental Theater was acquired by RKO and was renamed the RKO Downtown Theater. Three years later a scandal erupted at the Downtown when the management refused to allow an African-American couple to sit on the main floor in the "whites-only" area, instead of in the balcony. The theater was ordered to pay the couple $300 in damages.

The Downtown Theater was closed in 1950, having last been operated by the Chicago-based H & E Balaban chain. Three years later, the theater was demolished (except for the former lobby area) to make way for a parking lot. Its crystal chandeliers were removed and now hang in the lobby of Detroit's Redford Theater.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft

YOUR COMMENTS

Your kidding me! Detroit's only atmospheric theater torn down for a PARKING LOT? What the heck!

posted by SNWEB.ORG on Mar 3, 2004 at 1:23pm

Interesting pics: http://www.waterwinterwonderland.com/location.asp?ID=716&type=5

posted by SNWEB.ORG on Mar 3, 2004 at 1:25pm

Correction, the Riveria is also a atmospheric theater. I found out today that the theatre is the parking lot next to Park Ave. Apartments, and the acutal lobby is intact and is the Park Ave. Apartments mechanical room.

posted by SNWEB.ORG on Jul 24, 2004 at 11:32am

The Downtown/Oriental was the only atmospheric theater of downtown Detroit's movie houses. The Riviera wasn't downtown.

posted by Bryan Krefft on Jul 24, 2004 at 11:45am

yes but in my comment above I mistakenly said it was the only one in the city

posted by SNWEB.ORG on Jul 25, 2004 at 1:02am

P.R.Pereira was my grandfather .. I was told long ago he had designed the interior of the Fox theater in Detroit. Can anyone disput or confirm this ..

posted by rmp on Nov 4, 2004 at 9:03am

It appears that the Six Mile Theater was nearly the same in style. Shame both are demolished

posted by SNWEB.ORG on Sep 17, 2005 at 3:23pm

The Six mile (aka RKO uptown, six-mile uptown) was nothing like the Oriental/RKO downtown. The Oriental was an atmospheric and the Six mile was a hardtop, somewhat plain "classical" styling. The Six-mile was HUGE, and had fantastic acoustics. John Muri recorded a landmark album on the Six mile Wurlitzer.

posted by john lauter on Mar 31, 2006 at 7:27pm

The lobby was included on this year's Preservation Wayne theatre tour, which I'm really sorry I missed. I'm hoping they'll keep it on in the 2008 tour, because most of the theatres in the tour are those that are in great shape (Detroit Fox, Music Hall, Detroit Opera House and the Gem) and those in renovation (Palms-State). Great to see, but it also helps to be able to see those in disrepair or of which only remnants survive(too bad we can't get into the Adams or the United Artists).

John Lauter's post stated that John Muri recorded an album on the Six Mile RKO's Wurlitzer. Is that recording available anywhere? And what about the Muri recording on the Detroit Fox?

posted by DonF on Aug 28, 2007 at 11:30am

Hey Don if you want to see photos of the theater I took look no further, visit this link. I'm adding more shots daily.

posted by SNWEB.ORG on Aug 28, 2007 at 7:19pm

Thanks SNWEB. Makes me even more sorry that I missed the tour. I hope the Oriental lobby will be on the 2008 tour.

posted by DonF on Aug 29, 2007 at 5:54am

From the map function a theatre is clearly visible sitting on Park & Adams. Is this the former RKO Downtown, or another house?

posted by Seymour Cox on Nov 19, 2007 at 1:26pm

On a current map the RKO Downtown would be seen as a parking lot. The Adams Theater is near the corner on Adams Avenue, and the United Artists in on Bagley somewhat near the corner next to a gravel lot that used to contain the Tuller Hotel.

posted by SNWEB.ORG on Nov 19, 2007 at 9:10pm

A Kimball theater organ size 3/15 was installed in the Oriental Theater in 1927.

posted by Lost Memory on Jan 16, 2008 at 7:39am

From Boxoffice magazine, January 1938:

DETROIT-Detroit's off-again-on-again house, the Downtown, reported closed last week, reopened here Saturday. The house was closed by Lipton Astrachan, who went back to Chicago, but reopened by Sam Carver, who was manager of the house for the Krim circuit when it was open a few weeks ago.

posted by ken mc on Dec 22, 2008 at 6:46pm

Note: Please read our comment policy before posting. Comments which are off-topic, obscene, spam, or personal attacks will be removed. Help us keep the discussion productive!

Search

Theater Guide

Add Your Cinema Treasure!

Newest Theaters

Recent Comments

Updated Theaters

Downtown Theater

YOUR COMMENTS

Notify me when someone replies to my comment?