Woods 6

Grosse Pointe Woods, MI

19269 Mack at 7 Mile

, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, United States

(map)

Status:	Closed/Demolished
Screens:	Multiplex (6 Screen)
Style:	Unknown

Function:	Unknown
Seats:	1950
Chain:	Unknown

Architect:	Charles N. Agree, Louis Wiltse
Firm:	Unknown

For a neighborhood house, in the suburb of Grosse Pointe Woods, the Woods was originally quite large, and sat well over 2500.

It was built for the United Detroit Theaters chain, opening in 1948, their first in seven years, since the Royal, which was designed by the same architect as the Woods, Charles N. Agree.

This late Art Moderne style movie theater opened with the film "Crossfire" and contained unusual features such as "Telesonic" seats for the hearing-impaired, and a good-sized exhibition gallery, which was leased to area schools and business owners.

In 1969, the year the Woods began to be jointly operated by Plitt Theatres and Nicholas George, it briefly closed as it underwent a nearly-million dollar reconstruction, converting the spacious balcony into a second auditorium. It was reopened in late 1970 as the Woods I & II, with 1200 seats in the main auditorium and 750 in the new second auditorium.

Theater architect Louis Wiltse was hired in 1981 to transform the upper level auditorium into a twin, seating 335 and 320 each. Two years later, Wiltse triplexed the main auditorium, seating 590, 312 and 305.

In the mid-80s, the former exhibition hall was even converted into another auditorium, one of the tiniest in the Detroit area, seating a mere 62.

In 1986, AMC took over the Woods, afterwards the AMC Woods 6. In 1997, the theater was shuttered, and remains so today.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft

YOUR COMMENTS

Woods theatre was torn down, after being purchased by a local hospital that was after the site for years. I was an Assistant Manager at the Woods during 1962-63 while working for United Detroit Theatres.

posted by roxy1 on Dec 27, 2002 at 5:28pm

I saw my first R-rated film at the then Woods I & II. "The Shining" (1980). It still saddens me today to drive by to see a strip mall and a parking garage in place of what once was. There were many fond childhood memories spent at that theatre.

posted by 1970sCinema on Mar 10, 2004 at 9:07pm

Based on the photos located here, the theater was done in some great decor by Charles N. Agree. This unknown architect designed many great buildings and theaters for Detroit and its suburbs. This is a clearly unique decor he perfected.

posted by SNWEB.ORG on Dec 31, 2004 at 4:07am

For the record, The WoodsTheatre never had a balcondy. The Woods was twined by ABC Michigan Theatres in 1969-70, under the supervision of Leon Serin, V>P> and Gil Green operations managerfor ABC Michigan Theatres. The gigantic screen curtain and all useable carpet was removed and installed in the Ramona Theatre located at 6 mile & Gratiot, Detroit. The Woods seated over 2500 when it was a single screen, after twining, it seated 1200 & 750. Some of the biggest hits ever to play at the Woods, "GOLDFINGER 1963, all of the 2500 seats needed. "THE EXORCIST" 1973. The Woods served as the District Office for ABC/PLITT Theatres in the late 70's and early 80's. Jack Cataldo, was the V>P> in charge and Walter Goryl was the local booker. The Woods was purchased by NGTTheatres and the AMC Theatres who completed the mutiplexing to 6 screens. In, it's day the Woods was one of Michigan, finest theatres. JerryD, I was there.

posted by JerryD on Jun 13, 2006 at 7:16am

Seated 2478 at opening in 1948.

posted by ken mc on Jun 28, 2007 at 5:34pm

1983 Photo

posted by Lost Memory on May 8, 2009 at 10:43am

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