Adams Theater
44 Adams Avenue West,
Detroit,
MI
48226
44 Adams Avenue West,
Detroit,
MI
48226
7 people
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More photos are here
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New photos I took on May 29 2010. of what was there, the empty lot across the alley, the supported front ofthe fine arts building…
Image showing just how far gone the theatre was:
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Photo of the Adams Theatre courtesy iof onasill.
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new scaffolding covering the theatre fascade
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11/14/09
well, I’m going to go ahead and disagree with that statement, the theatre was last used in 1988, and sat vacant and unused. Ilitch bought it in the mid 90s, and it was probably well on its way to being a wreck by then. I have said repeatedly that if you are going to save a theatre you have to use a theatre, and in our city, with all of the fine theatres that have been saved there was no obvious market for the Adams. The place was kind of plain when new, cobbled in the 1940s in an attempt to modernize, the exterior got the Community theatres “shiny stone wall” treatment like they gave the Redford, both in 1963 and I’m afraid that If an old theatre was going to go, this one was the best candidate. I fear the United Artists is next, and there isn’t enough money anywhere to save that one, and again, how is it going to be used, to earn its way. The UA was much more impressive than the Adams, but that poor place never stood a chance after AAA (auto insurance co.) stripped the theatre as they were building their surburban office center the would move to, vacating the UA building.
It’s still unfortunate as this was a working theater when Ilitch acquired it
1982 Photo
1983 Photo
The Adams is coming down this month, followed by the Fine Arts Building.
Here’s a page of photos:
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The Blue Bird with Shirley Temple was released in January of 1940.
Here is a 1940 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/3xbvnf
Here are some photos from the Forgotten Detroit website.
Evidently, Detroit had quite a flourishing and influential entertainment industry going in the early 1900s. A very interesting article on John Kunsky can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_H._Kunsky
Scaffolding erected in front of the Adams Ave facade of the Fine Arts Building, thus I have reason to believe demolition of the Fine Arts should commence soon. Time will tell if the Adams will join the Fine Arts in the landfill.
Nothing has really changed from the info I posted April 13, 2007.
All I have heard is that bids have been taken for demo contractors for the Fine Arts (and I presume Adams). No visible changes to the theater or Fine Arts.
Any news on the Adams SNWEB?
A Hillgreen-Lane theater organ opus 518 size 3/28 was installed in the Adams Theater in 1918 at a cost of $5,400.
Thanks. What a tragedy (one of so many) that this beautiful theatre is gone. It’s kind of a “kick” to see that the lobby is still there, though I understand it is not publically accessible.
Don, the Oriental was also known as the RKO Downtown and is located on this site at this link.
The recent Preservation Wayne theatre tour featured the lobby of the Oriental Theatre (Detroit) for the first time. I don’t remember an Oriental Theatre (not surprising, given that the auditorium was supposedly torn down in the early 1950’s, and I’m not quite that old yet), but I looked for info on this site and it’s not listed here either.
Supposedly it was on or near Adams St., west of the Adams Theatre and the lobby was saved because it was part of an adjacent office building, but the auditorium et al were demolished for a parking lot in 1953(?).
Anyone have any info on this?
Thanks,
Don
Time may be running out for the old gal, as the adjoining Fine Arts is set to come down anytime soon, as demolition was approved.
This means that the Adams lobby will go, and presumed skywalk & tunnel will be sealed up, essentially leaving the auditorium, to meet her fate sometime in the feature.
In reply to LuisV, nothing has happened.
The theater is pretty much doomed no matter what happens to the property because Ilitch is marketing only the Fine Arts and not the adjoining Adams. Why? Because he don’t wan’t any competition for the fox, same story with the United Artists, it will most likely go no matter what also.
In addiition to the theater being doomed, I ahve my doubts on the Fine Arts Building as well. The whole thing is collapsing inwards, the structural support system of the building is severly damaged, I doubt it is fixable. They announced a structural analysis of the building back in January, I sure hope it is going well. I want teh unique facade saved if anything.doubt if it
So it’s been 9 months since the Press Release outlining Detroit’s renaissance. Has anything happened?
The badly composed website at the link most recently posted blames the closure on the Hudson’s closure. This is incorrect. This was due to the declining of the area with the crime (articles posted about) ultimately closing it.
Much of the information at the above link is outdated, and the forum is nothing but a zoo.