Magic Bag Theatre

22920 Woodward Avenue,
Ferndale, MI 48220

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Opened in 1921 as the Ferndale Theatre, this 425-seat theater was renamed the Studio North in 1961. Not long after it switched its name, it also switched to adult films. For years, its owners, the city of Ferndale and Oakland County were involved in legal battles, over charges of prostitution as well as various other charges, and in 1989, the city of Ferndale finally succeded in shutting the Studio North down.

In 1991, after an extensive renovation, which also reduced the theater’s seating to 300, it reopened as the Magic Bag Theatre, which features concerts as well as “brew ‘n’ view”-style movie screenings.

The theatre had an ownership change and remodel in April 1996 and was remodeled once again in 2005. The 2005 remodel expanded the lobby, remade and expanded the bar area and remade and expanded the bathrooms.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft, Willy Wilson

Recent comments (view all 8 comments)

Chuck1231
Chuck1231 on January 13, 2004 at 11:10 am

View link
This link will take you to a couple photos of the Magic Bag Theatre, AKA Ferndale, Studio North.

wheelgrabber
wheelgrabber on February 2, 2006 at 6:54 am

Does anyone have any information about the Oakdale Theatre in Hazel Park? It was a neighborhood theatre with a balcony. It has, I believe, been demolished. I have a friend who attended this theatre as a boy. He’s going blind and would love to see a photo of it before he does.

Chuck1231
Chuck1231 on February 2, 2006 at 10:18 am

The Oakdale Thetre is not listed with CT. But here is a ling to a site that has a little info and a vintage photo of the theatre.
View link

lostmemory
lostmemory on November 13, 2006 at 7:33 am

This is a recent photo of the Magic Bag Theater.

RDtoo
RDtoo on February 23, 2008 at 1:18 am

I have never been to the Magic Bag, but I remember this place as the Studio North. The movie “Harold and Maude” played there for like a year and a half around 1973. I attended a showing 2 or 3 times and it had a concert like atmosphere as this was a very special film.

lostmemory
lostmemory on August 21, 2008 at 5:26 pm

Here is another photo of the Magic Bag Theater.

lostmemory
lostmemory on May 8, 2009 at 9:43 am

1980 Photo

1982 Photo

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on February 27, 2010 at 12:39 pm

Cool name and bar.

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