Duke Theatre
10060 8-Mile Road,
Oak Park,
MI
48220
10060 8-Mile Road,
Oak Park,
MI
48220
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This theater was named for jazz great Duke Ellington and was part of the Wisper and Westman circuit, seating about 1,500. It was designed by Charles N. Agree in late Streamline Moderne style.
Though construction was planned before America’s entry into WWII in 1941, construction did not actually get underway until 1946, and the $300,000 theater finally opened in early-1947.
By this time, however, the television era was beginning, unfortunately for the Duke Theatre, which lasted less than six years before Wisper and Wetsman closed it due to rapidly declining attendance.
Later gutted and used as a bowling alley, the building has been vacant for years.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
Neo, if you read that link you posted, you’ll note it refers to the building being abandoned since 1997.
Although it was empty, that building was still there as of six months ago. I live not too far from it.
I think the address should be 10060 8-Mile Rd., Oak Park, Mi.
Vintage photo of the Duke Theatre.
View link
Here is a sad looking photo.
This is a recent photo.
the boards covering the marquee attraction panels have some off, you can see the later enameled panels from when the building was a bowling alley now. It’s abandoned, and like everything else in the area, is probably picked clean of any metal.
Early 2010 pictures here.
Make this one Closed/Demolished; it came down in August 2010. Demolition pictures here.
The building housed a heating and cooling business after the bowling alley closed.
This webpage has pictures and other notes about the Duke.