Dexter Theater

11618 Dexter,
Detroit, MI

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Styles: Renaissance Revival

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Dexter Theater

This neighborhood house, which opened in 1926 and could seat just over 1200 is notable for the fact that future Fox Theatre owner (and film producer, Herman Cohen, best known for “I Was A Teenage Werewolf”) got his first job here, as an usher and later, a manager in the 40s.

During the 50s and early 60s the Dexter was operated by the Detroit Consolidated Theatres chain. It closed in 1964 and has since been demolished.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft

Recent comments (view all 3 comments)

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on April 29, 2009 at 6:12 pm

Here is part of a 1932 Michigan suit involving the Dexter Theater:

The officer testified that he went to the Dexter Theatre to serve the process, found the office on the second floor closed, and went to the box office where tickets were sold, and asked the cashier if there was anybody in charge of the office that could receive process, and the cashier asked, “What have you got?” and he said “I have a garnishee summons,” and was informed that “Mr. Miller is here and he is the manager — he may accept service,” and the cashier sent a man to find Mr. Miller, and when Mr. Miller came the officer asked him if he was manager, and received the reply that he was, and then stated to Mr. Miller, “I have a garnishee to serve upon the corporation,” and handed him the paper and gave him 50 cents; that Mr. Miller read the paper, did not like it, and started to call the officer names and said he did not want it, and the witness just left it with him and walked away.

Plaintiff claims that Miller was in charge of the ushers and was not manager. John L. Brown, vice-president of the corporation, testified that Mr. Miller was in the employ of the company as head usher, and was asked: “In case anything came up, your father or brother wasn’t there, would he be the person in charge at that time?” and answered, “Well, if neither of them were there I would assume so.”

Whether Harry Brown, general manager of the company, was at the place of business at the time of the service of the process is not made certain by plaintiff’s evidence. It is unnecessary to review the testimony at length. It is sufficient to say that, under the testimony, the service was upon a proper person.

Plaintiff also contends that the service was bad because the fee tendered was insufficient. Having made no objection to the mileage fee at the time of service, defendant (plaintiff herein) may not, after judgment, urge the point. The decree is affirmed, with costs to defendant.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on April 21, 2010 at 5:51 pm

Here is a photo circa 1960s, with an unhelpful post-it in the middle:
http://tinyurl.com/23w4kel

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on April 21, 2010 at 5:52 pm

One more post-it marred photo here:
http://tinyurl.com/27ncaqg

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