Vogue Theater

16926 Harper Avenue,
Detroit, MI 48224

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: United Detroit Theaters

Architects: Percival Raymond Pereira

Styles: Art Deco

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News About This Theater

Vogue Theater

Opened on December 25, 1937, this neighborhood theater was designed by architect Percival R. Periera and seated 1,460. It was located on Harper Avenue, not far from the similar-looking Harper Theater (now Harpo’s), both featuring a large vertical sign over their curving facades. However, the Harper Theater was larger by about 500 seats, and designed by Charles N. Agree. The Vogue Theater was part of the United Detroit Theaters chain. The theater closed in 1977.

Contributed by Bryan

Recent comments (view all 5 comments)

DonFoshey
DonFoshey on February 26, 2004 at 2:44 pm

I believe that this theatre was razed in the late 1970’s and the site is now occupied by a McDonald’s.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on March 16, 2012 at 10:03 am

This theater, and the Vogue Theatre in Manistee, Michigan, present a problem. I don’t know the source of the attribution of these houses to both architect Percival Pereira and to the the firm of Pereira & Pereira, but as Percival Pereira was never a member of that firm, one claim or the other has to be wrong.

The firm of Pereira & Pereira was founded in 1931 and lasted until 1943, so William and Hal Pereira could have designed these two theaters. On the other hand, Percival Pereira was based in Detroit (the Pereira brother’s office was in Chicago) and I’ve been unable to discover how long his career lasted. He might well have still been designing theaters in the late 1930s, though he was older than the Pereira brothers- how much older, I don’t know. I’ve been unable to find his year of birth.

In the absence of any reliable source from the period, I honestly can’t say if these two Vogue Theatres in Michigan were designed by Percival Pereira or by Pereira & Pereira. The Streamline Moderne style of the Detroit Vogue in particular certainly resembles the work of the brothers, and if I had to guess I’d be inclined to say that William and Hal designed them both, but I’m just not sure.

JohnMessick
JohnMessick on March 17, 2012 at 4:13 am

Great looking theater.

rivest266
rivest266 on November 5, 2015 at 5:14 am

December 24th, 1937 grand opening ad in photo section.

pnelson
pnelson on March 22, 2016 at 9:37 pm

Wow art deco beauty. Blade sign is great too.

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