Michigan Theatre
238 Bagley Street,
Detroit,
MI
48226
238 Bagley Street,
Detroit,
MI
48226
29 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 106 comments
The Michigan Theatre in better days:
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I have never seen this particular photo before. Nice one.
here’s link to TV news video on Fred Hermes basement theater & the theater’s Wurlitzer organ (per Comments above)
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The Theater’s original Wurlitzer organ, a five manual, twenty-eight rank masterpiece, still survives, installed in a basement replica of a movie palace in the home of man in Racine Wisconsin. There’s more information here: View link
Im doing my dissertation on Detroit “ the dying city”, and researching alot on the decaying buildings and spaces within this amazing city. If anyone has any opinions/thoughts on the building’s current state, the reasons for the destruction to such an architectural beauty, then they would be very much appreciated.
Thanks
A NY Times' review of the PBS show “Blueprint America” features a photo of this theater now in use as a parking garage.
Link to photo: View link
Link to article: View link
What does a Rick Astley video have to do with the Michigan Theater?
Interesting photos – some show areas I’ve never seen before – shows more original plaster remain than I had realized, particularly the inner promenade between the grand lobby and auditorium area, especially ornate ceilings, and it looks like a fair amount of the upper lobbies still remains (even some carpeting on the staircase!) Even the top part of the balcony remains (although minus seats).
I read in the United Artists entry that Illitch has done some major repairs to the roof – and possibly renoavting the building. I wonder if the roof for the Michigan has been or will be repaired.
I wonder if the projectors are still in the projector booth. Apparently the original screen is still handing. If the projectors are there, they could put a railing on the balcony remainder, raise the screen to the top of the proscenium and have occasional movie showings at the world’s first multi-level drive-in! (sit in the balcony or in your car — but no honking!)
Those are extremely interesting photos. Thanks so much for taking them.
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I took some new pics of the building April 24 2009.
Nad another a few years later. Interesting how they left the bottom of the vertical sign:
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Here’s one just for SNWEB:
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David, Rock and Roll was built on/used the left-overs from the buildings of the teens'-1920s, there wasn’t enough real money (or no one involved wanted to invest real money) in building a structure devoted to the presentation of rock and roll, so they used and abused existing old theatres and ballrooms that were down on their luck by the 1960s and 70s.
My wife and I just spent a few days in Orlando at the Hard Rock hotel, a very nice place. It was built just a few years ago and is designed to resemble a 1920s Spanish revival hotel. Very fitting to see the ubiquitous rock memorabilia among the vestiges of an earlier time when the elegance was appreciated.
Dr. Bop and the Headliners surely, unknowingly early on had captured the essence of John Lauter’s 2004 post.
DB&TH were kind of based out of Chicago by 1987. By that time their stage show included it’s own on-stage bartender. Who would throw full pitchers of beer to the guitarist, who would bat them with his guitar out over the audience.
Drenching everyone like a frat house prank.
They performed on rubber mats, and were supposedly insured by Lloyds Of London due to their antics.
So I could imagine how an earlier, presumably even wilder 1973 show could sadly have set the stage for disregarding the granduer of such a beautiful theater as the Michigan appeared to be.
Of course it would take many acts other than DB&TH over several years, to tear up the surroundings so badly that renovation didn’t seem viable to subsequent owners.
The “cursed rock & roll” our parent’s feared, and the `70’s fight authority/punk mentality I’m sure didn’t help preserve an archaic example of the past. Especially when the then “future generation” could act as they wanted as if it was their own giant rec room.
The Congress and Riviera here in Chicago suffered pretty much the same fate. But both are still currently operating as concert venues, regardless of interior condition. The Congress is much worse for wear though.
OMG, this is so sad! I can’t believe this glorious building came to this end….
I was only there once, for a Bowie concert in Fall 1974. But it left a huge impression – the grandeur, beauty, luxury, the feeling of being in another time and place. The velvet, the gold gilt, the plaster, the art not to mention the beautiful building. I left MI in 1981 and so I didn’t know – so very sad to realize Detroit has become such a shell of it’s former self.
This made me cry today when I saw the photos of old and new, hit me square in the heart to know such a wonderous place is no more. Such a crying shame… .
If your at this site, I think you’ll enjoy checking out; www.thegrandeballroom.com have fun !!! stanza*
True Story. I attended the New York Dolls concert on New Years Eve 1973. The opening act was Dr. Bop and the Headliners. Anyways I sat in the front row and witnessed pandimonium. Firecrackers were being thrown and exploding everywhere. I heard one girl had a firecracker explode on her head and she started bleeding. I managed to escape unscathed. Even at that time I thought that this theatre was too beautiful for us kids. Anyways, a couple of months later I was going back to the Palace to see Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Opening act, Catfish Hodge. I got this feeling of dread that this time I would be hit by a firecracker. My friends tried to reassure me that I was just thinking of New Years Eve and that I would be fine. Still, all I kept repeating was “I’m going to be hit by a firecracker”. I could barely enjoy the concert as I was convinced doom was forthcoming. Then it happened. Midway through the concert the only firecracker thrown all night came soaring out of the balcony. Yes. It landed and exploded on my arm. I was wearing a jean jacket and was not harmed. I swear on my life that this is a true story.
Oh Yeah, Any Garwood people out there? Checkout; www.davidandroselyn.com and also www.dallashodge.com “ have fun ” for all those that were from those days I’m glad your Still Alive and Well …… stanza
Note to David… HOWDEEE !!! You forgot Minnie Pearl….I worked for your Dad; Dr Leo Speeris.. I was the one who on occasions had to MC the shows,( will never forget when Tim Buckley broke a guitar string just as I introduced him and had to try to keep the crowd at bay with a little humor.) WAS NOT FUNNY!!! Tim Buckley and Mike Quattro would always argue who was going to open for who. Kinda wish Mike would’ve won that night. Also ran the center spotlight. And will never forget when my color gels were out of sync w/ the other spots ( Aerosmith road mgr screw up) and I had to play it by ear when he called off the number gel to hit. Me and Rick Lockhart ( Rick worked for Steve G.) watched over the stage. I was the one that found the breakers under the stage when the New York Dolls used to trip them. ( Do you remember that that stage used to drop and rise for loading?) Of course you do. I was also there when your Dad , Gabe Glantz, and Russ Gibb had court over the phone in the entryway over the rights to the Aerosmith show that night. I think that’s the night Steve Glantz got thrown into the backstage wall because they were ordered out of the bldg. and the force of it broke-up the plaster in the stairwell, stage left ! ( Main Backstage access.) ( He was pissed to say the least. ) Oh yeah, I’m also the one who’d change the marquee. I’ve been reading some of the, “ facts” about the Michingan Palace. Were these people even their? For one thing, Sly never showed up for his show, but the opening act, the CHAMBERS BROS. accompanied by Jackson Browne made the night worth wild. And the band Benny and the Jets was actually; Lenny and the Jets! Lenny G. is Steve G’s brother and Gabe Glantz ( who was an attorney )( and Steve and Lenny’s father) asked if I could put a band together Lenny. There’s MUCH MORE to that story ! So how long did you and your Dad run the Funny Farm nightclub after the Palace? I just happened to find this site after looking for old R&R photos. Tom Charney took a lot of them but I lost touch with just about everyone from those days. If you have any old photos, please contact me … contact me even if you don’t . I’m in Denver now. My e-mail address is . Sincerely , stan eiza
This theater is so interesting, especially because of what became of it. The photos are so interesting. When was it converted to a garage?
Have any plans been made for the future of this buiding?
Here is a instering fact from what i found out the UA Detroit and the Michigan Theatres were or are aprox. 358 feet from each other and thay could`nt be saved. Or so the story goes.
Thanks for your time.
All i have to say is why ????
Why could it not have ben made in to a arts center or something?
I leave you with thies words from Richard Nickle…….
“ GREAT ARCHITECURE HAS ONLY TWO NATURAL ENEMIES :
WATER AND STUPID MEN ”
Thank You for your time :)
The Michigan turned 80 yesterday (since it’s 2 AM right now)
The Michigan opened August 23, 1926 with the film ‘You’ll Never Know Women’.
RUDYMILD HERE, oh yea IRON BUTTERFLY (scorching beauty album)??/??/??
RUDYMILD HERE, oh yea IRON BUTTERFLY (scorching beauty album)