My father, Howard Denial, told me he managed this theatre. I suppose this would have been in the 1940s or 1950s. He would later manage the Wyandotte and Southland theatres. If anyone has any info on him at the Hollywood, I would be interested.
Don, Wyandotte is about 10 miles due south of Downtown Detroit. And yes, I was referring to Connie Kreski. Of course her last name was different when she worked at the theatre, but I will not reveal that out of respect for her and her family. I believe Connie passed away several years ago.
I am thinking that this was opened before 1969 because I went there with my father occasionally. He was a theatre manager for the Sloan’s Suburban Detroit Theatres. It was actually a cool little place from what I recall.
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.
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.
I made a mistake in my earlier post. Eugene and Richard Sloan owned the Suburban Detroit Theatre chain. I got mixed up because Burt Levy was the owner of L & L concessions which provided many of the theatres with candy and popcorn.
Incidentally, I never remember the Southland Theatre being referred to as the Southland Twin.
My father, Howard Denial managed the Southland Theatre from it’s opening in 1970 until he retired in 1977. He had earlier managed the Wyandotte, the Hollywood and the 6 mile Uptown theatres. The Southland was a part of the Suburban Detroit Theatre chain owned by Richard and Eugene Levy. I believe AMC later bought them out. I was a ticket taker and responsible for the marquee changes from 1973 until 1975. I later cleaned the theatre after hours in 1976 to 1977. Once during 1972 my father decided to resurrect the old Spook shows with “live” monsters. I played Frankenstein and was pelted pretty hard by all sorts of candy. My father had a black cape covering him while he flew a bat on a pole over the audience. He was revealed when an usherette accidently leaned against the switch that turned on the lights in the auditorium. Boy, was he mad. That was the last time he attempted a Spook show. Great memories.
My father managed the Wyandotte Theatre from the early to mid 50s until he left to manage the brand new Southland Theatre in 1970. His name was Howard Denial. I am his son Robert (Bob). My mother Mary Jo managed the concession stand during those years. The theatre was a part of the Suburban Detroit Theatre chain owned by Richard and Eugene Sloan. My dad told me that the Wyandotte was the first theatre to have two screens under one roof. Many celebrities stopped by on promotional tours, like Jerry Lewis, Dwayne Hickman and the supporting cast of the Beach Party films to name a few. An Usherette from the early 60s went on to become the 1968 Playmate of the year. I have a photo of her in her usherette outfit along with alot of other photos and memorbilia that I hope to exhibit at the Bacon Library sometime in the near future. I myself worked as a ticket taker at the Wyandotte in 1972 or 73 after my father had left. I later worked for him at Southland. It was sad to see the theatre demolished.
My father, Howard Denial, told me he managed this theatre. I suppose this would have been in the 1940s or 1950s. He would later manage the Wyandotte and Southland theatres. If anyone has any info on him at the Hollywood, I would be interested.
Don, Wyandotte is about 10 miles due south of Downtown Detroit. And yes, I was referring to Connie Kreski. Of course her last name was different when she worked at the theatre, but I will not reveal that out of respect for her and her family. I believe Connie passed away several years ago.
I am thinking that this was opened before 1969 because I went there with my father occasionally. He was a theatre manager for the Sloan’s Suburban Detroit Theatres. It was actually a cool little place from what I recall.
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.
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.
I made a mistake in my earlier post. Eugene and Richard Sloan owned the Suburban Detroit Theatre chain. I got mixed up because Burt Levy was the owner of L & L concessions which provided many of the theatres with candy and popcorn.
Incidentally, I never remember the Southland Theatre being referred to as the Southland Twin.
My father, Howard Denial managed the Southland Theatre from it’s opening in 1970 until he retired in 1977. He had earlier managed the Wyandotte, the Hollywood and the 6 mile Uptown theatres. The Southland was a part of the Suburban Detroit Theatre chain owned by Richard and Eugene Levy. I believe AMC later bought them out. I was a ticket taker and responsible for the marquee changes from 1973 until 1975. I later cleaned the theatre after hours in 1976 to 1977. Once during 1972 my father decided to resurrect the old Spook shows with “live” monsters. I played Frankenstein and was pelted pretty hard by all sorts of candy. My father had a black cape covering him while he flew a bat on a pole over the audience. He was revealed when an usherette accidently leaned against the switch that turned on the lights in the auditorium. Boy, was he mad. That was the last time he attempted a Spook show. Great memories.
My father managed the Wyandotte Theatre from the early to mid 50s until he left to manage the brand new Southland Theatre in 1970. His name was Howard Denial. I am his son Robert (Bob). My mother Mary Jo managed the concession stand during those years. The theatre was a part of the Suburban Detroit Theatre chain owned by Richard and Eugene Sloan. My dad told me that the Wyandotte was the first theatre to have two screens under one roof. Many celebrities stopped by on promotional tours, like Jerry Lewis, Dwayne Hickman and the supporting cast of the Beach Party films to name a few. An Usherette from the early 60s went on to become the 1968 Playmate of the year. I have a photo of her in her usherette outfit along with alot of other photos and memorbilia that I hope to exhibit at the Bacon Library sometime in the near future. I myself worked as a ticket taker at the Wyandotte in 1972 or 73 after my father had left. I later worked for him at Southland. It was sad to see the theatre demolished.