Comments about National Theatre in Detroit, MI

DavidZornig on July 16, 2020 at 1:29 am

2017 article with photos.

https://www.detroitnews.com/picture-gallery/news/local/detroit-city/2017/12/06/the-national-theatre-building-designed-by-albert-kahn-in-1911/108367584/?fbclid=IwAR30VKlFCqtwMsiDxqne7HS2gdivpTi7A-vrJcZm3oShSocVeY_zagm5KW8

DavidZornig on November 16, 2017 at 4:06 am

1911 photo and copy added, credit D Tour 313 Facebook page.

Trolleyguy on August 21, 2017 at 5:53 pm

The proposed multi-million $ development of the Monroe Block might incorporate the façade of the National into one of the new buildings.

DavidZornig on April 23, 2017 at 3:15 am

Undated photo added. August 2016 article, and a related website below as well.

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2016/08/30/national-theater-time-ticking/89617854/

http://historicdetroit.org/building/national-theatre/

rivest266 on November 2, 2015 at 10:14 pm

September 24th, 1911 grand opening ad with photo in photo section.

Matt Lambros on January 25, 2013 at 2:45 pm

I recently photographed the National. Check out some photos and a short write up at After the Final Curtain

Patsy on March 11, 2011 at 2:03 am

I just learned of this theatre in Detroit and the Michigan Theatre…such a shame.

Joe Vogel on September 5, 2010 at 11:45 am

Here is a page for the National Theatre at the web site Buildings of Detroit. There are links to galleries with vintage and modern photos.

Twistr54 on June 10, 2010 at 3:59 pm

View link

New photos I took on May 29, 2010. Theatre looks a little rough,,,

nonsportsnut on October 6, 2009 at 5:15 pm

I’m a Three Stooges Fan Club member, trying to confirm a personal appearance by the “3” Stooges (Moe Larry and Shemp), on a bill with Wee Bonnie Baker, the Barretts and Don Hooton, after an appearance by the A.B. Marcus Revue. The movie “Queen of Burlesque” was also shown. I have a display ad, but no dates (or town shown). Believe it was the Summer of 1946, and may have been Shemp’s first appearance after Curly’s strokes. The National was advertised as air cooled and showed a phone number of JA-7863.
Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks Frank Reighter

Lak on January 26, 2009 at 9:39 pm

I thought that this theatre was supposed to be restored soon.

Brian Morton on March 6, 2008 at 11:06 pm

I found some more pictures here

View link

sdoerr on November 1, 2006 at 4:52 pm

Interior cleaning and work has been takeing place since the summer, rumor is a dinner theater will be coming.

One can only hope, though the interior will never be how the national was if it were to take place, or at least I don’t think it will be.

sdoerr on June 17, 2006 at 2:24 am

Looks like I get to see my faces and towers cleaaned after all.

Over the past month or so they’ve been doing more work. Looks like it’s being performed by ChezCore.

The whole facade, top-to-bottom including the golden crown of the towers is clean! Now if only the terra-cotta could be repaired, parts repainted, the light bulbs replaced, we could have an alive National.

kencmcintyre on March 13, 2006 at 12:52 am

Here are some relatively contemporary photos:
http://www.agilitynut.com/05/6/detrth.jpg
http://www.agilitynut.com/05/6/detrth2.jpg
http://www.agilitynut.com/05/6/detrth3.jpg

sdoerr on February 8, 2006 at 7:29 pm

I should add that the facade wasn’t cleaned well and not very complete. They basically cleaned the areas under the little mini roof on the facade. They didnt bother to clean the towers (which are still filled with grime and grime)

Thy should have cleaned it all and lit it like it was back in that day

sdoerr on February 2, 2006 at 6:35 pm

Scaffolding down, a nice white, clean facade has risen.

Dorothy on December 12, 2005 at 4:37 pm

Here are two site I found:
http://atdetroit.net/forum

and here is one on theater organs – not specifically just for detroit
http://barton.theatreorgans.com/s.htm

sdoerr on October 11, 2005 at 5:03 am

Scaffolding has been erected on the exterior for about a month.

He owners are tapping into a facade improvement grant.

It will be nice to see the facade all restored, hopefully.

sdoerr on September 19, 2005 at 11:54 pm

Currently just facade improvements to make it look nice for the super bowl. They have a grant to fix it up.

Look for something to happen when they get some investors.

frequency13 on September 19, 2005 at 4:39 pm

I was visiting downtown this past weekend and saw a crew of workers putting up scaffolding along the front of the building. Something is obviously happening with the theater. When I asked one of the crew members, he told me they were renovating the building for reuse as a theater. If this is true, I would be thrilled! They had knocked out bricks on the vacant side of the building and put in a garage door. The door was open and my friends and I ventured inside. Nothing has been done yet to renovate the interior, so whatever’s going on is still in the early stages!

jlideman on January 27, 2005 at 6:14 am

I was checking out abandoned building online one time and came across this beautiful theater and instantly fell in love with it. I also decovered that Detroit is full of beautiful old buildings that are abandoned, but this one just realy stands out to me. I seriously hope that sombody steps in and restores this work of art before its too late.

sdoerr on October 27, 2004 at 8:33 pm

If I remember correctly, the owns plan on making the theater to showcase African-American history or something to do with Arfican-Americans, and build condos on the top.

Roger Katz on July 18, 2004 at 5:56 am

Good interior photos at View link

sdoerr on June 7, 2004 at 4:57 am

Here is a couple of historic pictures of one of my favorite theaters in its hey-day:
1
2
3

National Theatre

118 Monroe Street, Detroit, MI 48226

118 Monroe Street,
Detroit, MI 48226