Willis Theater

4190 Hastings Street,
Detroit, MI 48201

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david2lee3price
david2lee3price on October 29, 2015 at 5:06 pm

too bad the city did not think enough of hastings to keep photos of kids favorite theater memories like the willis,castle and warfield.

david2lee3price
david2lee3price on October 29, 2015 at 5:03 pm

I considered this theater a favorite and agree with mr. turner ,it was a movie theater 4 the people. the only one I knew who sold fresh potato chips and good westerns,fictions and serials. the only problem 4 some kids were the hoods standing outside to take kids money.

Chris1982
Chris1982 on July 10, 2014 at 9:06 pm

It was listed as a Negro Theatre in the Mition Pitcure Yearbook along with the Arcade, Castle, Catherine, Echo, Russell and Grand in 1941 for Detroit.

sidturner
sidturner on October 8, 2012 at 8:10 pm

you can not brand this theatre as an African American Theatre. It was a movie theatre of the people. I lived on Willis and Rivard for ten years renting from a Polish couple. My family of Native Americans frequented every business on Hastings. Starting with Willis Theatre, Rev. Franklin Church, Joes Barber shop all on the corner of Willis and Hastings. Sidney Turner

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on July 27, 2009 at 6:14 pm

Here is a Boxoffice item from December 1951:

When Irving Katcher, owner-manager of the Willis Theater in Detroit, played “The Fat Man”, he invited anyone who could qualify for the film title to be his guest. During the run the marquee announced “Free admission for all fat people”.