Detroit Theatre
16407 Detroit Avenue,
Lakewood,
OH
44107
16407 Detroit Avenue,
Lakewood,
OH
44107
4 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Community Circuit Theaters, Universal Chain Theatrical Enterprises Inc.
Architects: Nicola Petti
Styles: Art Deco
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- May 12, 2012 — Firefighters get practice on Detroit Theatre
- Jul 19, 2011 — McDonald's Hopes to Fry the Detroit Theater
- Feb 1, 2011 — After 87 years, Lakewood's Detroit Theatre closes its doors
- Nov 24, 2003 — Detroit Twin Seen in American Splendor
The Detroit Theatre was built in 1924 and was operated by Universal Pictures chain. It was closed for three years during World War II. Originally built with a stage as a single auditorium, it was split down the middle in 1989 to become a twin theatre.
It was closed on January 30, 2011. It was demolished in 2012, and a McDonalds restaurant now sits on the site.
Contributed by
Laura Parsons
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Recent comments (view all 21 comments)
It has indeed closed after the last show tonight. The other theatre this owner has, the Parma, has been up for sale but is still operating. We’ll see how much longer that one lasts.
The 1975 marquee was beautiful but it looks like it was let go to hell by 1982
Status should be closed.
I just read that McDonald’s wants to buy the Detroit and tear it down.
Chuck1231, I’m pretty sure the evening photo of the Detroit that you have linked here was taken sometime between December 1969 and March 1970 because the attraction is “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,” which played the Detroit at that time. P.S. Thanks for the photo.
After being used for firefighter training, the venerable Detroit Theater will soon be demolished to make away for a McDonald’s restaurant. View link
How sad. That theater outlasted so many other theaters. Torn down for a McDonald’s. Progress.
I was the projectionist at the Detroit theatre. best job I ever had. between 2000 to 2011 I was the projectionist. I was the projectionist that closed the theatre on jan 30 2011. I shut the projectors off and kissed the 4 walls and cried. sonny kern 216-990-5209
The Detroit was architected by Nicola Petti. The French windows, Rafaello decorations on the wall panels, and Bourdeaux curtains were among the few flourishes of the fairly subdued auditorium design. It was built for $275,000 and constructed for the Homestead Theatre Co. Circuit adding to their Cleveland area neighborhood theatres by owners Julius Schwartz and Dr. I. Body. Everything was mechanically controlled at open in 1924 to lower the cost of operations. That business model worked for more than 85 years until closure.
1959 photo added via Mark MacDougal.