Stratford Theatre

4751 W. Vernor Highway,
Detroit, MI 48201

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Additional Info

Architects: Joseph P. Jogerst, Ted Rogvoy, Frank H. Wright

Firms: Rogvoy & Wright

Styles: Art Deco

Nearby Theaters

Stratford Theatre, 4751 W. Vernor Highway, Detroit, Michigan in 1916 - Lobby

Located at the corner of W. Verner Highway and Ferdinand Street in Central Southwest Detroit. The Stratford Theatre opened in 1916, designed by Joseph P. Jogerst, and could seat 1,137. In 1938 it received an elegant Art Deco facelift, with a cream and salmon colored terra-cotta façade, and new triangular marquee, designed by architectural firm Rogvoy & Wright of Detroit, MI.

After closing years earlier, the Stratford Theatre reopened in the summer of 1985 offering a free movie series. At this time, seating was reduced to about 600. However, the theatre was closed again at the end of that summer, and has remained vacant since.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft

Recent comments (view all 10 comments)

sdoerr
sdoerr on March 4, 2004 at 12:53 pm

Go here for a picture of the theater today and the old interior.

sdoerr
sdoerr on November 13, 2004 at 8:37 am

This theater is owned by a church, but still remains vacant. A message for a party remains on the marquee.

JohnMLauter
JohnMLauter on January 16, 2008 at 7:13 pm

…..and was played by Doris Goutow

Yves Marchand
Yves Marchand on August 1, 2008 at 3:12 pm

The building recently reopened as a furniture (+ various stuff) store. Some original deco and curtain still remains inside.

Yves Marchand
Yves Marchand on May 16, 2009 at 5:14 pm

Checked it some days ago. The store that occupied the auditorium is now closed.

jschneider
jschneider on February 27, 2010 at 7:06 pm

I am interested in finding out more information on the origins of the Stratford. My family, Schneiders, originally built the city block it was housed in and were officers in the Dix Theater Company which included the Stratford. Who currently owns the theater and is there a way I can gain access to the inside for family history purposes? I’m looking for some contact information on current ownership.

Broan
Broan on January 26, 2013 at 12:04 pm

http://books.google.com/books?id=1qEbAQAAMAAJ&dq=cove%20lighting%20theater&pg=PA1989#v=onepage&q=cove%20lighting%20theater&f=false

heff1944
heff1944 on July 17, 2018 at 12:15 am

This is in response to jschneider: I am the granddaughter of Joseph N Schneider, Sr. He and my Uncle Fred Schneider owned the Stratford Theater. I have the program from the opening of that theater. If you would like to chat, you could email me at

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on November 23, 2021 at 2:11 am

The November 19, 1938 issue of Boxoffice had news about the remodeling project at the Stratford Theatre: “Detroit— The Stratford Theatre here will complete an extensive remodeling program in about ten days. Wright & Rogvoy, Detroit, are the architects.”

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