United Artists Theatre Building
Encyclopedia
The United Artists Theatre Building is a vacant high-rise tower in downtown Detroit, Michigan
, standing at 150 Bagley Street. It was constructed in 1928 and stands 18 stories tall. The building was designed by architect C. Howard Crane
in the renaissance revival architectural style, and is made mainly of brick
. Until December 29, 1971, it was a first-run movie house and office space, and then after that, the theatre saw sporadic usage until 1973. The United Artists
Theatre, designed in a Spanish-Gothic design, sat 2,070 people, and after closing served from 1978 to 1983 as the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
's recording theater. After the theater closed, the office block struggled as tenants moved to suburbs. It finally closed in 1984. An original 10-story, vertical UA sign was replaced in the 1950s with a marquee
that remained until 2005. The building once shared a lot with the now demolished Hotel Tuller
.
In preparation for the 2006 NFL Super Bowl
, graffiti was removed from all the windows of the building, and the lower levels received a coat of black paint to hide the graffiti
work at the base of the building. The old theater marquee was also removed.
In 2006, Ilitch Holdings
announced it would market the building jointly with the City of Detroit owned Statler Hotel.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, standing at 150 Bagley Street. It was constructed in 1928 and stands 18 stories tall. The building was designed by architect C. Howard Crane
C. Howard Crane
Charles Howard Crane was an American architect.Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Crane established a practice in Detroit, Michigan early in the 20th Century. Like Thomas W. Lamb and John Eberson, Crane specialized in the design of movie palaces in North American...
in the renaissance revival architectural style, and is made mainly of brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
. Until December 29, 1971, it was a first-run movie house and office space, and then after that, the theatre saw sporadic usage until 1973. The United Artists
United Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
Theatre, designed in a Spanish-Gothic design, sat 2,070 people, and after closing served from 1978 to 1983 as the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Detroit, Michigan. Its main performance center is Orchestra Hall at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood...
's recording theater. After the theater closed, the office block struggled as tenants moved to suburbs. It finally closed in 1984. An original 10-story, vertical UA sign was replaced in the 1950s with a marquee
Marquee (sign)
A marquee is most commonly a structure placed over the entrance to a hotel or theatre. It has signage stating either the name of the establishment or, in the case of theatres, the play or movie and the artist appearing at that venue...
that remained until 2005. The building once shared a lot with the now demolished Hotel Tuller
Hotel Tuller
The Hotel Tuller once stood at Adams Avenue West, Bagley Street, and Park Avenue across from Grand Circus Park in downtown Detroit, Michigan. It was one of the largest luxury hotels in Detroit, and the first one to be erected in the Grand Circus Park Historic District...
.
In preparation for the 2006 NFL Super Bowl
Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League champion for the 2005 season...
, graffiti was removed from all the windows of the building, and the lower levels received a coat of black paint to hide the graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
work at the base of the building. The old theater marquee was also removed.
In 2006, Ilitch Holdings
Ilitch Holdings, Inc.
Ilitch Holdings, Inc. was established in 1999 to provide all companies owned by Mike and Marian Ilitch with professional and technical services...
announced it would market the building jointly with the City of Detroit owned Statler Hotel.
External links
- United Artists Theatre at Buildings of Detroit
- http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/gallery/2011/jan/02/photography-detroit?%2F%3Fpicture=370173054&index=0#/?picture=370173054&index=0 recent image of the interior of the theatre.