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Detroit's Downtown Movie Palaces (MI) (Images of America) | 
| Authors: Michael Hauser, Marianne Weldon
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
Category: Book
List Price: $19.99
Buy New: $12.35
You Save: $7.64 (38%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 527290
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 128
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8.5 x 6.5 x 0.5
ISBN: 0738541028
Dewey Decimal Number: 791.430977434
EAN: 9780738541020
ASIN: 0738541028
Publication Date: November 20, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New, Perfect Condition, Please allow 4-14 business days for delivery. 100% Money Back Guarantee, Over 1,000,000 customers served.
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Product Description
The spokelike grid of wide grand avenues radiating out from downtown Detroit allowed for a concentration of theaters initially along Monroe Street near Campus Martius and, after the second decade of the 20th century, clustered around Grand Circus Park, all easily accessible by a vast network of streetcars. In its heyday, Grand Circus Park boasted a dozen palatial movie palaces containing an astonishing total of 26,000 seats. Of these theaters, five remain today, fully restored and operational for live entertainment. Detroit, more so than any other North American city, illustrates how demographic and economic forces dramatically changed the landscape of film exhibition in an urban setting.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Thanks for the memories November 16, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I grew up near Detroit in the 1940's when those dazzling movie theatres exerted a magical allure on the streets, and inside were often a better show than what was on their screens. Authors Hauser and Weldon have done a wonderful job bringing it all back and I truly got lost in this book. Many thanks for this labor of love.
Thunderous Applause! October 11, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
For some of Downtown Detroit's old theatres, thunderous applause is just a memory. For others, the ones which have been restored, it is still a reality. Also a reality is my applause for this book, and no, not just because I know co-author Mike Hauser personally. It is a thickly illustrated delightful read, a fun and informative way to spend an evening, and invites repeated referring-to. Having visited a number of these theatres myself in 1995, I may have an advantage, but even if you're not from Detroit or have never visited, here is a tasty introduction to one of the finest locations for surviving classic theatres anywhere.
Down Memory Lane June 26, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
When I reflect back on my years as a child growing up in marvelous Detroit, some of the strongest images are of the movie houses I used to frequent downtowm. This book evokes many of those sweet memories as it is loeaded with pictures, and written histories of those fabulous palaces. When it came to grandiouse movie houses Detroit was second to none. This book helps you trace the history of each theater from its building to - in some cases - it deomltion. Some of these grandious auditoriums were actually built by motion picture companies such as the Fox (Twentieth Century Fox) and the Untied Artist (United Artists), Many were not merely theaters but also were part of large office building housing industry related businesses such as booking agents and the likes. Many were build as vaudeville houses and later converted to movie theaters. Some have survived and hosts different venues today. Few are still showing first run movies as the characterless multi screen matchboxes of suburbia have taken over that venue.
GLORY March 22, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book is a joy. Before the '67 riot Detroit was always a big movie town. In the 40s there were more than 50 theatres in the city. A few of the neighbourhood theatres were quite extrodinary such as the Rivera or the Algiers but the downtown theatres were wonderful places to be. Back in the 40s, 50s & 60s just to go downtown was exciting with Hudson's & all the wonderful stores & restaurants & to top off the trip with a movie in one of the downtown theatres was, indeed, a treat. If the movie didn't please the theatre always did. The Fox, State, Music Hall, United Artist & Opera House (formerly Broadway Capitol/Grand Circus among other names) still stand. Some just barely. So it's wonderful to see photos of those that are gone. Photos which show just how lovely & unique they were. Each theatre had it's own character & aptmosphere. Most of all it's wonderful to see the Michigan Theatre in all its glory. She was the undisputed queen of the downtown movie theatres. She was the only place in Detroit where you could sit & actually feel you were in a real palace. It's lovely to have this book.
A fascinating look at Detroit's theatres January 18, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This book reviews the history of the movie palaces that have graced downtown Detroit since the late nineteenth century. I found it hard to put this book down once I started to read it. The photographs are wonderful and are often one of a kind dating back over a century. The narration ties together the history of films, architecture and the story of formal entertainment in Detroit for over one hundred years. Although it is of particular interest to people interested in Detroit's past, it is equally significant for non-Detroiters who will find that Detroit's story parallels that of most other cities in North America. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and often find myself browsing through it.
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