Theatre Page
This Site Began Research March Of 2000/Construction April 2004
Theatre Page
Here We Will Post Info &
Photos About The Old MotorCity Theatre
The Motor City Theatre Opened To The Public On
"Tuesday September 26th 1939"
Click below On The Article From The Weekly Review
Dated Friday September 22nd 1939
For More Info On This Grand Event..!!!!
Some information from a recent talk with Eleanor Bates (life time
resident of Warren)
*Her Brother Leonard Puzzuoli worked at the Motorcity Theater as a Ticket
Taker, & later as the Manager,
*Frank W. Doyle was one of the original
Managers.
*Bill Shaw also Work there.
Photo below of Eleanor Bates & The two photos posted below
<<<Click on any photo on this page to see a larger view>>>
Below-Photos from the first Lincoln High School Commencements Ceremony held at
the Motorcity Theatre in 1942
Persons in photo are Ida Mae Brecker, Zelma Decker, & Kathy Sakorafi's
Photos courtesy of Eleanor Bates
<<<Click on photo for a larger view>>>
Below a photo taken in 1964 showing the Original Neon Marquee, with the words
"MOTOR CITY"
& Horizontal Neon Lights on the front of the Building before it was
remolded, &
the Words "SKATING"
were painted on the Marquee
Below a photo from a 1941 edition of the Warren Township Weekly Reader
Advertising that the Lincoln Band will be playing at The Motor City Theatre
December 15th at 7:30pm 1941
<<<Click on photo for a larger view>>>
Photos that
depict the interior of the how the theatre looked in the 1940's
Photos are from approximately 1946 or 1947.
Submitted to us from "The Ronz"
This photo depicts the "usherettes" and other staff members.
The snack counter is to the left. The man on the right is Frank "Bud" Doyle.
The movie posters are for "Isle of the Dead" starring Boris Karloff.
<<<Click on photo for a larger view>>>
The
photo depicts Bud Doyle.
The movie posters are for "Along Came Jones" starring
Gary Cooper.
<<<Click on photo for a larger view>>>
The photo depicts the snack counter. The man on the right is Bud Doyle.
The
popcorn machine can be seen on the left.
The sign behind the clerk is for the
"Second Annual Dance."
<<<Click on photo for a larger view>>>
The photo depicts a 1920 Chevrolet sitting in the lobby. The man on the right is Bud
Doyle.
The sign in the window of the car reads "By The Courtesy Of Modern Moving
1920 Chevrolet."
Note Art Deco "Motor City" design in carpet.
<<<Click on photo for a larger view>>>
As Well One of the Original Managers of the
MotorCity Theatre. Bud Doyle was instrumental in bringing the Knights of
Columbus to Centerline. He helped found the Father Kramer Council # 2835 and
served as the first Grand Knight in 1941. Below is a photo of Frank (Bud)
Doyle at a K of C Initiation Ceremony at the Gabriel Richard Council in
Detroit (article from the Warren Township Weekly Reader 1940)
(Information from Eleanor Bates, The Ronz, & Anthony Guarnieri)
<<<Click on photo for a larger view>>>
Photos From The 1939 Detroit Times Newspaper Showing An Show/Times Ad For The MotorCity Theatre
Photos From The 1956 Detroit Times Newspaper Showing An Show/Times Ad For The MotorCity Theatre
The Photos Below Are from When Motorcity Was A Roller Rink, & before the Major
remodeling in which this hand painted Canvas Mural in the Lobby area was
covered up with carpeting, ( later to be discovered that it was supposedly
taken from the wall before the carpeting was installed on the wall) {note the water damage in the larger views of the photos}
{Click on the photos for a larger view}
In these next photos note the Original Theater Ceiling & Walls, & Curtain
New Paint Job,, note the original ceiling & walls are now repainted..
Below is a story about the MotorCity Theatre from the
Michigan Indoor Theaters WebSite
Michigan
Indoor Theaters
Hi Keith! When I was a little girl, I attended an indoor theatre
called the Motor City Show. It was on Van Dyke in Warren, and since my
sister worked there as an usher, I always got in free, as well as
getting all my refreshments free. All her co-workers knew me and when
I slid my coin (yes, that's what I said, coin!) into the ticket
window, the ticket girl or guy would slide it back to me, and the same
thing happened at the refreshment counter. I must confess that even at
my young age I felt guilty about that. My little friends all thought I
was so lucky and that I was nuts for worrying about not paying, and I
couldn't say anything about it without getting my sister's friends
into trouble, so each time I shyly accepted my quarter back. After
all, I knew they were just doing it out of kindness, because they knew
we were poor and my mother couldn't afford to part with the quarter
she gave me ($.15 for my ticket and the other $.10 for a treat). I DID
feel good about being able to give it back to her, but I knew it
bothered her, too. It really ages me to think that at that time the
movies cost $.15 for a child's ticket and $.25 for an adult. And that
price included 2 full length movies, cartoons, a newsreel, and
previews! Wow! You sure got your two bits worth back then! Well,
anyway, they later closed the theatre and turned the building into a
roller-skating rink (Motor City Roller Rink). I really have no idea
what's there now, or if the original building is still standing.
Hmmm...I wonder. |
|
Re:
Michigan Indoor Theaters
The Motor City, at Van Dyke and 9 Mile, was torn down in the
1980's. It's now the site of a strip mall (shocking!). Has the right
mix of businesses for this part of town-Burger King, Rent-A-Center,
and a payday loan place. (I can talk smack, I only live a couple miles
away!)
|
|
If Anyone else has more stories & Information About MotorCity when it was a
Theatre,,
Please drop us an E-Mail,,Or Sign Our Guestbook..
Click The "Back" Button On Your Browser To Return To Your Last Viewed
Page,
Or Click Here To Return To The MotorCity Home Page
