Detroit Theater Closing

[Kate McCarthy]

My daughter just mentioned that one of her facebook friends posted that the Detroit Theater is closing after this weekend. Does anyone know if this is true?

[Stephen Eisel]

http://detroitheatre.com/home
Nothing on the website

http://events.ohio.com/lakewood-oh/venu ... it-theatre

16407 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, OH, 44107
(216) 521-2245 - Venue Website
Lakewood's lone surviving movie theatre, the Detroit Theatre, first opened in 1924, and thrived until the arrival of the Great Depression. The theatre was forced to close in 1933, but reopened several years later when the economy improved. As with a lot of neighborhood theatres, changing times brought... more

Lakewood's lone surviving movie theatre, the Detroit Theatre, first opened in 1924, and thrived until the arrival of the Great Depression. The theatre was forced to close in 1933, but reopened several years later when the economy improved. As with a lot of neighborhood theatres, changing times brought about the need for more screens. The theatre was twinned in 1988, giving it two screens instead of one.

[Stephen Eisel]

I think that the Detroit Theatre is a General Cinema theatre. I will try to call their corporate HQ tomorrow and verify..

[Grace O'Malley]

I'm sorry to say this but perhaps its for the good. Maybe someone new will come in and run it because the miserable people that currently own/run it will never get my business again.

At Christmas we wanted to see the Fockers movie and despite my reservations about that place due to previous bad experiences, I talked three other adults into going there to see the movie. When we got there, the place looked empty. We walked to the snack counter and I said "Four Adults!" The sourpuss woman glared at us and said "For what?" I was taken aback but surmised that she meant WHICH movie, although I hardly see why it would make any difference because there was literally no one else there and I certainly did not appreciate her hostile demeanor. I should have walked out then but we paid and went into the theater only to find a man sitting near the back who was asleep and surrounded by his belongings, or covered by them, really. He looked to have been there for a while and my fellow moviegoers were alarmed because he looked like he might be living there.

Overall, it was most unpleasant, but not unexpected, either. They are NOT friendly there. I think you should welcome a customer, not act like you are bothered by them. Whoever runs that theater should find another line of business.

[Jim DeVito]

Perhaps a remodel... A cool place like the capitol theater. We certainty have enough hipsters. The two times I saw a movie there it was a blast.

[Brian Pedaci]

I've never found anyone there unfriendly. Quite the opposite, actually.

We keep going there because we really appreciate the budget price and the independent spirit, but sometimes it's pretty clear they're in way over their heads trying to keep the place running in a professional manner.

[Bill Call]

The building is for sale. I think they were asking $650,000 without the business. It wasn't worth $650,000 with the business.

Since Lakewood is only 20 minutes from everything there really isn't any reason for anything to be here. That's one theory anyway.

[Stephen Eisel]

Jan 30th is the closing date

[Heather Ramsey]

While I'm sad to see anything close, it definitely wasn't a particularly appealing venue of late. The last few times I went there in winter I might as well have been sitting outside. It's nice to have a theatre so close, but they obviously haven't had the money to make the improvements necessary to be a draw.

[Betsy Voinovich]

I love going to the Detroit theater with my kids, even in the winter. Last time we saw a movie on a cold night we left our knit hats on and had a blanket across our laps, it's true-- but we had a great time-- and nothing beats walking to the theater on a summer night, or taking the wagon, or bikes, and then stopping at UDF next door or Dairy Queen, sitting around outside and talking about the movie, and enjoying the walk home together.

Lakewood is one of the last places this kind of experience-- the legitimate small town experience-- is possible. I wish that when people are considering economic development plans, or looking at new things to bring to Lakewood, like the third designer burrito place, or the fifth sandwich shop, all in EXACTLY the same location, they would look around at what's already here, and what's GREAT, and what makes Lakewood Lakewood, that might need shoring up-- or a new plan, or some grant money.

Yeah, people keep saying the internet is replacing movies, and video stores, etc, but people still go to movies, to be with each other, to experience watching a movie all together; getting to laugh or cry or be in awe together in the same room. It's especially fun when it's in your own town and the theater is full of your neighbors.

I wonder if anything can be done at this late date to save the Detroit theater. It would be worth checking out what other towns in a similar position have done to save theirs.

Betsy Voinovich

[Matthew Lee]

What the Detroit Theater should become is a true Art House movie theater. This is exactly what is missing, IMHO, from the area. Yeah, you can catch flicks at Capitol Theater or Regal or Cinemark, but they aren't true art house movies.

Animal Kingdom didn't play anywhere on the west side. Carlos didn't play anywhere on the west side.

It totally needs a spruce up, and some TLC, but Detroit Theater is perfect to be a true art house theater that could pull from around the west side.

Plus, imagine if they did Disney/Dreamworks/Pixar movie matinees on Sat/Sun. Or monster movies. Or cult movies. Rockey Horror Picture on Saturday night. That would be different and could draw in others.

The biggest downfall, IMHO, was when they went from Second Run movies to First Run movies. Instead of having a niche, inexpensive movies that you might have missed the first time around, they went to trying to compete with the big boys and the theater just didn't hold up. To succeed, they need a niche and they need to do it well.

Hopefully, someone out there has some money to support something as I would hate to have it just boarded up. I think the opportunity is there, it just takes some time and cash to implement.

[stephen davis]

Saw True Grit there this weekend. It's nice to see a movie so close to home, especially in the winter weather.

The new movie theaters have more comfortable seating, but their modern audio systems are an assault on my ears. I enjoyed True Grit at a comfortable volume in the Detroit Theater.

I rarely go to movies, so my attendance does not save a theater from financial trouble. I do think it's a shame, though, that we lose the last Lakewood movie theater. I hope somebody will bring it back for movie fans.

Maybe it could be adapted to be a live music venue, like the old theater in Medina.

.

[Heather Ramsey]

Maybe it could be adapted to be a live music venue, like the old theater in Medina.

That would be great. I hate trekking to the Grog Shop and the Beachland...

Like the Arty movie deal, too, but the Capitol does do some of that, so I'm not sure if it'd work or not. Definitely would've been great before the Capitol went in.

[Betsy Voinovich]

Maybe it could be adapted to be a live music venue, like the old theater in Medina.

That would be great. I hate trekking to the Grog Shop and the Beachland...

Like the Arty movie deal, too, but the Capitol does do some of that, so I'm not sure if it'd work or not. Definitely would've been great before the Capitol went in.

Hi Heather,

What's the Arty movie deal?

Thanks.

Betsy

[Heather Ramsey]

Hi Heather,

What's the Arty movie deal?

Thanks.

Betsy

Just what someone said a few posts up about showing art films/indie films/cult films/etc.