The Observation Deck

The Detroit Theater is a favorite of us and our kids. It's a shame that it has to close.

In high school, we used to hit the theater in Fairview (where the Dodd Camera is now) and see movies for 99 cents. It gave us something to do. We must have seen Rambo at least a dozen times. In college, when we got tired of High Street, we would go see the midnight showing of The Song Remains the Same and Pink Floyd's The Wall at some theater in Columbus.

I could see something similar at the Detroit. I also like the idea of an Art House theater with independents, cult classics, Disney/Pixar, etc. Maybe some enterprising person with some passion can do something like that here?

The Salos reenact how we bought tickets as children. Ron and Leslie were also
one of the last paying patrons into the theater. A couple more came before
the movie started. But I believe they were non-paying.

Trivia answer from now on...
Question - What were the last movies shown at the Detroit Theater?
Answer - Green Hornet and True Grit, also acceptable is Green Ho net, and True Grit.




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I just got back from the Detroit Theater--- saw the last show of "True Grit", the last show at the Detroit Theater. It was full! The parking lot was jammed, people were lined up outside, and they ran out of popcorn. It seemed like a lot of people wanted to be there to support the theater on its last night.

It was warmer than it usually is inside the theater in the winter tonight, I didn't need to leave my coat on in the theater, and they left the marquee on the whole time!

I continue to wonder if anything can be done to save the theater, along the lines of some of the suggestions people posting here on the Deck have suggested. Judging from how full the theater was, a lot of people would be interested.

My pictures aren't great, and I hope they aren't the last from a theater that in its very simple way has provided so much enjoyment for so many of the families here.


Ticket window thoughts.


Getting tickets


The last people there.

Charlie Page wrote:The Detroit Theater is a favorite of us and our kids. It's a shame that it has to close.

In high school, we used to hit the theater in Fairview (where the Dodd Camera is now) and see movies for 99 cents. It gave us something to do. We must have seen Rambo at least a dozen times. In college, when we got tired of High Street, we would go see the midnight showing of The Song Remains the Same and Pink Floyd's The Wall at some theater in Columbus.

I could see something similar at the Detroit. I also like the idea of an Art House theater with independents, cult classics, Disney/Pixar, etc. Maybe some enterprising person with some passion can do something like that here?

Charlie

I am shocked at this post. Did you not know those were liberal pinko movies, designed to warp your mind?
Just kidding.

The problem is can that exist in this city in this economy?

While it is a great idea, and someone with deep pockets could try to establish that. When I was looking at
possibilities for the Westwood, and the Homestead it gets thin very fast. 70mm, hard to compete with all
that have 54" plasma screens at home. I saw 54" because they hit $400 this past Christmas, which equals
about 10 trips to the Detroit. Through in NetFlicks, and others and it gets iffy at best.

Noww the fact that it has two renters helps offset payments, but massive flat roof, labor maintenance you
end needing a pretty good turnover of customers to make it. So it becomes a massive gamble, so needs to
be a labor of love.

Mathew is right, when it upgraded because they were told that is what they needed to do to first run movies
the rapid decline started to happen. I would have been much easier to save it then, then now. Perhaps a
hybrid of hard to see second run, art films, midnight movies, etc. They have parking which makes it more
viable than the Westwood, and right now the Homestead. But there is thought to give the Homestead some
parking and that could deliver the "Entertainment District" some are so anxious to tag somewhere, anywhere.

While the Detroit is a loss, a valuable lesson can be learned. If you like it, and want it, support it. Do not be
so eager to follow the pack to the next cool thing. Shop local, view local, support local businesses, especially
locally owned businesses. They are only here because of their dedication to provide you something, while
making an honest living.

Rhonds uses a Joni Mitchell quote from "Big Yellow Taxi" that applies to so many things.
"You don't know what you've lost until it is gone." Support local businesses.


A nice version by Counting Crows and Vanessa Carlton.

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My favorite version of "Big Yellow Taxi"

Jim O'Bryan wrote:
While the Detroit is a loss, a valuable lesson can be learned. If you like it, and want it, support it. Do not be
so eager to follow the pack to the next cool thing. Shop local, view local, support local businesses, especially
locally owned businesses. They are only here because of their dedication to provide you something, while
making an honest living.

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Hey-- don't call it a loss that quickly, don't write it off. If you want to talk about valuable lessons, the other one-- besides supporting what you like and want-- is that if you need help or support for your business or your idea, LET PEOPLE KNOW. The first any of us (and I speak only for myself actually) heard of this was when we heard the theater was closing on January 30th.

If the owners of the theater had written an article about needing support for the theater, or trying to solicit ideas from the community, this is definitely a community that would respond. We can't respond if we don't know about it.

We have this blessing of a community newspaper, that ANYBODY can submit an article to, and that article will be published and the community will actually have a chance to respond, but not enough people/businesses/organizations use it the way it could be used-- the way in needs to be used in such tight economic times, when figuring out how to use our resources together is very important.

So the other lesson is if you know anybody who could use the support of the community, tell them to write about it-- or you write about it for them-- and submit it to the paper so we can get together and do something.

Betsy Voinovich

If my memory serves me correctly, this is the theatre where I saw Tremors, Batman, and Young Einstein.
Young Einstein was a very good film.

If movies are no longer viable, they will just have to play live vaudeville and jazz shows.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Charlie Page wrote:The Detroit Theater is a favorite of us and our kids. It's a shame that it has to close.

In high school, we used to hit the theater in Fairview (where the Dodd Camera is now) and see movies for 99 cents. It gave us something to do. We must have seen Rambo at least a dozen times. In college, when we got tired of High Street, we would go see the midnight showing of The Song Remains the Same and Pink Floyd's The Wall at some theater in Columbus.

I could see something similar at the Detroit. I also like the idea of an Art House theater with independents, cult classics, Disney/Pixar, etc. Maybe some enterprising person with some passion can do something like that here?

Charlie

I am shocked at this post. Did you not know those were liberal pinko movies, designed to warp your mind?
Just kidding.

I didn’t know that John Rambo was a liberal. I should have guessed this as he stands up for the little guy, has a general dislike for authority and believes the government owes him something that someone else should pay for. Just kidding

Jim O'Bryan wrote:The problem is can that exist in this city in this economy?

While it is a great idea, and someone with deep pockets could try to establish that. When I was looking at
possibilities for the Westwood, and the Homestead it gets thin very fast. 70mm, hard to compete with all
that have 54" plasma screens at home. I saw 54" because they hit $400 this past Christmas, which equals
about 10 trips to the Detroit. Through in NetFlicks, and others and it gets iffy at best.

With any business, you have to differentiate yourself from your competitors to be successful. Lakewood Hardware has succeeded because they have differentiated themselves from Home Depot. They sell some of the same stuff but LH’s knowledge and expertise keeps people coming back. Plus they have things the big orange box doesn’t.

The Detroit has to differentiate itself as well. Kick out the convenient store and open an attached bar with limited food. Serve up the classics of Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, Jack Lemon, Steve McQueen and others. Have a Star Wars marathon. One side could be guys movies and the other for the ladies. Anything but first runs which have become a commodity. Invest in equipment that can project from DVD. Differentiate!

My neighbor across the street has at least a 54 inch tv. Its so huge that I’ve watched parts of Tribe games from our front porch. His home theater system is good but it can’t match the movie theater experience.

Charlie Page wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote:My neighbor across the street has at least a 54 inch tv. Its so huge that I’ve watched parts of Tribe games from our front porch. His home theater system is good but it can’t match the movie theater experience.

Charlie

I would agree, looking through people's window at their TV is nowhere near as rich an experience as going to
the theater, but...

Sorry had to, just sounded so funny.

I hope someone saves the Detroit Theater. There is work on another theater in town as we speak, but it will
not be for movies. I would love to see it saved, but it is an uphill battle. But a worthy one for the right people
who have a passion for what you are talking about. Not sure of that guys and ladies theater idea though.

After looking around, one could make a try using films that will never hit Cleveland because of our lack of size,
and those films number in the hundreds. Add in classics, 70mm, or specialize in 3D and it might make sense.
But it will be tough especially for a single independent theater.

I have spoken to a couple people out there that claim they have heard talk of saving it. However one told me
they read it on the Deck, so believe he was talking of this discussion. I also know of one non-profit that is
seriously looking at the project. I would say they are the farthest along, but wonder if their idea is sustainable.

As for the home experience. 54 inch with the right sound system, fresh popcorn, and the ability to pause a
movie, and watch it again makes it even tougher for theaters. Stop over some time. Jimmy Stewart on a
good LCD with surround sound makes "Destry Rides Again" a pretty good watch. The scotch in your left
hand and cigar in your right, will add to the experience. Just saying...

FWIW


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Jim O'Bryan wrote:But it will be tough especially for a single independent theater.

I have spoken to a couple people out there that claim they have heard talk of saving it. However one told me
they read it on the Deck, so believe he was talking of this discussion. I also know of one non-profit that is
seriously looking at the project. I would say they are the farthest along, but wonder if their idea is sustainable.

The Capital Theater on Detroit at 65th is doing well. The $7 million rehab was financed by the government. Crocker Park theaters are doing well. While the construction was fianced with private dollars the $150 million in infrastructure that made it possible was also financed by the government.

The only way the Detroit theater will be open again is with government financing. Given Lakewoods lack of success in getting government money of any kind ....

Betsy Voinovich wrote:
Hey-- don't call it a loss that quickly, don't write it off. If you want to talk about valuable lessons, the other one-- besides supporting what you like and want-- is that if you need help or support for your business or your idea, LET PEOPLE KNOW. The first any of us (and I speak only for myself actually) heard of this was when we heard the theater was closing on January 30th.

If the owners of the theater had written an article about needing support for the theater, or trying to solicit ideas from the community, this is definitely a community that would respond. We can't respond if we don't know about it.

We have this blessing of a community newspaper, that ANYBODY can submit an article to, and that article will be published and the community will actually have a chance to respond, but not enough people/businesses/organizations use it the way it could be used-- the way in needs to be used in such tight economic times, when figuring out how to use our resources together is very important.

So the other lesson is if you know anybody who could use the support of the community, tell them to write about it-- or you write about it for them-- and submit it to the paper so we can get together and do something.

Betsy Voinovich

It would have helped if the owners had any actual interest in movies or promoting their business. People that had fun there did so in spite of horrible upkeep, sour at best customer service and a teeny tiny screen that, as Jim noted, starts to look weak when you can fill a wall of your living room with a better looking screen with great sound. Uncomfortable seats didn't help, either. They needed creativity in marketing themselves and they didn't do an ounce of that. I think the Capital is cool because they have first run and art house but they also do promotions with local restaurtants (Melt in particular), they do cult movies (I had a blast watching my old fave BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA last year) and when they do it they have an MC to lead off the event with trivia and prizes, again supported by local vendors.

This place has been on the block for years. It has been listed for this same price for quite a while if I recall. They just ran out of gas, I think.

I think a cool mixed-use club would be great. Show movies, music, sell booze, etc. Make a movie-themed bar out of it. Lakewood always is home to a good new bar.

Phil Florian wrote:It would have helped if the owners had any actual interest in movies or promoting their business. People that had fun there did so in spite of horrible upkeep, sour at best customer service and a teeny tiny screen that, as Jim noted, starts to look weak when you can fill a wall of your living room with a better looking screen with great sound. Uncomfortable seats didn't help, either.

I think the owners of the Detroit had a financial interest in the Detroit Theater.

If you owned one business that received a government subsidy and another that received no government subsidy which business would you invest in?

I'm a big fan of the Capital Theater.

There is a lot of potential for the Detroit Theater but:

If you had $5 million to invest would you invest in a theater or invest in tax free bonds and live of the interest?