Great Lakes Theatre
14832 Grand River Avenue,
Detroit,
MI
48227
14832 Grand River Avenue,
Detroit,
MI
48227
1 person
favorited this theater
Opened November 23, 1927 with Charles Murray in “The Life of Riley” plus 3-acts of vaudeville. The Great Lakes Theatre could seat 1,795, and was host to both live stage shows and movies in its first few years of operation, though it was operated as a movie house for the majority of its existence. It was designed by architect George DeWitt Mason, who was responsible for the Gem Theatre and Oriole Theatre in Detroit as well. It was equipped with an organ (make unknown),
It closed as a movie house on August 29, 1969 with Richard Benjamin in “Goodbye Columbus” & Mia Farrow in “Rosemary’s Baby”. It became home to the Vest Pocket theater company from November 1969 to 1972. Afterwards, it was used for a number of years as a church, the Bread of Life Gospel Ministry. They moved out of the building around 2019
The theatre then stood for a long time vacant, vandalized and falling apart, making quite an eye-catching ruin along Grand River Avenue, especially its rusty, semi-intact blade marquee. It spelled out the words "EAT LAKES".
Most of the building has been demolished.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
a small November 23rd, 1927 grand opening ad in photo section.
Opened with “Pathe news”, 3 acts of vadeville, and a movie, “the Life of Riley”.
Is there anything on tnis site now?
Beautiful theatre. Another fine Detroit gem that I did not get to see.
Google Street View images dated 2023 show this building still standing; it was the red brick building on the corner that was demolished in 1999.
Closed as a movie theater on August 29, 1969 with “Goodbye Columbus” and “Rosemary’s Baby”. Became the Best Pocket two months later.