Columbia Theatre

50 Monroe Avenue,
Detroit, MI 48226

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Kunsky Theatres

Architects: Charles Howard Crane

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Columbia Theatre

Opened by John Kunsky on October 1, 1911 as his first true movie house in Detroit, after several earlier nickelodeons, including the nearby Bijou (opened as the Cent Odeon). The C. Howard Crane designed Columbia Theatre could seat 1,006, and was located on Monroe Street (now Avenue), which was the city’s first entertainment district prior to being displaced by Grand Circus Park in the late-1910 and early-1920’s.

The Columbia Theatre contained a pipe organ and has its own house orchestra in its early decades of operation.

It was closed in 1956 and has long since been demolished.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft

Recent comments (view all 2 comments)

sdoerr
sdoerr on December 20, 2003 at 10:01 pm

I recently seen another photo of this theatre, the National is located to the left right outside the picture. Today it is an empty field across the street from Hard Rock Cafe Detroit.

rivest266
rivest266 on November 2, 2015 at 10:04 pm

October 1st, 1911 grand opening ad in the photo section. claims 1,800 seats

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