United Artists Theatre

[Plains_Thunder]

Hello all. As always, great posts Gistok. Your information on theatres is superb! I am a volunteer at the Redford Theatre and in talking to a fellow volunteer, I learned some interesting news about the United Artists. Apparently, the same company that helped in some of our plaster restoration was recently at the United Artists doing some estimates on restoration this year. One road block they ran into was a lack of original plasterwork since most, if not all has been cleaned up. So, it looks like restoration is definitely being considered and hopefully pursued. We shall see.

[mcsdetroitfriend]

=) =) =) =) very happy =) =) =)

[Gistok]

Hello all. As always, great posts Gistok. Your information on theatres is superb! I am a volunteer at the Redford Theatre and in talking to a fellow volunteer, I learned some interesting news about the United Artists. Apparently, the same company that helped in some of our plaster restoration was recently at the United Artists doing some estimates on restoration this year. One road block they ran into was a lack of original plasterwork since most, if not all has been cleaned up. So, it looks like restoration is definitely being considered and hopefully pursued. We shall see.

Thanks very much and welcome Plains_Thunder!

I am really glad that you posted this information... it at least gives us hope for C. Howard Crane's finest acoustic theatre [[at least in Detroit). Crane honed his acoustic magic on Orchestra Hall in 1919, and then refined it in his larger 1922 Capitol Theatre [[now Detroit Opera House). His 1928 Detroit United Artists was an acoustic and exotic masterpiece.

From what we know... the Art Deco inspired Indian Maiden busts throughout the theatre and lobby are gone [[stolen by scrappers). But there are specialized firms [[such as Conrad Schmitt Studios) that could sculpturally recreate one bust [[via old photos), and then create molds to recreate all the others in plaster.

The lower part of the Procenium was removed back in the 50s [[for a wider screen), and would have to be recreated. Similar procenium recreation work was done at the Detroit Opera House [[where one of the reliefs ware recast as an image of Dr. David DiChiera).

If the plasterwork still survives as in this photo [[taken about 2 years ago), then the upper procenium arch, much of the procenium canopy and the organ grilles are still somewhat intact. Ditto for the ceiling coves and fan vaults.

The worst damage to the theatre was in the rotunda lobby that separates the outer lobby from the auditorium. But the different sides of this circular space are a continuous repitition... so all they really need is 1 side relatively intact.

Any UA Theatre restoration [[as opposed to renovation) would likely be like the Detroit Opera House, where 90% of the plasterwork was replaced... either reproduced [[via molds made of the older plaster) or re-created.

Sorry, I lost the credits for this UA auditorium image taken when there were still holes in the roof. The drapes are from when they "didn't want to show all that old stuff anymore"... and hid the fancy organ grilles and missing procenium plasterwork.

[Gistok]

As mentioned... 90% of the plasterwork of the Detroit Opera House [[C. Howard Crane's 1921 designed/1922 opened Capitol Theatre) was replaced. Here's a pic of the Detroit Opera House auditorium [[from a 1998 MOT brochure cover) showing the newly restored procenium arch and above it the opulent and intricate geometric sounding board that gives the space its' marvelous acoustics.

Back in the 1990s [[according to Theatre Historical Society) no movie palace had been as badly damaged and then fully restored as the Capitol Theatre [[DOH). However, I do believe the UA is in worse condition than the Capitol was.

[cman710]

Sorry, I lost the credits for this UA auditorium image taken when there were still holes in the roof. The drapes are from when they "didn't want to show all that old stuff anymore"... and hid the fancy organ grilles and missing procenium plasterwork.

Gistok, I am not sure of the credits for the photo, but I think it may be Ryan Southen's, as I know he did a series of shots inside the UA.