History to Parking Lots - Demolition begins on United Artists Theater

**Burnsie** · September-29-22, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by Ray1936

Left Detroit in 1984 when I retired from the DPD. Was back once about 1990 for a wedding, but not since

Good for you. The rest of us have still found this city compelling enough to live in or visit whenever we can.

**Former_Detroiter** · September-29-22, 09:12 PM

I saw Ben-Hur in 1959 in 3-D at the UA.

**Danny** · September-29-22, 09:20 PM

Horrible! just like the Oriental Theatre Building just across the street. Tear the theatre part down and leave the office building.

**Vitalis** · September-29-22, 10:48 PM

[QUOTE=Former_Detroiter;628668]I saw Ben-Hur in 1959 in 3-D at the UA.[/QUOTE

Memory fades, memory adjusts, memory conforms to what we think we remember. - Joan Didion

My forum friend, at such a truly sad moment for the memory of Detroit movie palaces, I cannot let your remarks go without a correction - Ben-Hur was never released in 3-D. The Detroit premiere was February 16, 1960. The premiere was a benefit for Boys Town of Italy. Lest we forget.

**Vitalis** · September-29-22, 11:14 PM

Lest we forget...

Lest we forget...

The last roadshow feature at the UA - November 1969. It did not perform well at the box office.

Finally, and then you will all be done with me, unless duty calls -

Even the font for the theaters name was distinctive.

**Zacha341** · September-30-22, 08:20 PM

Loved those posters and the details about the font used for the UA logo. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Vitalis

Lest we forget...

**Former_Detroiter** · September-30-22, 11:49 AM

[QUOTE=Vitalis;628673][QUOTE=Former_Detroiter;628668]I saw Ben-Hur in 1959 in 3-D at the UA.[/QUOTE

Memory fades, memory adjusts, memory conforms to what we think we remember. - Joan Didion

My forum friend, at such a truly sad moment for the memory of Detroit movie palaces, I cannot let your remarks go without a correction - Ben-Hur was never released in 3-D. The Detroit premiere was February 16, 1960. The premiere was a benefit for Boys Town of Italy. Lest we forget

I didn't say the movie was released in 3-D. I wore 3-D glasses.

**Richard** · September-29-22, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by Burnsie

Good for you. The rest of us have still found this city compelling enough to live in or visit whenever we can.

The long term goal would be to encourage others to do the same thing,you can see cookie cutter buildings and parking lots anywhere in the country.

It’s when a city gives up its character is when people lose interest,sometimes it is the little simple things like fixing a water fountain that makes a difference.

If you do not mind,what is it about the city that makes it compelling for you to live there or visit it?

What is the tipping point that would compel you to leave or not visit?

What makes Detroit - Detroit ?

Every time you remove a piece of the history that defined Detroits past you are changing it for the future while erasing the past,what is the future of Detroit because as it’s identity is being erased it is being replaced as a suburb wannabe.

Not to sound disrespectful but in a city of innovation the parking lots have the same appeal as half of the new buildings they are throwing up.

Detroit became an international city,because it thought like an international city and set a higher bar in order to accomplish that.

Ray was compelled to move because that is what people do when they retire,to get away from the hustle and bustle,you cannot stop that but you can spend the same amount of time working on what compels others to move there which helps achieve the ultimate goal.

Its not the motor city no more,it’s not the music city anymore the only identity that is left is your roots as an international city that once was,and instead of capitalizing and building on that they keep destroying them and in the process losing your identity.

Little by little,give up belle isle,systematically destroying everything that made Detroit what it was,so okay out with the old and in with the new but along with the new you have to create a new identity that sets you apart from every other city in the country so it does not become a city where people simply exist.

Any thoughts on what this new identity is going to be ? Because actions taken today will impact that very thing for the rest of the city’s history,there is no going back,once they are gone,they are gone.

So what is the plan for Detroits future identity? It has to be one that compels people to move there.

Cities already learned that hard lesson back in the slash and burn urban renewal mistakes days when they tried to compete with the suburbs,but you are not a suburb and suburbs are just that,places with no identity’s,cities are not supposed to be like that.

**masterblaster** · October-06-22, 10:47 AM

People will downplay or ignore you, but you make some great points below.

Originally Posted by Richard

The long term goal would be to encourage others to do the same thing,you can see cookie cutter buildings and parking lots anywhere in the country.

It’s when a city gives up its character is when people lose interest, sometimes it is the little simple things like fixing a water fountain that makes a difference...

Every time you remove a piece of the history that defined Detroit's past you are changing it for the future while erasing the past, what is the future of Detroit because as it’s identity is being erased it is being replaced as a suburb wannabe...

Not to sound disrespectful but in a city of innovation the parking lots have the same appeal as half of the new buildings they are throwing up...

Its not the motor city no more, it’s not the music city anymore the only identity that is left is your roots as an international city that once was, and instead of capitalizing and building on that they keep destroying them and in the process losing your identity...

So what is the plan for Detroits future identity? It has to be one that compels people to move there.

**Ray1936** · October-05-22, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by Burnsie

Good for you. The rest of us have still found this city compelling enough to live in or visit whenever we can.

Oh, I still go back to Motown on occasion, usually annually. You know, good old flat Detroit. As I have a love affair with mountains and desert, I'm quite happy with my current digs in LV. But I think fondly of Detroit and all of Michigan all the time. Always will.

**mikefmich** · October-11-22, 03:00 AM

Originally Posted by Ray1936

Oh, I still go back to Motown on occasion, usually annually. You know, good old flat Detroit. As I have a love affair with mountains and desert, I'm quite happy with my current digs in LV. But I think fondly of Detroit and all of Michigan all the time. Always will.

I haven't been on here since February, and thought about you singning in. I am glad to see your still amongst the land of the living Ray.

I am not as glad to see the guy who makes posts akin to War & Peace is still present here. lol

I'm a 4 hour drive, apparently you get back more than I do. Sadly it depends on the time of the year & the funeral schedules back home now.

You pretty up on your very early history of the DPD? I found a direct ancestor may have been in the first group, or within a year.