Local movie theaters in the suburbs

Since the recent abrupt shuttering of the Palladium [[owned by Mr. Guy Who Owns Two Sports Teams, Makes Pizzas And Hates Historical Preservation) in Birmingham made headlines here, I'd thought I'd start this thread.

So, what were the movie theaters that you visit[[ed) when you live[[d) in the suburban cities of Metro Detroit?

I remembered the Southgate 4 on Fort Street [[it was on the site where a Meijer gas station now sits) right up until that closed in 1992 [[or probably 1991), then after that, it was the Star Taylor and today, there's the MJR Southgate 20.

I also remember the Wyandotte Theater during it's final years and I still remember passing by the Harbor in Ecorse when it was being torn down in 1988 or 1989.

I frequented the Wyandotte, The Camelot, [[Warren & Miller roads, now Supergreenland supermarket)l, Ford-Wyoming Drive-In. There were a couple on Fort St. around Livernois in the early 60's, [[names escape me though) and one on the North side of Jefferson, just before the Zug Island entrance, in Delray. [[can't remember the name of that one either) Hope that helps! :)

The one I remember growing up was a chain, the "Star John R" as we called it. It was the Star Theater on John R in Madison Heights. It wasn't what you were probably looking for though.

The AMC theater on 14 and I-75 which was torn down and turned into a Microcenter.

As a side note: Went to the Harbor a few times in the 60's to watch a friend's band play there. This was before they went porno. Oh, and don't forget the Lincoln Park Theatre, on Fort St., just West of Outer Drive.

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Originally Posted by 48307

The one I remember growing up was a chain, the "Star John R" as we called it. It was the Star Theater on John R in Madison Heights. It wasn't what you were probably looking for though.

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That was the same Star Theater that operated the Star Taylor. In fact, I also remember the Star Lincoln Park 8. In fact, here's a photo showing what the very first movies the Star Lincoln Park showed were.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3732/...7a49f21c_c.jpg

There was the Showboat theatre on Sibley near Fort St. in Riverview and a Drive in on West road just west of I-75 in Woodhaven. There's a medical center now on the West road drive in site. I think the Southgate drive-in was called the Fort George. Can't remember the name of the one on West Rd. The Southgate 4 originally had only three theatres. They split the big one into 2 somewhere along the line. I remember seeing Jaws as a first run in the big theatre. It was packed with people sitting on the steps in the Aisles.

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Originally Posted by ndavies

and a Drive in on West road just west of I-75 in Woodhaven.

Can't remember the name of the one on West Rd.

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That would be the Holiday Drive-In.

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Originally Posted by ndavies

I think the Southgate drive-in was called the Fort George.

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Yep, it would have to be the Fort George-I can recall trying to climb up onto the roof of my first home trying to see whatever they would be showing on a random summer night for free, though I could barely even see the screen anyway-there were just too many trees, even with the Southgate Shopping Center just a block away.

There is still a theatre at 14 Mile and I-75 and its been overhauled renovated modernized.

AMC Star John R 15
32289 John R. Road
Madison Commons Shopping Center
Madison Heights MI 48071

The Hills Theater in downtown Rochester on Main between 4th and 5th [[now University Dr).

The Americana on Greenfield north of 9 Mile and The Towne on Greenfield and 11 Mile.

The Punch & Judy theater on The Hill, The Woods on Mack Avenue, the Esquire on East Jefferson. Many wonderful memories of those places as a child and young adult. Sadly, they're all long gone now.

The P&J was converted into office & retail space. The Esquire was torn down along with 2 blocks of stores for a luxury condominium development. The Woods was torn down for a kiddie playground for St John hospital.

We even went to the Beacon East and the theaters at Eastland mall a few times but they were getting to be far too dangerous in the years before they closed and were torn down.

Although not in the suburbs, I do remember the Bel-Air drive in on Eight Mile just east of Van Dyke where the mostly empty Bel-Air strip mall is now. We went there once about 40 years ago but it was also getting to be too dangerous with bums approaching your car begging while you were trying to watch the movie.

Back Then:
Bel-Aire. Beacon East. The outside theater at Eastland [[they wouldn't turn the lights all the way off at the inside theater.) Woods Theater. Shores Theater for cheap movies [[saw Goldfinger there once and the film broke just as Bond was trying to disable the nuclear bomb at the end.)

Now:
E-Magine - expensive, but we don't see movies that much, the "luxury" seating is fantastic, and they seem to maintain the place pretty well
Redford - For oldies
DFT - For variety

I've heard the Alamo Drafthouse opened a spot in Kalamazoo, which is pretty exciting. Hopefully they open a branch somewhere in Detroit.

Lived in Detroit but saw Mary Poppins first run at the Mai-Kai in Livonia. That woulda been 1964/65.

When I lived in Canton and Plymouth I went to the Quo Vadis in Westland, the Mai Kai in Livonia, another one in Livonia [[can't remember the name), and the Penn in Plymouth for second run movies cheap [[a buck and a quarter a head IIRC).

When I lived in Farmington in the late fifties we had the Civic Theater on Grand River in downtown Farmington.

Built in 1940 and still operation today.

And of course the GRAND RIVER DRIVE -IN on Grand River in Farmington.

pictures below.

http://www.waterwinterwonderland.com...33&LocTypeID=1

There's a website for old theaters and drive-ins that is quite good. Dearborn: Capri; Michigan near Oakwood [[saw Goldfinger there and quite a few others). Dearborn [[Michigan and Telegraph SW Corner at top of ramp) Wyandotte Main & Annex at full price. Lincoln Park Drive-ins Downriver Fort George [[Fort & Grove) Jolly Roger [[Van Born just west of Telegraph) Dix [[not sure that's what is was called) Dix & Eureka Ecorse [[Ecorse Rd just East of Pardee) Seems to me that there was also a small drive-in in the Flatrock area. off-topic saw the Ten Commandments at the Vernor & Central. The Hollywood on Fort St just west of Clark was a glamorous place in its heyday.

BTW, and off-topic again. My dad and his brother dated my mother and aunt at the Stratford, which was located at Vernor near Lansing. Each paid admission received a piece of china/glassware. My parents had a complete set packed away and they eventually disappeared. My Uncle still has some large drink glasses in his china cabinet. My Uncle said that as the movies began you could occasionally hear a piece of the china hitting the floor in pieces ;) The organ at the Stratford was quite unique and ended up a movie theater in St. Ignace, where it remains today.

My memory may be faulty, but I seem to remember a drive in over near the Jefferson Beach Amusement Park.

Check the HOF section, there is a huge thread on movie theaters there, with some sterling posts from the DY legends of days gone by.

I've never lived in the suburbs, but the places I remember going to movies as a kid were the Cinderella on Jefferson, the Admiral on Mack, the Harper [[Harpo's) and Vogue on Harper. In GP there was the Esquire on Jefferson, the Woods on Mack, and the Punch and Judy on Kercheval [[where I also later saw the Talking Heads and some other bands). Every now and again we would go "way out" to Eastland and maybe stop off at the movie theater there. Of course, with other kids I went to the theaters downtown: the Fox, the Palms [[nee State, Fillmore), Madison, Grand Circus [[Opera House), the Plaza [[nee Tele-News, Bleu), the Adams. I remember seeing Cinerama movies at the Music Hall and the Summit [[formerly Cass). The DIA also used to run kids movies in its theater. And, of course, the place I saw my first movie back in 1964, the famous [[infamous?) Eastown.

This site has information on theaters in the area.

http://www.detroitmoviepalaces.com/index.html#index

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Originally Posted by SyGolden48236

I do remember the Bel-Air drive in on Eight Mile just east of Van Dyke where the mostly empty Bel-Air strip mall is now.

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I remember that place. We used to go there with my cousins. You could actually see the screens there for quite some distance. I once stopped almost dead in the middle of 8 Mile when I saw one of the fight scenes from Raging Bull looming over the street 30 feet high. I was so fascinated that I parked across the street and watched some of the movie without sound.

I also remember the old East Side Drive-In near the Ford Fwy. and Moross. My grandparents used to take me and my cousins there in our pajamas when we were kids. Later, it got a somewhat different crowd. That was the first place I ever bought a joint, off of some kid hanging around the bathrooms.