United Artists Theatre

[Lorax]

Here's a few more:

[Lorax]

And a few more....

[Stosh]

ABOUT US

For more than 30 years, Felber Ornamental Plastering Corporation has been perfecting the art of ornamental plaster. The present Felber studio is the great-grandchild of a turn-of-the-century company, The Voigt Company, which closed its doors in 1939. Felber Ornamental Plastering Corporation is proud of its heritage and prides itself on its attention to the authenticity of its products and craftsmanship. One benefit of our ancestry is that in addition to the stock items pictured in our catalogue, we have an archive of over 2000 antique molds. This collection, including Gothic, Old English, French, and Art Deco design, specializes in Neo Classical and Adams period motifs. We welcome serious inquiries from our customers regarding these items.

I guess that the point here is that most anything that is around is reproducable in some form or another. Most plaster wasn't done on site.

http://www.felber.net/index.html
Their catalogue of items:
http://www.felber.net/products/index.html

[Lorax]

And yet some more.....

[Lorax]

And the hits keep coming....

[Lorax]

Wow, Stosh!

Thanks for posting that- so it appears that anything is really possible. Too bad the Book Cadillac didn't get this kind of renovation, but perhaps in the future it will.

[xD_Brklyn]

Thanks for the book pix.

If the UA gets restored it could become a cathedral to the notion of a true film forum.

I don't know if the DIA's film theater qualifies as a cathedral but it is one excellent space for seeing a film. Even the lesser films shown there are improved by the theater. Hopefully, Detroiters are taking advantage of it. In terms of quality showings and architecture, I can't think of its equal out here.

[Stosh]

Wow, Stosh!

Thanks for posting that- so it appears that anything is really possible. Too bad the Book Cadillac didn't get this kind of renovation, but perhaps in the future it will.

Anything is possible, IF you have the money.
Note the per-foot costs of some of that.

http://www.felber.net/price_list/index.html

[Gistok]

Thanks for all the pics and links folks... now you know why ornamental plasterwork can be so interesting!!

In the 1920s ornamental plaster molds were often reused in different arrangements in different theatres by the same architect. That's why although the former Michigan Theatre was unique... if you checked enough still existing Rapp & Rapp designed theatres around the country... you could recreate the Michigan's plasterwork, by making molds of sections of the plasterwork of those other theatres.

When Paul Cret designed the DIA back in the 1920s, he had no experience in theatre design. So DIA building board member architect Albert Kahn [[also not too well trained in theatre design) suggested that Cret utilize the talents of C. Howard Crane. So Crane is responsible for the design of the DIA Theatre.

Someone suggested showing silent films at a restored United Artists Theatre. I don't recall that the UA ever had an organ installed behind the huge organ grilles on either side of procenium arch. It opened on Feb. 3, 1928 [[talkies were in their infancy). I don't remember ever reading about an organ at the UA. Paging 56packman!

[3WC]

The Davis Whitney and UA were at one time owned by Joe Grella and his wife, whose name escapes me. Her father was a prominent real estate broker in NYC. The Grella's were nice young folks but unfortunately they stepped into a long line of people from New York who thought the prices of Detroit office buildings were just too good to pass up. They, as those who came before and after them, learned about the Detroit real estate business the hard way. They never had a chance, nor did the out-of-state lenders who loaned them money to buy the buildings. The greater fool theory doesn't always work. Ask Susan Lambrecht, who being a native, should have known better. [[Actually, her husband John, may he rest in peace, bought the buildings she inherited and dumped money into.)

Gistok, you have a pretty good handle on the Barden involvement in the UA but the story has several great elements you didn't mention.

[Lorax]

Grella was the name I was looking for, when I said I thought the owning family's last name started with "G".

Weren't they from Canada, though? Or did they end up moving there? Not important, really-

Speaking of Lambrecht, anyone have any idea what happened to the pair of giant bronze lanterns outside the main entrance of the Book Tower?

Were they stolen? They were there last year, and since the building closed, I don't know if the new owners moved them inside, or to outside storage for safe keeping. I still worry about the cherub clock in the Book Building- I hope that one's safe.

[Kimberlaina]

I don't know if anyone has stumbled upon this photo on Flickr, but it looks like it's pretty recent:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/canuckr/3644772507/

Is this proof of a renovation? Hard to tell . . .

[Gistok]

I don't know how to say this subtlely.... but I'll try.....

WOOOO HOOOO!!

Thank you Kimberlaina! You have just given us THE PROOF... that this is NOT demolition work...

I took Canuckr's image of the interior of the United Artists Theatre... brightened the image... and compared it to a brightened Ryan Southen theatre image from a few years back. Compare below [[the older image is first)....

Differences...

1) the curtains by the stage are gone [[they've been there for eons).
2) the parts of the roof that are falling in towards the auditorium have been removed/remediated.
3) if this is a daytime photo shot... then the roof HAS been repaired.
4) even if this is a night time shot... the roof still appears fixed.
5) some of the debris appears to have been cleared from the auditorium floor [[as much as can be seen). And there appears to be a blue debris dumpster on the stage.

If the auditorium were to be demolished... this cleanup would NOT be taking place.

I realize that there is a long way to go in any restoration/reconstruction... but the signs questioning whether this were demo or restoration work were iffy until now....

[1KielsonDrive]

It was Joe and Debby Grella. Joe was diagnosed MS either during, or shortly before, their stay in Detroit. The Kurante's, Milda and Ron, were their leasing agents. I was in and out of the UA many, many times during that era. During Grossman's ownership of the UA [[did he know or care w/t/f he was doing?) he'd brought a young man to town from North Carolina, who was a carpenter, craftsman, by the name of John Ballantine. John's only [[this isn't meant as a knock) claim to fame, according to himself, was that he'd built an astounding barroom someplace that Grossman happened to stumble into. Grossman then invited him here to Detroit, to not only secure and surpervise the UA, but also to participate in it's rehabilitation. John was living in the Leland and preparing the UA for it's rehab. He wasn't around more than 6 -8 months. He wasn't receiving his agree upon salary, though he continued work in the theatre. One day he said, 'I'm outta here, bounced paychecks and all'. Never saw him again. Nice kid. I don't remember any extensive evidence of his carpenter, craftsmanship talents, they never seemed to get that far. But I did see his work in cleaning up the lobby, building and theatre.

[1KielsonDrive]

I also remember going in the UA with John and water was pouring in from a rainfall. The lower levels were flooded and roiling like a stream.

[1KielsonDrive]

Which reminds me of a few times I was in the Tele-Arts with RFP [[rest his Detroit loving heart in PEACE). It was after it's incarnation as a theatre, while it was sitting fallow, prior to it's refurbishing as a nightclub. The building was in excellent condition, including the basement, which was bone dry. Even the broadcast booth area. But the first floor was flooded and water was roiling in from the alley, much like I saw at the UA. The floor between the main level and basement must have been extremely well constructed and waterproofed to have maintained it's integrity in that situation. I don't know how well it fared up until it was refurbished for the nightclub.

[esp1986]

Went by the UA today, and that wavy canopy that leads from the center of the building to the theatre entrance [[north) end, is now completely gone, a week ago it appeared to be just steel beams. From the looks of it, it looks like at least part of it was solid concrete. Also, it looked like some of that ugly slate facade was either falling off or being torn off. I did not see any work crews, however and no work trucks parked anywhere near building, nor any doors open, but there appeared to be a 'new' front door, one like you would see on a suburban home, with the decorative half window at the top in the center of the front side of the building, possibly for construction traffic to access the non-theatre part of the building, since the theatre doors seem to still be boarded up. After a closer look too, that garbage chute says "JC Beal Construction" so further proof that the building is being renovated. If I drive by anytime soon and see someone working, I plan to stop and inquire about the work they are doing.

[Kimberlaina]

You're welcome. I have been lurking here for months -- a closet fan of the UA -- and signed up for an account just to post that link

Is there a ladder in the bottom right corner?

[OriginalG313]

I pass the UA every morning. And, there is usually a lot of activity going on. I believe the reason why there were no trucks or crew on yesterday is because of the Columbus Day holiday. However, the JC Beal Construction trucks were back this morning. I've seen the workers working to remove the metal awnings/overhangs that are visible on Gistok's post 107 above. Those awnings/overhangs are now gone.

[GRALR]

YEAH I was so excited to read this, really really excited! I don't get excited much but this is such great news and I don't even live in Detroit.

Thanks for the pics please post more!

[1KielsonDrive]

Don't count your chickens until they're hatched. Or, as The Curmudgeon would say, "Don't believe it until you've seen it and its been there for a few years".

[esp1986]

Don't count your chickens until they're hatched. Or, as The Curmudgeon would say, "Don't believe it until you've seen it and its been there for a few years".

Well, with multiple sources saying that the office tower is being renovated with a governmental tenant in mind, there is little reason to believe that what is going on down there on a daily basis is not part of a renovation.

[Plains_Thunder]

Thanks for all the pics and links folks... now you know why ornamental plasterwork can be so interesting!!

In the 1920s ornamental plaster molds were often reused in different arrangements in different theatres by the same architect. That's why although the former Michigan Theatre was unique... if you checked enough still existing Rapp & Rapp designed theatres around the country... you could recreate the Michigan's plasterwork, by making molds of sections of the plasterwork of those other theatres.

When Paul Cret designed the DIA back in the 1920s, he had no experience in theatre design. So DIA building board member architect Albert Kahn [[also not too well trained in theatre design) suggested that Cret utilize the talents of C. Howard Crane. So Crane is responsible for the design of the DIA Theatre.

Someone suggested showing silent films at a restored United Artists Theatre. I don't recall that the UA ever had an organ installed behind the huge organ grilles on either side of procenium arch. It opened on Feb. 3, 1928 [[talkies were in their infancy). I don't remember ever reading about an organ at the UA. Paging 56packman!

The UA did have an organ and it was purchased by the Long Center for the Performing Arts in Lafayette, IN back in 1989. As quoted from Cinema Treasures,

"A major fund-raising effort, combined with profits from a most successful organ series, provided the monies for a new pipe organ. In 1989, a sparkling new three-manual console [[originally from the United Artists theatre in Detroit) was wired into the 14 ranks that played. In the winter of 1991-92, the Crome Organ Company, assisted by Carlton Smith, completed an installation of 21 ranks of mostly Wurlitzer pipe work, providing the state of Indiana its largest in-theatre pipe organ."

And a picture...

[mcsdetroitfriend]

I just got this interesting reply from the JC Beal construction company.

"At our clients request we can provide no information regarding this building.
Fred J. Beal
President
JC Beal Construction, Inc. "


Those Illitch's sure like to keep things mysterious, though the footer of this email sounds promising!!!
"JC Beal Construction Inc; your restoration, general building renovation, and tenant build-out specialists"

[Kimberlaina]

It's sad that they let things like that organ leave Michigan.

Then again, better than letting it rot.