Detroit's Theatre Architect C. Howard Crane

[Gistok]

When it comes to theatre architects of the early 20th century, C. Howard Crane was one of the genius's of American architecture.

Born in Hartford Connecticut in 1885, Charles Howard Crane moved to Detroit in 1908 and remained here until the Great Depression [[1930).

He is regarded as one of the world's most prolific theatre architects, designing more than 325 theatre's worldwide, including 52 here in the Detroit area.

Crane and Detroit theatre impressario John Kunsky both started their careers around the same time, and Crane designed many of Kunsky's theatre's, starting with the Casino [[1906), the Hippodrome and [[soon to be renovated) Garden Theatre's [[1912). Crane went on to design Kunsky's Majestic Theatre in 1915 [[originally it had a Venetian Gothic facade, before the widening of Woodward). The most famous of Crane's Detroit theatre's were around Grand Circus Park and Woodward. He designed the Madison and Adams in 1917 [[both razed).

In 1919 he was hastily commissioned to design Orchestra Hall along Woodward. He used many features of his 1917 Madison in that design, and the hall was finished in the astonishing time of 4 months.

Orchestra Hall images...
1) Woodward facade.
2) Inner [[rotunda) Lobby.
3) Outer [[storm) Lobby.
4) Auditorium.
5) Architectural view of auditorium.

[[To be continued...)