WXYZ electric sign on Maccabees Bldg.

[Gistok]

Talking about bragging rights for signs on Detroit buildings...

The original vertical marquee sign of the Michigan Theatre [[1926-1950s?) was also a record holder of sorts...

Movie palace author David Naylor in his book "AMERICAN PICTURE PALACES - The Architecture of Fantasy"... has this to say about the original Michigan marquee...

"Rising a full ten stories along the side of the Michigan Theater [[1926) in Detroit, this must have been the most awesome vertical marquee ever built."

The picture in the book included with those words of praise [[likely a Theatre Historical Society image)...

[Downtown diva]

Talking about bragging rights for signs on Detroit buildings...

The original vertical marquee sign of the Michigan Theatre [[1926-1950s?) was also a record holder of sorts...

Movie palace author David Naylor in his book "AMERICAN PICTURE PALACES - The Architecture of Fantasy"... has this to say about the original Michigan marquee...

"Rising a full ten stories along the side of the Michigan Theater [[1926) in Detroit, this must have been the most awesome vertical marquee ever built."

The picture in the book included with those words of praise [[likely a Theatre Historical Society image)...

that is a great picture. thanks for adding, Gistok.

[1KielsonDrive]

Thanks for this thread guys. I must've been in the Maccabees Building dozens of times as a kid. My friend's mom worked for WXYZ [[Soupy, Johnny Ginger, Spanky, etc) prior to and after they moved to the Broadcast House, out in the middle of nowhere [[Southfield). I'd never really noticed the remaining letters and changes of the Maccabees/DPS sign over the years. Very interesting and informative. Another great picture is the Michigan Theatre sign. Parked in that garage and worked in that building for many years. Wow! Appreciate it.

[Maxine1958]

Thanks for this thread guys. I must've been in the Maccabees Building dozens of times as a kid. My friend's mom worked for WXYZ [[Soupy, Johnny Ginger, Spanky, etc) prior to and after they moved to the Broadcast House, out in the middle of nowhere [[Southfield). I'd never really noticed the remaining letters and changes of the Maccabees/DPS sign over the years. Very interesting and informative. Another great picture is the Michigan Theatre sign. Parked in that garage and worked in that building for many years. Wow! Appreciate it.

I worked in that building and parked in that garage too. From 1978 until 1982. Did our paths cross?

[Gistok]

Thanks Downtown diva!

Notice that small 3 story building next to the Michigan Theatre?

There were once 9 buildings along Grand River Ave. on that block that were originally supposed to be torn down to make way for an even larger Michigan Building/Theatre.

But the high cost of land along Grand River Ave. meant that only about 80% of the block was eventually purchased. There was originally a triple arched window entry planned for the Michigan, but that was scaled back due to the prohibitive costs of the land along the main thoroughfare.

Ironically about 8 years later all 9 of those buildings were purchased and demolished during the depression, and have remained as a parking lot for the building ever since.

Also in the distance is the Leland Hotel, which was built in a Renaissance style by the same architects as the Michigan Building/Theatre... Rapp & Rapp of Chicago [[they also designed the Chicago Theatre).

[buildingsofdetroit]

Talking about bragging rights for signs on Detroit buildings...

The original vertical marquee sign of the Michigan Theatre [[1926-1950s?) was also a record holder of sorts...

Movie palace author David Naylor in his book "AMERICAN PICTURE PALACES - The Architecture of Fantasy"... has this to say about the original Michigan marquee...

"Rising a full ten stories along the side of the Michigan Theater [[1926) in Detroit, this must have been the most awesome vertical marquee ever built."

The picture in the book included with those words of praise [[likely a Theatre Historical Society image)...

Same sign in an old postcard I've got:
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/c.../michigan2.jpg

[Gistok]

Same sign in an old postcard I've got:
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/c.../michigan2.jpg

That postcard dates to 1926-27. The 19 story United Artists Building/Theatre between the Michigan Building and the red Tuller Hotel is not yet constructed [[UA opended on Feb. 3, 1928). There used to be a church on the site of the United Artists complex that was torn down earlier [[also not in picture).

Also in that image you can see [[in the distance) the Stroh's Headquarters, with its' twin red roof pavilion top. These pavilions were later removed in a remodeling, and the building still exists [[later became the Michigan Mutual Building).

[Gistok]

Here's a pic from Lowell that shows the twin pavilioned building before they bastardized/modernized the top.

I bet a lot of folks look at the top of that building today and wonder why it looks so strange....