1987-8: The first measurable thunderclap of change was acquisition and restoration of the Fox Theater Building by suburban pizza magnate Mike Ilitch. "Last year the 5,000-seat Fox sold 642,000 tickets -- outpacing its larger rival, Manhattan's Radio City Music Hall, and clinching the title of "No. 1 theater in North America" from Pollstar, an industry trade journal."  SOURCE DETROIT NEWS

It is neither possible to pinpoint when Detroit's decades of decline hit bottom and began its rise nor is it possible to pin it one any one event.  As with its decline a combination of forces combined to favor recovery.  The lowest unemployment rates in decades, big profits for automakers, low oil prices and changing attitudes ombined to create a favorable environment.

A tipping point can be discerned around the mid-1990's, a time when rate of improvement pulled even with, then edged past, that of decline.  Even in the deepest days of decline, improvements were being made; they just did not keep apace the rate of decline. Even today as Detroit rises, it is a two step forward one step backward process.

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THE STUDEBAKER FACTORY FIRE