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Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts
2001 Photo from the Adam Martin collection
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350 Madison Ave
Detroit MI
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| Record #13259 |
Opened: 1928
Closed: Yes (date unknown)
Current Use:
Demolished:
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Capacity: 1722 seats
Architect(s): William Kapp; Crane Kiehler & Kellog
Architectural Style(s):
National Register: 1977
Current Organ: none |
| Also Known As: Wilson, Cinerama |
The $3 million Wilson opened as a legitimate theater on December 9, 1928, with the production of Rosalie. The theater originally seated 892 orchestra, 588 first balcony, 400 second balcony and 38 box seats.
Despite its legitimate use, the Wilson occasionally featured films, including These Thirty Years on opening night. New projection equipment was installed for the January 1940 premier of Gone with the Wind. The following year, the Wilson was one of only 14 theaters nationwide to present Fantasia in "Fantasound," the first practical use of stereo sound for films.
The Wilson closed in 1945, and was soon purchased as a home for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. The theater operated as the Music Hall from September 1945 until 1949. In 1953, the theater was purchased by Mervyn Gaskin, who converted it for the brand new Cinerama process.
A 146-degree, 64-foot screen was installed and three projectors were installed on the main floor, and the sound equipment was installed in the original booth. A huge Cinerama marquee was added to the facade as well.
The Music Hall was only the second Cinerama theater in the world and was reportedly the most successful, operating seven days a week, often to capacity crowds. In 1964, the theater installed 70mm equipment for the Super Cinerama premier of It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, and the three-panel equipment was removed at the end of 1965.
The theater closed for remodeling in the fall of 1966, and was used only occasionally afterwards. 35mm projection equipment was installed at this time, and most of the remaining 70mm Super Cinerama product played at the Summit. The theater closed early in 1970, but was quickly reopened featuring movies proclaimed as "clean" by a local church group.
The Michigan Opera Theatre leased the theater in 1971 and it was purchased by the Kresge Foundation in 1973, becoming the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts. The theater was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 and a $5 million restoration began to restore the original 1928 appearance. Photos
Photos remain the property of the Member and may not be reproduced without the written consent of the Member. |
2001 photos from the Adam Martin collection. 
25 KB 300x317 |
Photos from the Pearl Williams collection. 
80 KB 625x446 |
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Last updated 2005-03-08.
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