 
Patrick
Member
Username: Patrick
Post Number: 3742
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, December 11, 2006 - 10:04 pm: |    |
In pretty much every Detroit-related book I come across photos from the Manning Brothers Historical Collection. Where is or was this collection? is it still around? how does it compare to the Burton? |
Histeric
Member
Username: Histeric
Post Number: 762
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, December 11, 2006 - 10:35 pm: | |
Owned by Chuck Forbes and housed I believe, in the Palms Building (where the State Theater resides). |
56packman
Member
Username: 56packman
Post Number: 790
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 - 6:38 am: | |
Histeric has it right--It is owned by Chuck Forbes, located in the Palms building. The Manning collection is an amazing collection of local buildings, taken mostly for insurance companies (who wanted a photographic record of what they were insuring). I knew Bud Manning, who in the 1970's was the third generation of Manning to operate the business. His father and grandfather schlepped around their huge 8 x 10 plate camera to hotels, theatres, factories, stores--you name it--and photographed them. Back when I used to go to their Highland Park location (the original office) and get pictures of the area movie palaces, at $5 for an 8 X 10 glossy print. Bud just knew exactly which drawer of which file cabinet (of many) had the negatives you needed prints of. The collection has become a very important record of what WAS in Detroit (and suburbs) and vital to authors of Arcadia books or other tomes about Detroit in the late 19th and 20th centuries. I'm grateful that Chuck has kept this important resource in Detroit, and made the photos available for professionals to use. |
Jimg
Member
Username: Jimg
Post Number: 745
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 - 10:46 am: | |
It is a great collection, and you may view it's contents by appointment.
Alyn Thomas is in charge, don't have phone # handy but Histeric is correct - Palms Bldg.
They have pictures of Det ballrooms and hotels and a few of Det bands/musicians.
Great Stuff! |
Bob_cosgrove
Member
Username: Bob_cosgrove
Post Number: 448
Registered: 03-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 - 11:08 pm: | |
Chuck Forbes believed in and saw the potential for Woodward Avenue before anyone else. He put his money into acquiring The Fox Theater and Palms Building, saved the Elwood Grile and the Gem Theater, both of which he moved at great expesne, despite lack of civic support. He was forced by the Young Administration to sell The Fox to Mike Ilitch. His acquisition of the Manning Collection is just one of his many historic endeavors. |