Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk
Post Number: 422 Registered: 11-2005
| Posted on Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 3:37 pm: | |
Help me out, please. I'm blanking on the names of the ballrooms on Woodward, just north of Watson (near Comerica Park). They're being renovated right now. I'm pretty sure the southernmost one was the Crystal. What was the name of the one a block north on the east side of Woodward? I know we've talked about them before, but I didn't get any answers when I did an archives search. |
Jimg Member Username: Jimg
Post Number: 799 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 3:45 pm: | |
Several on Woodward...think that one is the Mirror, 2940. Crystal was at 2769 Woodward, slightly south of the Mirror. (Message edited by jimg on March 17, 2007) |
Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk
Post Number: 423 Registered: 11-2005
| Posted on Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 3:47 pm: | |
Yeah, it's near the Red Cross building. South of Mack, north of Watson. |
1805 Member Username: 1805
Post Number: 5 Registered: 03-2007
| Posted on Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 4:00 pm: | |
Could you be thinking of the Albert Kahn print shop? |
Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk
Post Number: 425 Registered: 11-2005
| Posted on Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 4:03 pm: | |
Hmm... thought they were both ballrooms. Think the northern one has (or had) a red-tiled roof. |
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen
Post Number: 2085 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 4:12 pm: | |
OK, here are photos I took last Saturday, 3/10. The northernmost of the two, located at Woodward and Erskine, next to the Bonstelle Theatre:
One block south at Woodward and Watson, the Crystal Lofts development:
Now maybe we can ascertain the original names of the buildings! |
1805 Member Username: 1805
Post Number: 6 Registered: 03-2007
| Posted on Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 4:12 pm: | |
Yeah, that's the old print shop by Albert Kahn. Never a ballroom, unless lonely printmakers had formals. http://www.modeldmedia.com/dev elopmentnews/kahn37.aspx |
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen
Post Number: 2086 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 4:16 pm: | |
Thanks, 1805, for the link. I knew that Albert Kahn designed the Temple Beth El, which was later turned into the Bonstelle Theatre, but had no idea that the building next store was his work as well. |
1805 Member Username: 1805
Post Number: 7 Registered: 03-2007
| Posted on Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 4:24 pm: | |
I swear, Albert Kahn had his finger in every little pie. I think I may've been designed by Kahn. You should see my columns and arches (NOT innuendo). |
Erikto Member Username: Erikto
Post Number: 529 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 4:36 pm: | |
I have a picture or two of the Graystone* Ballroom, on the corner of Woodward and some side street that seemed to be the north border of Brush Park. It looks quite like the last picture above in this thread. I think I read about here, actually, as I can't imagine where else on-line I would have encountered people discussing this building. *The spell check highlighted "Graystone", but I thought it was properly spelled, rather than 'Greystone'? |
Ptero Member Username: Ptero
Post Number: 100 Registered: 12-2005
| Posted on Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 4:41 pm: | |
Here's a mostly unrelated tidbit... The Albert Kahn print shop, Kathleen's top picture, was the scene shop for the Wayne State Theatres during the 60's and into the 70's. Scenery for both the Bonstelle and Hilberry was built there. Bonstelle scenery would just get carried (dragged/rolled) through the alley from loading door to loading door. It was vacated when they put shops and offices together at 95 W. Hancock in the mid 70's (and now the offices have shifted mostly(?) over to the rehabbed Old Main). (Message edited by ptero on March 17, 2007) |
Ptero Member Username: Ptero
Post Number: 101 Registered: 12-2005
| Posted on Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 4:45 pm: | |
...and Bush's Garden (soul food restaurant) was in a third of the frontage on Woodward - the third closest to the Bonstelle. |
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen
Post Number: 2088 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 5:01 pm: | |
And is the rear portion of the print shop an addition? or was that original? It seems different enough that it looked like an addition as I drove by the Erskine side. I'm thinking the original building was just the brick portion we see, with the rest added later? I'm just guessing, but if anyone knows, that would be helpful. |
Ptero Member Username: Ptero
Post Number: 102 Registered: 12-2005
| Posted on Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 5:13 pm: | |
Not much help here. I can only say in the 60's it went all the way to the alley. There was indeed a significant ridge in the floor parallel with Woodward a bit more than halfway to the alley. For some reason the floor did not match up well. |
Jimg Member Username: Jimg
Post Number: 800 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 5:28 pm: | |
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Jimg Member Username: Jimg
Post Number: 801 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 5:33 pm: | |
There is quite a bit of info on Det Ballrooms, and nightclubs, in "Before Motown: A History Of Jazz In Detroit, 1920-1960". Also LeoB's www.thegrandeballroom.com (Message edited by jimg on March 17, 2007) |
Jimg Member Username: Jimg
Post Number: 802 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 5:54 pm: | |
Kathleen, don't suppose you have a pic of the Arcadia, 3527 Woodward nr. Eliot? Can't recall if the bldg still exists... |
Zephyrprocess Member Username: Zephyrprocess
Post Number: 272 Registered: 08-2006
| Posted on Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 7:21 pm: | |
Jimg's got it: the Graystone sat where the McD's is, on the west side of Woodward, just south of the former Canfield's/Agave site. |
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen
Post Number: 2097 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 7:22 am: | |
I don't know that the Arcadia building still exists. What side of Woodward was it on? If it is the west side, then definitely not. If it is on the east side, there are a couple buildings on the north side of Eliot there (Eliot is closed between Woodward and John R for the Red Cross parking lot). |
Zephyrprocess Member Username: Zephyrprocess
Post Number: 278 Registered: 08-2006
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 11:05 am: | |
3527 Woodward would be on the west side, with the other odd-number addresses |
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen
Post Number: 2100 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 11:20 am: | |
That's what I thought...in which case, the Arcadia is gone, with an empty lot on the sw corner of Woodward and Stimson (the street opposite Eliot) and a high-rise apartment building on the block between Mack and Stimson. |
56packman Member Username: 56packman
Post Number: 1133 Registered: 12-2005
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 11:32 am: | |
The Arcadia ballroom/roller rink WAS located where I-75 cuts across Woodward. Bill Holleman operated the roller rink there, then owned Northland roller rink. |
Jimg Member Username: Jimg
Post Number: 806 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 12:51 pm: | |
Is Bill Holleman still around? |
56packman Member Username: 56packman
Post Number: 1134 Registered: 12-2005
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 1:02 pm: | |
No, Bill went to the big skate room in the sky about 14 years ago. |
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen
Post Number: 2101 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 1:14 pm: | |
Thanks,packman, so the Arcadia was further south than Eliot. Are you saying that it was on the block that was taken out for the Fisher Fwy., just south of the Donovan/Motown Bldg.? |
Jimg Member Username: Jimg
Post Number: 807 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 9:39 pm: | |
56packman, it sounds like you knew him pretty well? Did he have any memorabilia, or perhaps his widow is still among us? Sorry if I seem nosy, it's cause I am, this is what I do...research Det jazz... |
56packman Member Username: 56packman
Post Number: 1141 Registered: 12-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 7:52 am: | |
Kathleen--yes, that's where it was. Jimg--I don't know if any of Bill's family is still in the area. |
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13
Post Number: 1462 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 3:05 pm: | |
Was 8300 Woodward a ballroom at one time? |
Erikto Member Username: Erikto
Post Number: 530 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 - 3:55 pm: | |
I was looking at an old punk music site the other day, and I saw the Graystone Ballroom listed on at least one touring punk band's itinerary (can't remember which band) in the 1980's. -Just in case that helps update the Graystone story to the mid 1980's... |
Zephyrprocess Member Username: Zephyrprocess
Post Number: 287 Registered: 08-2006
| Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 - 5:25 pm: | |
I believe the Graystone was torn down in 1980, but I don't know the month. |
Detroitrulez Member Username: Detroitrulez
Post Number: 193 Registered: 12-2006
| Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 - 6:53 pm: | |
the Graystone may have been torn down, but there is a beautiful McDonald's in its place...with curtains! I could go for a McRib about now. |
Dabirch Member Username: Dabirch
Post Number: 2185 Registered: 06-2004
| Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 - 7:08 pm: | |
I am pretty certain that I saw Gang Green at the Graystone in 1987 or 1988. "Skate all day, drink all night. Drunk and disorderly in Boston" |
Zephyrprocess Member Username: Zephyrprocess
Post Number: 289 Registered: 08-2006
| Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 - 10:08 pm: | |
Several sources concur on 1980 as the date for the Graystone's demise, e.g., http://www.ipl.org/div/detjazz /About.html |
Jimg Member Username: Jimg
Post Number: 813 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Saturday, March 24, 2007 - 8:54 am: | |
Yeah, 1980 is the year of it's demise... |
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13
Post Number: 1480 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Saturday, March 24, 2007 - 2:40 pm: | |
OK Jimg... 8300 Woodward? Was it a Jazz Age ballroom? Sure looks like it. |
Jimg Member Username: Jimg
Post Number: 814 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Saturday, March 24, 2007 - 10:17 pm: | |
So far nothing to report, Fury13, but once Houdini's coffin is opened he'll send me the info... Actually a city directory should have the answer. |
Mikem Member Username: Mikem
Post Number: 3211 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Sunday, March 25, 2007 - 5:17 pm: | |
Fury, my sources say 8300 Woodward was either an auto supply shop or a used car dealership, circa late 1930s. Looking at it from the air, there seems to be an older building at the core:
A 1915 map shows this spot to be the location of a church:
Could that be the church at its core? A list of ballrooms or dance halls from 1940: Arcadia Ball Room, 3527 Woodward Campus Ballroom, 15315 Petoskey Cieslak's Dance Hall, 3502 Junction Garden Center Ballroom, 2959 Woodward Grande Ballroom, 8952 Grand River Graystone Ballroom Inc, 4237 Woodward Hollywood Ballroom, 4211 Woodward Madison Gardens Ballroom, 4643 Woodward Oakman Ballroom, 12704 Woodrow Wilson Quadrille Ballroom, 4255 Woodward (later Aragon Ballroom) Tree Studios, 4109 Woodward Trianon Ballroom, 3747 Woodward Vill-Age Inn, 1214 Westminster |
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen
Post Number: 2128 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Sunday, March 25, 2007 - 5:28 pm: | |
Is this building on Woodward at Melbourne? If so, it is currently a Value World store. And it was originally a church site for a congregation that later moved into the big United Metropolitan Methodist Church down the street. |
Mikem Member Username: Mikem
Post Number: 3213 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Sunday, March 25, 2007 - 5:29 pm: | |
Yes. |
Psip Member Username: Psip
Post Number: 1630 Registered: 04-2005
| Posted on Sunday, March 25, 2007 - 6:38 pm: | |
Adaptive reuse, sweet! |
Pffft Member Username: Pffft
Post Number: 1235 Registered: 12-2003
| Posted on Sunday, March 25, 2007 - 7:46 pm: | |
Remember, there are "ballrooms" and ballrooms...some were actually taxi dancehalls, as Jim knows...live orchestras, but you only got to dance for two minutes. Hardly like the Graystone. |
Dabirch Member Username: Dabirch
Post Number: 2189 Registered: 06-2004
| Posted on Monday, March 26, 2007 - 12:59 pm: | |
Anybody (Toolbox, specifically)-- Was there not another venue on Michigan called "the Greystone Hall" . I seem to recall a circle jerks/misfits/necros show out there. I also think that is where I saw the Gang Green show. |
Dabirch Member Username: Dabirch
Post Number: 2190 Registered: 06-2004
| Posted on Monday, March 26, 2007 - 1:13 pm: | |
Ok, I thought so. Greystone -- Misfits |
Diesel Member Username: Diesel
Post Number: 12 Registered: 01-2007
| Posted on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - 2:00 pm: | |
Drove by the printshop today and noticed they were installing glass in the southern facing part of the building. Sorry no pictures. (anyone?) |