  Dan Member Username: Dan Post Number: 1398 Registered: 10-2003 |
A friend of mine was telling me about rock shows at a make shift venue somewhere in Cass corridor called “The Freezer.” He saw some good local bands there in the late 1970’s early 1980’s. Apparently the venue was totally illegal, and was built by it owner. The name came from the freezer door which was used as its main entrance. Does anyone have any stories or info about this place? I know it’s a long shot, but what about pictures? | ||
Xd_brklyn Member Username: Xd_brklyn Post Number: 227 Registered: 10-2003 |
The original Freezer Theater was located close to Warren I think. Went in there only once. They put on a play and all the actors were cardboard cut-outs that were hung from strings like clothes drying on a clothesline. They would then push these characters back and forth along these strings as the play progressed. The voices were all off-stage. Didn't know what to make of it, I just remember the space being cramped and precarious. When they moved the space to Cass, I was impressed this group was actually expanding. At the new space, I don't remember any other performances there other than the local rock and roll groups at that time. The first bands I recall seeing there were all friends involved in groups like Phobelex, L7, The Frames, A-Moms, and Razor 1922. It was no big shake at the time. Attendance was light and the crowd was mostly made up of people who knew each other. However, when the local hardcore scene took off, the Freezer Theater started getting out of control. It was managed by a young kid (forget his name now) who was totally overwhelmed by the amount of kids coming in. It was surprising to see the Freezer begin to host bands from around the country. Couldn't take to the hardcore punks as I watched the original punk thing take off in 77 and 78, but I did see one of my top ten shows of all-time there. It was a group that was at one time called Problem, then Hate Grey, and then Hunting Lodge. They only performed one show as Hate Grey and it was at the Freezer Theater. Their show was Antonin Artaud's Theater of the Absurd in pure sound. Have never heard any band perform anything like it since; strange sounds everywhere, manipulated distortion, various sound bits, taped animal sounds, crashing cymbals, and all mixed to a back beat to get you groovin! Plus the Freezer Theater also set up a perfect backdrop for this macabre sound. Photos? There are plenty. See this site here: http://www.davo.com/davoperson alarchives/PunkRock/index.html quote: I think the freezer door your friend mentions may have been the original Freezer Theater where I saw the play. That place could have been hand-built. I wouldn't doubt it. However, the bands you see playing in the photos were definitely in the second Freezer on Cass. Don't remember what the door was like though I know it didn't have a window. In fact, there were no windows in the entire place. In any case, glad to hear the Freezer Theater can still gather some interest. Cheers | ||
Pam Member Username: Pam Post Number: 1549 Registered: 11-2005 |
I saw Minor Threat there. (1982) I think that was the only time I went. Definitely a "hole in the wall". I don't even think they had a bathroom. (Message edited by Pam on May 11, 2007) | ||
East_detroit Member Username: East_detroit Post Number: 1073 Registered: 11-2003 |
3958 Cass Ave. Detroit, Michigan  | ||
East_detroit Member Username: East_detroit Post Number: 1074 Registered: 11-2003 |
April 3, 1982, that is... | ||
Goat Member Username: Goat Post Number: 9414 Registered: 10-2003 |
Could this be at the Freezer Theatre? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =HQyrgQngq1s | ||
J_to_the_jeremy Member Username: J_to_the_jeremy Post Number: 11 Registered: 03-2007 |
It looks pretty similar to some of the pictures on the "Davo's Archives" site. But not to the ones labled "freezer". Cool old footage. | ||
East_detroit Member Username: East_detroit Post Number: 1076 Registered: 11-2003 |
Looks like the Greystone Hall on Michigan Ave. Oddly enough, the original Misfits and Black Flag both played their last shows at that place... and both were taped by Russ Gibb's students. | ||
Eastsidedame Member Username: Eastsidedame Post Number: 131 Registered: 12-2006 |
There are some references to the Freezer Theater on the Tribes of the Cass Corridor site. Their forum might be another good source of information: http://corridortribe.com/index .html | ||
Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell Post Number: 3853 Registered: 10-2003 |
The original Freezer theater was in a commercial space next to a Yono's Market [the somewhere west off 3rd, pretty sure after consulting CULMNA aerial maps was on Hancock just west of 3rd] in area that is now rebuilt as townhouses. [Yono's later reprised their business as the Campus ? - it is on the NW corner of Forest and 3rd]. The Freezer was part of the vibrant creative scene of Detroit's Cass Corridor art bohemia back in its pimps, hoes and pusher days, before its present 'Midtown' gentrification. The closest thing to the Freezer today is the Trumbull Theater. The copied text below describes some of the spirit of those times nicely. I was at the 'Jonestown' performance and when the wacky anarchist actors passed around the Kool Aid, I declined, even though they were my friends. ha ha. I didn't think it would have cyanide, but beyond that...? quote:Source Tribes of Cass Corridor Thanks for the stories; it makes me think that we probably sat in the same rooms together. | ||
Barnesfoto Member Username: Barnesfoto Post Number: 3487 Registered: 10-2003 |
Ah, the old days... I'm sure, Pam, that the Freezer had a bathroom, because I remember being there and drinking quarts of Stroh's out of paper bags... Thanks for the link to Davo's pics. He was a classmate of mine at WSU, and shot more pics than me...If I could only be so organized as to go thru my old negs and catalog them. For those that might remember Mr. Unique and the Leisure Class at the Freezer, here's a link to a more recent performance...sans Mr.Unique... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =juYbGKHVaXk | ||
Pam Member Username: Pam Post Number: 1557 Registered: 11-2005 |
quote: Luckily I never had to go. That could have been awkward.  | ||
Xd_brklyn Member Username: Xd_brklyn Post Number: 228 Registered: 10-2003 |
Lowell, thanks for clearing up the location of the original Freezer. An instructor at CCS, Bill Girard, and one of his students introduced me to the place. Being right out of the suburbs, didn't have any sense of the location at that time. In the YouTube video, the stage is too high, the backdrop too clean, and the building's width is too wide for the Freezer. The place was really not professional in any way. Don't think there was anyone over 24 years old managing the Freezer in it's hardcore days. The Davo's photos capture the time well. Funny, don't remember a bathroom at the place, but do remember the Freezer was located right across from the Brown/Hamilton Home, 3957 Cass. Here's a flyer from one of the early bands that played the Freezer:  | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 885 Registered: 07-2004 |
OK, who's organizing this summer's old punk flier show. Let's do it at Bo House. |
