  Terryh Member Username: Terryh Post Number: 84 Registered: 11-2006 |
Anyone remember the old Wood Six combination adult movie theatre girlie show on Woodward at Six mile? One side had an all male revue the other theatre featured female go-go strippers who would, every several hours do a routine on stage while the movie played and then walk through the dark theatre to do lap dances and sometimes a little more if the tip was right. Not quite as classy and romantic as visiting a peep show booth but good for kicks and a cheap thrill none the less. | ||
Barnesfoto Member Username: Barnesfoto Post Number: 2935 Registered: 10-2003 |
gosh, one of those Detroit experiences that I somehow forgot to try... oh well. | ||
Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm Post Number: 749 Registered: 10-2003 |
Would this have been the Krim or the Uptown in real life? | ||
Toolbox Member Username: Toolbox Post Number: 1022 Registered: 10-2003 |
quote: Nope, it was in the old Highland Park State Bank building. SW corner of Woodward and McNichols. In my old hood growing up. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 904 Registered: 12-2005 |
The Uptown (AKA "six mile Uptown" or "RKO Uptown" was HUGE, about 2,800 seats. Rather plain inside compared to other 20's downtown and neighborhood palaces, but nice. It was so big it could have been sud-divided into cinemas catering to many different orientations/fetishes. The Uptown came down about 12-15 years ago. The Krim (the theatre's second name, can't remember the first right now)was a foreign/quality film cinema before Mr. Krim sold to the "adult fare" operator. He regretted not taking his name off of the building, or contractually not letting his name be used after the sale. He took a lot of heat after the "change in entertainment policy" (theatre speak for "going porno") in the community, many thought he made it a porno house. | ||
Ha_asfan Member Username: Ha_asfan Post Number: 88 Registered: 06-2006 |
Never went inside but remember the beautiful building...I do remember at the theater a few doors south, the infamous porno star "chesty morgan" with something like a 67" chest measurement, sitting on a stool in front of the theater promoting her movie...that was an eyefull on my way downtown one night. | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1497 Registered: 11-2003 |
I bet Lowell remembers the RKO Uptown. I sure do when my wife and I lived at 10 Moss ( NE corner of Moss and Woodward) in the Mosswood Apartments in 1960. We would walk the few blocks up Woodward to the RKO and see a movie. Lovely theatre. I remember when the Krim first showed the movie "Bitter Rice" which was condemned by the Catholic Church and for that reason it got a lot of publicity. Not only was there an RKO Uptown, there was an RKO Downtown which I think was on W. Adams kinda tucked in behind the Tuller hotel and across from Abbott's magic Shop. Somewhere in there. | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 995 Registered: 10-2003 |
rock; that was the downtown oriental theatre. don't know the specific timeline, but it was built around 1928 featuring (of course) oriental styling and design. rko bought and renamed it sometime in the thirties. it operated until the midfifties until it was torn down for (what else) surface parking, which it remains today. it was the first downtown movie palace to succumb to the changing industry. the surface lot is located on west adams, adjacent to the milner park apartments. in fact, a portion of the lobby still remains in that building. [the main entrance was located in that building, with the auditorium running parallel to west adams. it was across the street from the tuller and across the alley from the parking garage that is still there on west elizabeth. | ||
Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell Post Number: 3563 Registered: 10-2003 |
I am not sure where the RKA Uptown was located. The Uptown [fka The Highland Park State Bank] is now Deja Vu, another strip club, and adjacent to the long time porn book and video establishment Uptown Books. The Uptown probably could hold its own off the revenue alone from its strategically located giant billboard atop it. It can been seen from a half mile north on Woodward. The Krim is now part of the Harvest Ministries, a church that took over its premises, and has since grown to take over the entire commercial frontage of the block on which it sits. When it came in, it was hailed by some for doing a of reversal porn to religion [although some might argue there is little difference in that they both have theatrical elements]. It appeared to be a missionary effort as the members were not from Highland Park or nearby Detroit, but their outreach was good hearted and they soon gathered members from the neighborhood. While it broke up a porn row running from the Uptown to the quasi-brothel the Crown Motel it also took a lot good chunk of Woodward frontage off the tax rolls. By the early seventies Highland Park had become the porn capitol of Michigan with the acquiesence of the then colorful Mayor Bob Blackwell, famous for holding lunches at porn club called the Tender Trap, a short walk from the now abandoned city Hall. [BTW, his son Art Blackwell is now the state appointed receiver for HP.] The rise of Windsor soon stripped HP of its porn crown and now only the last outpost of the Deja Vu and Uptown Books remains. The Rock, being the lawyer he is, may be interested to know I drafted for jury duty for a case against a stripper at the Highland Theater who was alleged to have solicited sex to an undercover Wayne County cop. [I was dismissed during jury selection when my libertarian views opposing laws on adult consensual sex, gambling and drugs were revealed.] She was not convicted. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 906 Registered: 12-2005 |
RSA--the lobby of the Oriental/RKO downtown is still on the entry level of the Park apartments (AKA "Briggs hotel", "Executive house") and is the storage room for that building. Pictures can be seen at:http://www.waterwinterwonderla nd.com/location.asp?ID=716&typ e=5 the auditorium was demolished in 1950, the only major downtown theatre to be lost during the "demolition derby" of the 50's and 60's. I was part of the crew that removed the chandlers and installed them in the Redford theatre lobby in 1980. The oriental was the only atmospheric theatre Downtown, and one of four built in Detroit in the 20’s palace boom—the others being the Rivera, the (Rivera) Annex (both John Eberson designs, the inventor and leader of that style), and the Redford, designed by local firm Verner, Wilby, R.F. Shrieve assoc. RSA: did you get the message from Lowell re: my wanting to contact you? email me at 56packman (at) twmi (dot) rr (dot) com (Message edited by 56packman on January 17, 2007) | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 907 Registered: 12-2005 |
Lowell, the entrance to the RKO Uptown/Six Mile Uptown was further south on Woodward in the same commercial block as the bank/porno Uptown location on the corner. The auditorium was parallel to Woodward--you entered the lobby and turned right (north) to enter the auditorium. | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1499 Registered: 11-2003 |
Rsa, thanks for your background info on the Orient/RKO Downtown. I was not around when the Orient was there, but I do recall seeing a flick or two at the Downtown. I would get my hay fever shot in the Professional building (Peterboro at Woodward), then hop a street car downtown and would go either to the Telenews or the Downtown,next get a grilled cheese and a milk shake at Shapero's Drugs in the Mich. Theatre building, then would meet my dad at the UA/Auto Club building and he would drive us home. It was a monthly routine for a few summers. Lowell- I am pretty sure the RKO Uptown was in that "big building" at the SW corner of McNichols and Woodward. If you walked a little North on Woodward and crossed McNichols, you immediately came to the Toddle House, one of a small chain of restaurants in Detroit. In the 40's, that big sign on top of the bank building advertised "McDonald's", not the famous drive in, but McDonald's, a local creamery and their slogan written on the sign said "McDonalds' I want to be your milkman". You could not miss it as you drove in on South-bound Woodward. Good for you, Lowell. Your good Libertarian views probably let a hooker off the hook, and who knows, maybe today she is happily married, a mother of 4, working for some Detroit company, paying her taxes, and a pillar in both her church and community. Oh yes, one more post and I will hit 1500 and I will quit talking about the old days. | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 997 Registered: 10-2003 |
here are some pic's of the oriental/downtown rko for you rock (and everybody else):   ps. you're not allowed to stop talking about the old days!  | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 998 Registered: 10-2003 |
[the latter picture is what the lobby looked like a few years ago when the folks at the redford theatre got in to take down the chandeliers for use in the theatre.] | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 3444 Registered: 08-2004 |
The 2,950 seat Oriental theatre opened on September 26, 1927. It was designed by Percival R. Periera. From 1930 to 1950 it was known as the Downtown RKO Theatre. It was demolished in 1951. Sadly, no good photographs of the auditorium have ever been located. | ||
Tokennojokin Member Username: Tokennojokin Post Number: 23 Registered: 08-2006 |
To think of the things I did in the wood six. OMG | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 3447 Registered: 08-2004 |
OK, 56packman, now I'm confused. Those pics on the Waterwinterwonderland site show the removal of the chandeliers in 1980 (where you were present).... OK the auditorium was razed circa 1950-51. But does the lobby (from the 1980 chandelier removal pics) still survive as is?? | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 1002 Registered: 10-2003 |
yes. preservation wayne theatre tour got to poke their heads in there a few years ago... | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 909 Registered: 12-2005 |
Gistok, I haven't been in that room since 1980 (that's me standing inside the red scaffolding in the third picture from the top) but RSA saw the room during the PW tour, so apparently it is still "as-is". IIRC, the building management dosen't take kindly to people wanting tours of it though. As I stated above, the lobby portion of the theatre is located on the ground floor of the hotel, they bricked up the opening to the auditorium after demolition of same. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 910 Registered: 12-2005 |
Here's the only Six mile uptown picture I have, this is the console of the Wurlitzer organ that was installed in 1926 in the Uptown theatre. It is in a private home in the area these days.  a little different than the organs being exhibited at the wood-six (Message edited by 56packman on January 17, 2007) | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 3451 Registered: 08-2004 |
Thanks folks. I don't think the Oriental lobby was big enough to park any cars in it though! I bet that a restored Oriental Theatre lobby would make for a very unique Chinese restaurant!! Like the MCS and former Michigan Theatre, another great interior ruin of Detroit. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 3452 Registered: 08-2004 |
LOL at your "organ" comments 56packman... the Wood-Six probably had a "woodwind" section... | ||
Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm Post Number: 751 Registered: 10-2003 |
OK, just so I'm not horribly confused here (any more than usual), the old Highland Park State Bank on the corner of 6 Mile and Woodward was the location of the Wood-Six. The Uptown was 1 building south on Woodward, the Trans-Lux Krim being a block or so further south. Right? | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 911 Registered: 12-2005 |
Douglas, yes you have it right--all along the west side of W'ward. Paging Hornwrecker! we need the Sanborn map to illustrate this> | ||
Rustic Member Username: Rustic Post Number: 3075 Registered: 10-2003 |
terryh, to answer your original post, yeah I remember the place. It was pretty much exactly as you describe except I musta known it a few years after you did as the "go go" dancers by then were more ad hoc hookers working the room than any sorta organized dancers. One could buy drugs on the all male revue side of the building, the "hetero" side was oddly drug free. AIR the hookers/customers on the "hetero" side of the building were probably less than 50% straight. YAY Highland Park! | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1500 Registered: 11-2003 |
Rsa---I will gladly use my 1500 post on the Forum to thankyou for the photos of the Orient theatre. The photos that you folks put on the Forum "speak a thousand words". If recollection serves me right, I'd say that the marquee that adorned the Orient was the same one that the RKO used, just a "name change" of the theatre on the front. What I really find interesting and intriguing about the Orient marquee ( black and white photo)is that on the side it states JACK DEMPSEY IN PERSON. Now if the Orient opened on Sept. 26, 1927, that was just 4 days after Dempsey(The Manassa Mauler") was defeated by Gene Tunney in the famous "long count" fight where Tunney got up from the canvas after at least 10 seconds and went on to win. Boxing buffs argue to this day if it was a correct decision, that Tunney should have been ruled "out", why didn't Dempsey go to a neutral corner,etc. I assume that Dempsey agreed to come to Detroit for the opening of the Orient and discuss the fight. Great marketing!! (And again, great photos). | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 1004 Registered: 10-2003 |
you're welcome rock. here's one taken down the street, i believe, after the name change:  for those who find this view foreign, the tuller hotel is on the right (torn down in '92) and the briggs hotel on the left is now the milner park apartments. the intersection is west adams and park. | ||
Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell Post Number: 3573 Registered: 10-2003 |
Here are some pictures I dug up from 2005: This is looking north on Woodward. The former Highland Park State Bank with billboard, now the Deja Vu strip club can be seen and the Uptown adult store is on the left.  Moving South is the former Krim Theater, now Revival Tabernacle [which I miss-id'd as Soul Harvest Ministries above]. To the right you can see the continuation of the next block for the picture above.  Here is the fully expanded Revival Tabernacle complex.  | ||
Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm Post Number: 752 Registered: 10-2003 |
Did a fella named Roger Forbes have a hand in....wait a minute, that's a poor choice of words.... Did a fella named Roger Forbes have a financial interest in Deja Vu? | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1735 Registered: 04-2005 |
I checked the Sanborn maps, but they are too early for any of these theatres in HP; the west side of the Woodward would be in vol 14 from 1925, and the east side would be in vol 10, from 1915. | ||
Spaceboykelly Member Username: Spaceboykelly Post Number: 193 Registered: 04-2005 |
I couldn't resist posting this advertisement for the Wood-Six Twin Theatre that I copied from an issue of The [Detroit] Gay Liberator. I am working on a research project that involves the queer history of Detroit in the 1970's. If anyone on this forum has any artifacts or information about queer Detroit of that time [namely the Cass Corridor and Highland Park] please contact me at newwave_popstar@hotmail.com  | ||
Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm Post Number: 753 Registered: 10-2003 |
Answered my own question. Yes, Forbes does. |
