Genesyxx Member Username: Genesyxx
Post Number: 665 Registered: 02-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 8:39 am: | |
So yesterday, I was watching Discover Detroit on PBS and they did this nice story on the Masonic, with a brief history and a tour of the place (never been it, but it looked excellent). Anyway, it got me to thinking... The area around the Masonic is desolent to say the least and with all the development being done to downtown & Brush Park, are there any plans for Cass Corridor? I know they cleared out some of the abandoned buildings in the area, but there are still too many to count, especially with Cass Tech right down the street. Also, will the big-ticket events return? I remember they used to house a few operas back in the day, and even had a couple of gospel concerts, but all I can find on there now is the Detroit Derby Girls schedule. |
Mind_field Member Username: Mind_field
Post Number: 681 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 8:50 am: | |
There was talk of a huge project that would be very exciting for the Cass Corridor last spring, but it never materialized, maybe it is still planned and they are trying to line up financing, but who knows? You wouldn't find operas at the Masonic Temple anymore, as they are performed at the Opera House. I think MOT used Masonic and maybe the Fisher theater pre-DOH for operas. |
Toolbox Member Username: Toolbox
Post Number: 1031 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 8:52 am: | |
Might want to dig deeper on the events held at Masonic. Events recently held include: Earth Wind and Fire, Tenacious D, many White Stripes shows and various musicals. |
Itsjeff Member Username: Itsjeff
Post Number: 7394 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 9:00 am: | |
Not forgetting that it's a Nederlander venue. I saw Hairspray there last season. |
Imperfectly Member Username: Imperfectly
Post Number: 195 Registered: 06-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 9:49 am: | |
In the past few years I have seen Wicked and Phantom there... |
Ptero Member Username: Ptero
Post Number: 83 Registered: 12-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 11:41 am: | |
Saw Harry Chapin there and a LOT of other stuff many years ago including my high school graduation! There are shows that won't fit well (or at all) on the Fisher stage, it's not really all that big (even though "Big" was there!). So Nederlander has used Masonic for larger productions. Masonic was renovated for Phantom back when that first came here. The renovations were about changing/updating technical aspects so the show could 'go in'. Holes through to the trap room/basement, access to the top of the proscenium for scenery + actors. New rigging to handle the scenery. I remember a few months of construction activity to do all of this before the show got to town. (Message edited by ptero on February 06, 2007) |
Treelock Member Username: Treelock
Post Number: 179 Registered: 03-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 11:53 am: | |
Genesyxx, The lower Cass Corridor, which includes the Masonic, does indeed remain in rough shape. Most of the encouraging nearby redevelopment has occurred in the upper corridor, where there has been some new businesses and a lot of ongoing building rehabilitation for living space. Hopefully, the positive momentum continues its southerly march and transforms the Masonic area, which is situated on a lovely park diag that ought to be the focal point of a vibrant neighborhood. As of right now, it's a pretty sketchy area full of drugs and poverty. I was going to say that I saw the Lion King there, but now I'm confused and can't remember whether it was there or the Fisher Theater. But the White Stripes have played some great shows at the Masonic and its Scottish Rite Theater. |
Jasoncw Member Username: Jasoncw
Post Number: 337 Registered: 07-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 10:59 pm: | |
How does Cass Tech affect the area? |
Pam Member Username: Pam
Post Number: 1020 Registered: 11-2005
| Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2007 - 1:24 pm: | |
Detroit blog guy visits the area: http://www.detroitblog.org/?p= 459 |
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1
Post Number: 8268 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2007 - 4:32 pm: | |
Treelock - Lion King was at the Masonic or the Temple or the Masonic Temple. I can't recall what it is actually called. |
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul
Post Number: 438 Registered: 10-2006
| Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2007 - 7:03 pm: | |
Also, another point that hasn't really been brought up on this thread yet. At a point in history, detroit had more theatres than any other city except for New York. Today that are still a relatively high number. Therefore, there isn't just 'one big theatre' in the center of the CBD. There are many many great ones throughout the city. Therefore, the fact that the Masonic isn't always having 'the big shows' doesn't mean anything really. |
Irish_mafia Member Username: Irish_mafia
Post Number: 724 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2007 - 7:22 pm: | |
Paul, This is something that has not been well capitalized upon in the past. It could and should be moving forward. |
Terryh Member Username: Terryh
Post Number: 138 Registered: 11-2006
| Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2007 - 7:24 pm: | |
The Rolling Stones played the masonic back in '78 |
Dan Member Username: Dan
Post Number: 1349 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2007 - 8:04 pm: | |
Mind_field I heard the out of town developer who was working on the rumored “big project” near Cass Park was deeply offended by the suggestion of kickbacks to key city officials. I heard this wealthy publisher/real estate developer walked away from the deal completely. Does anyone know a rumor to corroborate my rumor about the big rumor of a project? |
Andyguard73 Member Username: Andyguard73
Post Number: 193 Registered: 03-2006
| Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2007 - 9:01 pm: | |
Or since the rumored big project has been walked away from, maybe someone could just tell those of us not in the know what it was. |
Developer Member Username: Developer
Post Number: 7 Registered: 01-2006
| Posted on Friday, February 09, 2007 - 9:28 pm: | |
Pearl Jam played there in 92 or 93. |
Waz Member Username: Waz
Post Number: 10 Registered: 11-2006
| Posted on Friday, February 09, 2007 - 11:43 pm: | |
I saw Santana play there in '78, and Stanley Clarke around the same time. Also saw the B-52's there around '80. Great theatre. Did they play movies back in the day, or was it always a performance theatre? |
Royce Member Username: Royce
Post Number: 2052 Registered: 07-2004
| Posted on Saturday, February 10, 2007 - 12:11 am: | |
The removal of two entities could improve the lower Cass Corridor area: the Neighborhood Service Organinzation(NSO) and the Jeffries Project Homes. The homes are scheduled to be reworked to mimic Woodward Estates, which is the mixed-income development that's just to the north and west of the Jeffries Homes. The NSO and many other homeless facilities dot this area. Gentrification could do wonders since there are four schools in the area that could attract affluent or at least middle income residents. At least three of these schools are top notch schools: Cass Tech High School, Malcolm X Academy(K-8, and the Detroit School of the Arts High School. The fourth school, Marilyn Lundy Charter School(K-8) may or may not be top notch. I don't know much about this school but it is one of two elementary school choices in the area. The issue with Cass Corridor continues to be servicing the homeless versus gentrification. Clearly, the area can't be built up if the homeless remain in the area, but the question becomes, "Where do the homeless go if they're sent packing?" |
Emu_steve Member Username: Emu_steve
Post Number: 131 Registered: 11-2006
| Posted on Saturday, February 10, 2007 - 8:26 am: | |
what is supposed to happen with the Jeffries next month? |
Hockey_player Member Username: Hockey_player
Post Number: 315 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Saturday, February 10, 2007 - 9:42 am: | |
Woodbridge Estates, not Woodward Estates. |
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge
Post Number: 99 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Saturday, February 10, 2007 - 11:07 am: | |
"Where do the homeless go if they're sent packing?" New Jersey. Worked for Guiliani, right? ::satire:: |
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul
Post Number: 460 Registered: 10-2006
| Posted on Saturday, February 10, 2007 - 1:42 pm: | |
Whether you like it or not, I think that it won't be too long before the homeless are squeezed out as development from the CBD creeps north and WSU developments gradually extend south. They will end up going somewhere, and I really doubt that anyone is going to transport them to NJ... |
Cartoonguy Member Username: Cartoonguy
Post Number: 93 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Saturday, February 10, 2007 - 5:03 pm: | |
There is plenty of space in Detroit for the homeless. It is not like Cass Corridor is the only area in the city that has an abundance abandoned buildings. No need to shed a tear over gentrification in Cass Corridor. |