In 1910, Thomas G. Moses wrote, “Miles of Detroit for $3,800.00 which was $1,050.00 higher that a close competitor.” Moses was referring to the new Miles Theatre at 1220 Griswold St., Detroit, Michigan, that opened on May 15, 1910. It was designed by the architectural firm Kees & Colburn of Minneapolis. George D. Mason of Detroit was the supervising architect for the project.
On May 15, 1910, “Detroit Free Press” described the auditorium, “The walls of the auditorium are so stenciled and tinted as to represent rare tapestries of red, pale and silver hues. Over the proscenium arch and in the frieze work of the foyer, Judson Smith, of Detroit, has wrought realistic presentations of scenes of the Caesarian epochs of Rome. Separating the orchestra from the first row of the parquet is a partition made to resemble Italian marble. The effect is realized by concrete work worked over with scagliola. The columns supporting the balcony are constructed in the same way, and give the same appearance. This entire decorative scheme followed is artistic, in every detail. The wrought work along the balcony is in festoons and garlands and the flowers are painted in natural color. Plate glass mirrors panel the walls” (page 1).
C. H. Miles was the president and general manager of the Miles Detroit Theatre Company. He operated the Miles circuit with many theaters scattered across the country, including in his hometown of Minneapolis. He set his sights on Detroit during 1909 to build another popular-priced vaudeville house. Arriving to the city that summer, Miles secured a 99-yer lease of the property between the Chamber of Commerce and the Bank. The theater’s policy included three shows a day, with extra matinees on Saturday and Sunday; listed prices for entertainment were 10, 20, and 30 cents.
The success of Miles’ policy was noted on March 16, 1913, in the “Detroit Free Press, “People soon found that they could go down-town after supper, see an entire performance and get back home in time to retire at the usual house. Or, if they were detained down-town by business or a dinner party, they found it convenient to drop in for the second show and still get home at a reasonable hour. Thus, very shortly, going to the Miles came to be a regular habit and the Miles clientele steadily grew larger. In the meantime, stores and offices erected by Miles as part of the general structure were leased by various concerns and Griswold Street, north of State, began to take a commercial look. Property values around Capitol Park began to soar. Men of large means began to take an interest in the development of Griswold Street. Car lines were re-routed, old brick pavements were supplanted by the more modern creosote block…That is the story of the rejuvenation of Griswold street, and to Mr. Miles, as the man who took the initiative, is due a large share of the credit. It is just another illustration of how much can be accomplished through that happy combination of courage, determination and far-sightedness” (page 83).
The property had a frontage of 152 feet on Griswold Street between State Street and Grand River Avenue. Once built, his theater’s policy included three shows a day, with extra matinees on Saturday and Sunday. On May 30, 1911, the “Detroit Press” included an advertisement to buy stock for the Miles Theatre, promising “You will be paid dividends every three months” (page 3). The advertisement commented, “It is the largest, most handsome, update and complete theatre in Detroit – the Miles Theatre has been in operation over one year and is earning money every day.” It continued to explain that the theatre was ideally located and convenient to every carline in the city, and near one of the busiest marts. Miles and Mr. C. W. Porter, local manager, personally looked after the sale of stocks in the Miles theatre building daily.
The last show at the Miles Theatre was on Nov. 28, 1927. By May 1928 the theater was demolished to make way for the Griswold Building, designed by Albert Kahn, a structure that still exists today.
To be continued…
