Detroit’s Palace Theatre, designed by C. H. Crane.Detroit’s Palace Theatre, built in 1914.
On February 15, 1914, the “Detroit Free Press,” reported
that Sosman & Landis delivered the scenery for the New Palace Theater. The
firm, under the direction of Thomas G. Moses, also delivered stock scenery to other Palace
theatres in Chicago (1912), Minneapolis
(1914), and Fort Wayne, Indiana (1914).
The “Detroit Free Press” announced, “Scenery is the Best.
The scenery is from the Sosman & Landis studio of Chicago, leaders in the
art, and for particular reasons the work is extraordinary. It is impossible to
produce more attractive scenery during the composition and painting in Chicago
many managers viewed it with not a little envy, as it is the last significance
of the word ‘Palace’ will be seen very readily by those who attend. The seats
are wide enough to be comfortable and are far apart. Every seat in the house
affords a perfect view of the entire stage.”
Detroit’s Palace Theatre was located at 130-132 Monroe
St, and advertised as “absolutely fireproof.” The article described all of the
fire safety measures, including a roof that consisted of six-inch concrete.
Interior of the theater. Notice the small section of painted drop curtain by Sosman & Landis in left fo the picture. From “American Architect and Architecture,” Vol. 106, 1914. From “American Architect and Architecture,” Vol. 106, 1914.“American Architect and Architecture,” Vol. 106, 1914.
C. A. and Graham Hoffman were responsible for the venue
and selected Detroit for their new playhouse. Early in the spring of 1912, they
started securing lease on the property in the “Great White Way” district of
Detroit. The Palace Theater Co. was organized and incorporated on April 5. C.
A. Hoffman was the general manager, with Graham acting as assistant manager and
secretary.
Detroit’s Palace Theatre was designed by C. Howard Crane and later featured in “American Architect and Architecture,” Vol. 106, September 1914. Crane also designed Detroit’s Liberty Theatre, Opera House, Filmore, Fox Theatre, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Orchestra Hall.
“American Architect and Architecture,” Vol. 106, 1914.“American Architect and Architecture,” Vol. 106, 1914.“American Architect and Architecture,” Vol. 106, 1914.“American Architect and Architecture,” Vol. 106, 1914.
The Place Theatre closed in 1928.
To be continued…
Author: waszut_barrett@me.com
Wendy Rae Waszut-Barrett, PhD, is an author, artist, and historian, specializing in painted settings for opera houses, vaudeville theaters, social halls, cinemas, and other entertainment venues. For over thirty years, her passion has remained the preservation of theatrical heritage, restoration of historic backdrops, and the training of scenic artists in lost painting techniques. In addition to evaluating, restoring, and replicating historic scenes, Waszut-Barrett also writes about forgotten scenic art techniques and theatre manufacturers. Recent publications include the The Santa Fe Scottish Rite Temple: Freemasonry, Architecture and Theatre (Museum of New Mexico Press, 2018), as well as articles for Theatre Historical Society of America’s Marquee, InitiativeTheatre Museum Berlin’s Die Vierte Wand, and various Masonic publications such as Scottish Rite Journal, Heredom and Plumbline. Dr. Waszut-Barrett is the founder and president of Historic Stage Services, LLC, a company specializing in historic stages and how to make them work for today’s needs. Although her primary focus remains on the past, she continues to work as a contemporary scene designer for theatre and opera.
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