Follies Theatre
1 Cadillac Square,
Detroit,
MI
48226
1 Cadillac Square,
Detroit,
MI
48226
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My stepmom always capped off our Monday shopping spree with a hot fudge sundae at Sander’s and a double feature at the discount Family Theater which did not run first run movies during the 1950’s. I wanted to see first run movies at the Fox but that was beyond our budget. When I started going downtown by myself in the late 50’s I splurged on giant Hershey bars,Big Gulp CocaColas and huge tubs of hort buttered popcorn at Detroit’s premier movie house while listening to the organist playing popular tunes during intermission.
Sounds like somebody didn’t like the kind of movies this theater was showing so they had it torched.
July 26, 1973 was the date of the fire which ended the building.
June 2nd, 1967 opening as Follies in photo section.
If anyone has any stories about going to/ working at this threatre in its adult days, I would love to hear them. I am chronicling the histories of adult theatres in the US. Please contact me at Thanks!
The building that was converted into the Family Theatre was built in 1872-73 as an office and commercial building. Despite conversion of the upper floors into a hotel in 1880, then back into offices, then back into a hotel again in the 1890s, and finally the gutting of much of the interior for conversion into the Family Theatre in 1909, the facade remained essentially the same for decades. The original architect of the building was Mortimer L. Smith. The building’s history is told on this web page, where it is listed as the Second Williams Block.
Here is a larger version of the LOC photo:
http://tinyurl.com/5vzgsu
Pictures of Fire and Aftermath including the Deep Throat on the marquee: 1, 2, 3