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Eastown Theatre

Coordinates: 42°23′19″N 83°01′12″W / 42.38869°N 83.02013°W / 42.38869; -83.02013
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Eastown Theatre
Map
Address8041 Harper Avenue
Detroit, Michigan
United States
Coordinates42°23′17.598″N 83°1′15.772″W / 42.38822167°N 83.02104778°W / 42.38822167; -83.02104778
Capacity2,500
Construction
OpenedOctober 1, 1931; 93 years ago (1931-10-01)
Closed1967 (1967) (as a movie theater)
2004 (2004)
ReopenedMay 29, 1969; 55 years ago (1969-05-29)
DemolishedNovember 2015 (2015-11)

Eastown Theatre was a 2,500-seat theater located at 8041 Harper on the east side of Detroit, Michigan.[1] Opening in 1931, it operated as a movie theater until being converted into a rock music venue in 1967.[1] Performers included Alice Cooper, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Faces, Fleetwood Mac, Grateful Dead, Steppenwolf, Cream, Pink Floyd, The Amboy Dukes and Yes.[1]

Alice Cooper said in 1997 that the Eastown was "the best audience in the world. And I'm not saying that just because you're writing it down. Any other city, people went home from work to put on their Levis and black leather jackets for a concert. In Detroit they came from work like that. The Eastown — those were pure rock 'n' roll times."[1]

The building later became home to an adult movie theatre, Detroit Center for the Performing Arts, and then a church before being abandoned in 2004.[2] In the late 1990s the building became a site for raves, before being taken over by a church group. The theater was put up for sale in 2004, reduced in price in 2009, and later abandoned. A fire in 2010 destroyed most of the building, and an emergency demolition order was put on the building in 2015.[1] It was eventually demolished in November 2015.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Dan Austin. "Eastown Theatre — Historic Detroit". Historicdetroit.org. Retrieved 2014-06-01.
  2. ^ Moutzalias, Tanya (April 3, 2015). "Eastown Theatre, once-legendary Detroit rock venue, to be demolished". Detroit Free Press.
  3. ^ "Eastown Theatre Demolition Photos". Historic Detroit.

42°23′19″N 83°01′12″W / 42.38869°N 83.02013°W / 42.38869; -83.02013