| Eastown
Theatre |
|
Its decor was a mixture of Renaissance Revival styles, including Spanish and Italian with Baroque and Neo-Classic elements as well. The auditorium, which included a large balcony, originally sat just under 2,500. It was designed by the firm of V.J. Waier & Co. Though the Eastown Theatre closed as a movie house during the mid-1960’s, its second life was just beginning, for which it would be much better known, as one of Detroit’s premiere rock venues. Beginning in 1969, the list of performers on the Eastown’s stage reads like a who’s-who of rock and roll of that era. Alice Cooper, the Doors, Pink Floyd, Jefferson Airplane, Bob Seger, Jethro Tull and the Grateful Dead are just a few of the bands who played here between 1969 and 1973. It was forced to shut down in 1973 by the city of Detroit, cited for failing to meet health and safety codes. In 1975, it reopened as a jazz venue, which remained in operation for about a year. After this, it was used for a short time for performing arts and live theater, but again closed down. In 1980, the Eastown Theatre began to show adult films under a new name, the Showcase, but closed again in 1984. From 1984 until 1990, the Eastown Theatre was again home to a performing arts group. During the mid-90s, the Eastown Theatre hosted raves, and later housed a church. Contributed by Bryan Krefft |
| Reported on 9/13/2010 8:42:50 PM - Detroit Free Press |
 Death knell
for rock
'n' roll landmark Eastown fire
spells doom, demolition BY
BRIAN
McCOLLUM
FREE
PRESS
POP MUSIC WRITER
In
a blow to Detroit's preservationist
community and rock history
buffs, the city appears set to lose
another storied landmark. The
Eastown Theatre, a onetime movie
palace and concert hot spot on Harper near Van Dyke, has been targeted for demolition by the City of Detroit following an early Monday fire. The theater itself was not substantially damaged by the blaze, which destroyed an adjoining apartment wing. But it makes up the bulk of the vacant structure, which was condemned and affixed with a demolition notice Tuesday afternoon. The notice indicates that the building could be razed within coming days. But for Detroiters of a certain age, the Eastown will be most remembered for its high-flying rock scene in the early 1970s, when it noisily succeeded the Grande Ballroom as the city's go-to rock venue. While the Grande had captured the flower-power spirit of the '60s, the Eastown embodied the grittier, harder-edged vibe of the era's evolving rock and drug culture. Amid the venue's ornate interior and lush blue seats, touring acts such as the J. Geils Band, the James Gang and the Who were booked alongside local stars such as Bob Seger, Ted Nugent and the Stooges. The Eastown quickly earned a notorious reputation, targeted by city officials and the news media for overcrowding, hard drug use and vandalism. The venue was shut down by the city in 1971, and reopened for a brief spell two years later. A 1973 Free Press article described the scene during a concert by Joe Walsh, when the sweet, pungent smell of marijuana, popcorn and sweat mixed with the blaring rock music and shouts. I remember going in as a kid and being shocked. It wasn't that communal, family-oriented feel like the Grande, recalled Martin (Tino) Gross of the band Howling Diablos, who attended Eastown shows during his high school years. It was a scarier neighborhood, more ominous. The music was fantastic. But the Eastown was like going into a hell pit of rock 'n' roll. Detroit preservationists have noted that several exterior fixtures disappeared from the building in recent months. The building was most recently owned by Deeper Life Ministries, a Christian group that housed residents in the apartment wing until 2004. If this truly puts an end to any renovation possibilities, it's just sad, said Karen Nagher of Preservation Wayne. It's really a shame to lose this. |
