Business & brands / Film & TV / Press & broadcasting
John H. Kunsky
1874–1952 · movie theater magnate, broadcaster
Detroit-born son of Czech immigrants who built the city's first great chain of movie palaces, from nickelodeons to the Michigan and the Fisher, then co-founded WXYZ.
- Born
Detroit, Michigan- Died
Encino, California
aged 77- Also known as
- John King
- Detroit years
- 1874–1930s
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Kunsky was born in Detroit to Czech immigrant parents and spotted the moving-picture boom early. From 1905 he invested in nickelodeons, and with Arthur Caille he opened the Casino Theater; by 1907 their company ran nine storefront shows around town. He went on to build Detroit's first theaters designed for films and a chain of more than twenty houses, among them the Columbia (1911), the Capitol (1922, today's Detroit Opera House), the 4,038-seat Michigan (1926), and the Redford and Fisher theaters (both 1928). In 1929 he sold the chain to Paramount and, with his partner George W. Trendle, formed Kunsky-Trendle Broadcasting, which bought station WGHP and renamed it WXYZ, the future home of The Lone Ranger. In 1936 he changed his name to John King. He later built a resort at Land O'Lakes, Wisconsin, and died in California in 1952.
Highlights
- Early Detroit nickelodeon investor; his company ran nine storefront theaters by 1907
- Built or ran more than 20 theaters, including the Capitol, the Michigan, the Redford and the Fisher
- The Michigan Theatre (1926) seated 4,038 and was one of the largest movie palaces in the state
- Sold his theater chain to Paramount in 1929
- Co-founded WXYZ radio with George W. Trendle; changed his name to John King in 1936
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 4
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Founded · 1926–1929
Michigan Palace
Closed · 1926–1976
Kunsky's 4,038-seat flagship palace by Rapp & Rapp. It closed in 1976, and its gutted auditorium has served since 1977 as a parking deck under the surviving ornate ceiling, a much-photographed Detroit sight.
Founded · 1922–1929
Detroit Opera House
Opened by Kunsky in 1922 as the Capitol, designed by C. Howard Crane; restored and reopened in 1996 as the home of Detroit Opera.
Founded · 1928–1929
Redford Theatre
Japanese-themed neighborhood palace from Kunsky's chain, still showing classic films with its original Barton organ under the Motor City Theatre Organ Society.
Founded · 1928–1929
Fisher Building
The last theater Kunsky opened, in 1928; remodeled in 1961 into Detroit's main stage for touring Broadway shows.