Historic movie palaces / Woodward / Brush Park
Colonial Theatre
Closed – archive entry · 1917–1975
C. Howard Crane's movie house on Woodward, across from Brush Park, open from 1917 to 1975. The original plans called for nearly 3,000 seats and more than 200 boxes.
Quick facts
- Opened
- 1917
- Closed
- 1975
- Architect
- C. Howard Crane (later remodel by Ted Rogvoy)
- Seats
- 1566
02 / The story of this place
Make time for these
The Colonial opened on October 8, 1917, on Woodward across from Brush Park, designed by C. Howard Crane; Historic Detroit says it was built by the Hoffman brothers of the Palace Theatre on Monroe. The original plans called for nearly 3,000 seats and more than 200 boxes, and the house ended up with 1,566 seats. It started with vaudeville and films and soon became a straight movie house. The Hoffmans went bankrupt in January 1918 and sold it, and Ted Rogvoy later remodeled it. Midwest Theaters Co. ran it from the early 1940s until it closed on February 27, 1975, and it was demolished shortly afterward.
- A C. Howard Crane design facing Brush Park
- Planned for nearly 3,000 seats and 200-plus boxes
- On Woodward from 1917 to 1975
Plan your visit
The Colonial was demolished shortly after it closed in 1975. For a show or a movie along Woodward today, see the working venues in our guide.
Cinemas nearby
Back to cinemas ↗
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