Historic movie palaces / Campus Martius / Cadillac Square
Family Theatre
Closed – archive entry · 1909–1973
A downtown movie house carved out of the 1880 Kirkwood Hotel, open from 1909 to 1973: decades as a busy first-run house, then adult films under a wholesome name, and finally a fire during Deep Throat.
Quick facts
- Opened
- 1909
- Closed
- 1973
- Architect
- Fuller Claflin
- Seats
- 935-943
02 / The story of this place
Make time for these
The Family opened on May 3, 1909, carved by Fuller Claflin out of the 1880 Kirkwood Hotel on the block bounded by Woodward, Monroe and Cadillac Square. It started with vaudeville, switched to films in 1914 and was a busy first-run house for decades. In the 1960s it turned to adult films while keeping its wholesome name, until it became the Follies Theatre on June 2, 1967. On July 26, 1973, a five-alarm fire destroyed it during a screening of Deep Throat. The ruin was torn down, and the surrounding Monroe and Cadillac Square buildings soon followed.
- Carved out of an 1880 hotel
- A busy first-run house from 1914
- Destroyed by fire during Deep Throat, 1973
Plan your visit
The Family's ruin was torn down after the 1973 fire, and the rest of the block soon went too. For a movie downtown today, see the working cinemas in our guide.
Cinemas nearby
Back to cinemas ↗
Multiplexes / Detroit
Bel Air Luxury Cinema
The only first-run multiplex inside Detroit's city limits: ten screens on East Eight Mile with luxury rockers, recliners and a giant custom chandelier. No need to drive out to the suburbs for the new releases.
IMAX & giant screens / Detroit
Michigan Science Center – Immersive Dome Theater
Midtown's science museum runs three screens: the giant Immersive Dome Theater, the Penske Planetarium and the 3D Toyota Engineering Theater. The museum calls the dome the largest theatre in Michigan.
Film festivals / Detroit
Detroit Black Film Festival
Independent films directed, written or produced by Black filmmakers, at a Detroit festival Lazar and Marshalle Favors started in 2020. The 7th edition in September 2026 screens 89 films from 30 countries, with the Charles H. Wright Museum as its hub.