Historic movie palaces / Seven Mile / Northwest Detroit
Royal Theatre
Closed – archive entry · 1941–1969
A nearly 2,500-seat Streamline Moderne cinema on Seven Mile Road from 1941, one of the biggest neighborhood houses in the city, with Thomas di Lorenzo sculpture groups in its oval lobby.
Quick facts
- Opened
- 1941
- Closed
- 1969
- Architect
- Charles N. Agree
- Style
- Streamline Moderne
- Seats
- 2496
02 / The story of this place
Make time for these
The Royal opened on January 30, 1941, on Seven Mile Road, and with close to 2,500 seats it was one of the largest neighborhood cinemas in the city. Charles N. Agree designed it in Streamline Moderne style, with sculpture groups by Thomas di Lorenzo in the oval lobby. Half a year later Agree built a half-size version of it as the Dearborn Theatre. Run jointly by Wisper & Wetsman and United Detroit Theatres, it cost nearly $300,000 and advertised parking for more than 800 cars. It closed in the late 1960s, and the property was sold to Grace Hospital in 1969 and cleared.
- Nearly 2,500 seats in a neighborhood house
- Thomas di Lorenzo sculptures in the oval lobby
- Its half-size twin: the Dearborn Theatre
Plan your visit
The Royal's property was sold to Grace Hospital in 1969 and cleared. For a movie night, see the working cinemas in our guide.
Cinemas nearby
Back to cinemas ↗
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