Detroit Cinema History:
The Beverly Theatre
10709 Grand River Ave - Detroit
OPEN: 1937 | CLOSED: 1965 | SEATS: 1475
A photograph of the Art Moderne-style Beverly Theatre announces its gala opening on the marquee: Aug. 27, 1937.
The Beverly opened in 1937, for Mamie Kogan and Robert Silberstein and was designed in the Streamline Moderne style by Charles N. Agree who is well-known for his design of theatres and other buildings in Metro Detroit. The area was one of the many "city centers" with many shops and restaurants nearby and the Beverly was a good compliment to these retail spots around town.
The facility could originally seat about 1475 and was constructed in less than four months time at a cost of $250,000. The facility would later be operated by the Wisper & Westman circuit of theatres and entertainment complexes.
The Beverly also had some unique seats where the seatbacks would allow the patrons to recline slightly, which was unique at the time.
The movies usually started around 12:00-noon and when the lights were lowered, The theater was black, pure black, you could not even see your hand in front of your face.
Beverly Lobby (1950's)
The theater was spotless, well managed and had beautiful framed artistic posters (of current movies and future movies) displayed on the walls of the lobby as well as the outside of the building.
One reason that the Beverly was such a clean facility was because of the strict maintenance policy that was in place by the manager, Lou Mitchell, in regards to the cleanliness of the theatre.
Even the staff was well-maintained as the ushers were always in full dress, wearing clean pressed uniforms, wearing little hats & carrying flashlights.
The ushers would walk up & down the aisles shining a light on floor of the row, for anyone who needed to get in or out. Every other aisle seat had a tiny bulb built in, providing small stream of light on the floor for walking. These lights would stay on during the entire feature.
This attention to these details kept patrons coming back time and time again, even after things began to "slow down" business-wise in the mid-1950's. Eventually the business couldn't be sustained and the Beverly would close in 1965.
The building would remain empty for a few years afterwards until it would evolve into something else.
The 1,400-seat Beverly from June 1950.
In 1969, Jehovah's Witnesses purchased the building for use as an assembly hall and in the mid-1970s, the building was renovated and a couple of the nearby stores purchased and added to the facility. The "new" building was used by the Jehovah's Witnesses until aprox 1988 when the building was sold to another church membership who currently owns and maintains the building for worship-purposes.
In it's current state, the facility is used for occasional theatrical productions, concerts, and dance performances. The auditorium has essentially remained unchanged with the exception of a stage area being constructed as an extension of the original stage. Seating is now at approximately 1300 because of these changes as well as for production equipment such as mixing boards and other items.
The original flooring still remains as well as the decorative interior coverings and the nearby store that was added to the facility is used for church-gatherings and classrooms.
Auditorium at the Beverly 1960's (above)
The Beverly Theatre is still a wonderful part of Metro Detroit...and was a beautiful sight to behold in its day.
This is what makes it part of Detroit Cinema History.
IF you have any more information or details on this theatre,
please email me and i will include it in the description.
Thank you.
BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS HERE.
MUGGLES ARE AROUND DAY/NIGHT/24-7.
THIS CACHE IS BEST FOUND DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS.