Detroit Movie Palaces
The Film Programs of the Detroit
Film Theatre, Michigan Theater and Redford Theatre
The Film Programs of the Detroit Film Theatre, Michigan Theater and Redford Theatre
Your Guide to Classic
Movie Theater Fun!
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theater history!
Your Guide to Classic Movie Theater Fun!
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Detroit Film Theatre
Elegant Showcase
The DFT was built in 1927 as part of the
original construction of the DIA. As you wait for a film to begin, it's
easy to get lost in admiration for the different details of the auditorium.
The dark blue and gold color scheme adds to the 
depth
and intimacy of the theater. As you gaze around, you find mysterious faces,
figures, and animals sculpted in the silver and gold detail of the walls,
ceiling, and doorways.
The physical beauty extends outside of the auditorium. The inner and outer lobbies are an efficient mixture of brass, glass and stone that guide you through the theater with a heightened sense of sophistication. From the inner lobby, two symmetrically located stairways lead to the balcony and the Crystal Gallery Café. These stone stairways include risers made from the Pewabic Pottery that is crafted in Detroit.
The small spaces and hard surfaces add
muffled, dreamlike echoes to the texture of the theater. Some carved-out
stone at the top of each stairwell looks like fossil excavations. Look
more closely and you'll see the names of 
artists
who have inspired the setting—Beethoven, Bach and Mozart on one side,
and Moliere, Shakespeare and Schiller on the other.
Comfortable food smells greet you near the top of the stairs to the balcony level. The Crystal Gallery Café includes snack food like cookies and cake; different beverages; and full meals like salads, soups, and quiche. The café makes the DFT a self-contained experience for patrons looking for just a dinner and a movie.
The café is set in an airy, well-lit space that is ornamented with chandeliers, high vaulted ceilings, and streetlamp-style lighting. And although you can't take the food into the theater, the relaxed atmosphere of the café more than compensates, with its cushioned chairs, small round tables, and subdued air of conversation. The lights from the John R entrance to the DIA add dramatic shadows to the ceiling of the café.
Next Page: Sophisticated Surroundings
