Irving Theatre - Detroit MI

Address: 21220 Fenkell St
City: Detroit
State: MI
Zip: 48223
County: Wayne
Open: 1927
Capacity: 1025
Owner History:
Theater Type: Neighborhood House
Number of visits to this page: 20094
Disclaimer:

Please note that location entries may feature older photos or post card views that may not represent the current appearance, features, addresses, phone numbers, or contact names of the attraction. This site is intended to be a historical as well as current record of various attractions but it is not always possible to have up-to-date information due to the vast number of locations featured here. We ask you consult the propietor for current information.

General Information:

Source: Ted Martin

The Irving Theater, located in Detroit's Brightmoor neighborhood, once seated 1025, and opened in 1927. It stood at 21220 Fenkell Street at the corner of Blackstone Street. The Irving was designed by the firm of Kohner & Payne, whose other Detroit movie houses included the Uptown and the John Eberson-inspired Ramona, both long gone. After a long life as a first-run theater, the Irving turned to adult fare in the 70s, and continued to screen adult features in 1997 before it closed. The former theater most recently used as a church, but had been vacant since 2005. In May 2007, the building was destroyed in a fire.

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Info Updates:
2/21/2008 - George Feisel
I moved to Brightmoor in 1941 with my parents and brothers and sisters. We lived on Lamphere in the second house from Hubert school. I am now in my 70's, but it seems like yesterday that we would walk those several blocks to the Irving to catch the Saturday matinee. Tickets cost ten cents with a two cent "luxury" tax added on. For this meager sum, one could see a double feature, a serial episode, an RKO Pathe News reel and an unbelievable number of previews of coming attractions. On our walk to the Irving we would stop at Smith's Grocery on Fenkell between Dacosta and Dolphin to buy candy. My oldest brother worked there before he entered the Navy during WWII. I also remember a small, six lane bowling alley near the Irving. Can't recall the name, but Twilight Lanes comes to mind.

Oh, the memories of days gone by.
1/13/2004 - Web
This neighborhood theater once sat over 1000, and opened in 1927. It was designed by the firm of Kohner & Payne, whose other Detroit movie houses included the Uptown and the John Eberson-inspired Ramona, both long gone. After a long life as a first-run theater, the Irving switched to adult fare in the 70s, and continued to screen adult features into the 90s before it closed. The former theater now serves as a church.
 Photos:9
Irving Theatre - From American Classic Images
From American Classic Images
Irving Theatre - From American Classic Images
From American Classic Images
Irving Theatre - Recent Pic From Ted Martin
Recent Pic From Ted Martin
Irving Theatre - Marquee
Marquee
Irving Theatre - Side Of Building
Side Of Building
Irving Theatre - From Ted Martin
From Ted Martin
Irving Theatre - From Ted Martin
From Ted Martin
Irving Theatre - The End From Ted Martin
The End From Ted Martin
Irving Theatre - From Ted Martin
From Ted Martin
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