Booth Theatre Detroit MI - WaterWinterWonderland.com

Info Updates:

1/4/2015 - Sharon M. Cox

I am doing research on the Detroit that I grew up in. I lived a block and a half from the theatre and I went there often (because my mom preferred to go to see movies instead of staying home and watching soap operas). While I don't mean any disrespect to the family, I am trying to confirm whether the closing of the theatre had anything to do with a murder? I have a vague memory of a story circulating back in '62 but I was just a kid. I tried contacting the the local newspapers' archives but they do not provide info on events that occurred during the 1950's-1960's. Does anyone have any info on the Booth Theatre's closing (before it became a boat store)? Thank you.

2/19/2013 - Gina Williams

According to the Detroit City Directory of 1927, the president of the Gladwin Park Theater was Julius D. London and Wm A London was sec-treas.

2/19/2013 - Gina Williams

I've read with interest about the Booth Theater and wonder where the original history of the theater was obtained from. My great-grandmother Anna Sperry was the organist at the theater and is listed as such in 1927 in the Detroit City Directory. The theater, known as Gladwin Park Theater, at that time, is also listed as a movie house in the directory. According to this site and other sites (which I believe have quoted this site), the theater was closed in 1924, reopened as the Aladdin for a time but then reopened in the 30's as the Booth. Again according to the Detroit City Directory of 1927, the theater was open and my great grandmother was playing their Marr & Colton Theater Organ.

2/14/2012 - Joe Scheufler

I was the ticket taker at the Booth from late 1942 until early 1944. I was going to Easter High School. Upon graduation I enlisted in the Air Force. In 1946 and started going to Wayne State University. I went back to the Booth as ticket taker in 1947 and that is when I took the pictures below. I have many fond memories of the Booth. I had the pleasure of seeing Mr London at least once a week when the manager, M. A. Tork had his day off. They were two really fine men and as a teenager I learned a great deal that helped me through life. As part of the same building there was the soda fountain shop. As TV drew more and more people away from the theater the soda shop went out of business. Mr London created a TV room out of the space with a connection to the back of the show. Then he made a space for selling candy that was accessible from both the lobby and back of the theater. All to no avail - TV won and the Booth had to close. I moved to California in 1951 where I exchanged Christmas cards with Mr and Mrs Tork for many years until Mrs Tork died. I lost touch with Mr Tork for several years until one Christmas about eight years ago I looked him up on the internet and gave him a call. He was living at the Whitter which had become a senior home. He was only two blocks from the Booth. He was all alone - he and Jo had no children and his brother, who was his only relative, had died. He was overjoyed with my call as was I. I sent him a basket of fruit, nuts, and baked goods and got a nice thankyou note from him. The next time I called he was gone. By the way one of Mr London's sons invented a box that automatically cut the tickets in half and stacked them in plastic tubes. This was a way to prevent criminal intent by ticket takers and cashiers in a joint venture. Sincerely, Joe Scheufler - Millbrae, California.

8/26/2010 - JerryD

I attended both the Booth and Midtown Theatres in the early 50"s, both theatres were very clean and well maintained, expecially for neighborhood 2nd run theatres. I"m sure the Booth was named after the Booth apartment building located across Jefferson Ave. a very upscale apartment building. If not maybe the apartments were named after the Theatre. I met Edmund's older brother Milton a couple of times in the late 60"s and early 70's. at that time he was Pressident of NATO, (National Ass. Michigan Theatres), he was awell like and respected gentelman. JerryD

8/7/2010 - edmund London

The owner of the Booth Theater until his death in 1952 was my father, Julius D. London. His eldest son, Milton London, continued operation of the theater.

1/28/2004 - WaterWinterWonderland

Originally the named the Gladwin Park, the theatre changed hands a few times over the years until closing for good in 1962.

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Booth Theatre - Detroit MI