Sunday 4 December 2011

The Redford Theatre


On Friday night we went to the Redford Threatre to see the 1947 version of Miracle on 34th Street. Detroit's Redford Theatre originally opened in 1927 as a neighborhood cinema and now remains as Detroit's only theatre with its orginal pipe organ. Along with the organ, the three storey theater is fully decorated in an ornate Japanese style, although during WWII this was removed. The national downward trend of declining cinema goers which hit during the mid 1960s and 1970s led to many of Redford's contemporaries being demolished, yet the Redford somehow managed to survive. Today the theatre is a haven to those of us who adore old films with their biweekly showings of films from the 1930s to the 1960s. 

I was expecting the theatre to be half full if that - I was wildly surprised when it was at least three quarters full [Redford has 1,571 seats] but it was good to see that many people of all ages were interested in watching such an old film on a Friday night. The night started off with a half hour slot of live organ music - mostly film scores [Sound of Music, Hello Dolly] and the odd Christmas song, even the American national anthem. Yet to be able to see an original black and white film as it was intended to be seen was incredible, and for $4 (about £2.50) you really can't go wrong and to have a couple of hours without having to think, slot out or plan wedding things was very much welcome. Saying that it's four sleeps till the big day! 

13 comments:

  1. I love that film! Old movies are the best :)
    www.celestecohen.blogspot.com xo

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  2. Yeah it is such a good film, haven't seen it for a while so I really enjoyed it.

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  3. Love this film, Maureen O'hara is gorgeuos and Edmund Gwenn my perfect Santa

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  4. like your blog!what about follow each other?kisses!!!

    Cailin.

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  5. He does make the best Santa doesn't he?!

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  6. Wow it looks amazing! The tree is beautiful. Such a classic film too xx

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  7. Hi Rachael, I popped over from Pinterest, and see you too live in Michigan. I live in a little town called Fort Gratiot, just north of Port Huron, which is an hour north of Detroit. I'll have to pop over to Redford for the movies!

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  8. Laurie - it really is worth a visit if you can get over there x

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  9. Oh, oh, oh! I wish we had something like that here. It's wonderful!

    x Jasmine

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  10. i loveee that film.. i don't think i can get through the holidays without atleast watching bits and pieces of it while trimming the tree haha.. that theatre is GORGEOUS!

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  11. So perfect for the christmas season! x

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  12. :) What a beautiful theatre! That organ is so pretty!
    ♥ laura
    the blog of worldly delights

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  13. Ah it really was so so good, the whole atmosphere was nothing you could ever match in a contemporary movie theatre.

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