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Theater, Midtown, since 1915

Majestic Theatre

Still standing, photographed 2018

[Majestic Theatre, Detroit, Mich.] Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
Opened
1915
Style
Art Deco
Standing
111 years

Designed by Bennett & Straight and C. Howard Crane

The Majestic Theatre has stood on Woodward Ave. in Midtown since 1915, 111 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.

On the map

More photos of Majestic Theatre

The Majestic Theater in Detroit, Michigan (United States), 2018 Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Majestic Theater, Detroit MI Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Truscon agate product used at Majestic Theatre in Detroit, 1917 Photo: Truscon, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

What is there now

Standing and open

We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 25, 2026. Nothing new at this address in the last two years.

The story

By Victoria Jackson, Editor in Chief Updated

The Majestic Theatre opened in 1915, in the years Detroit became the Motor City and built like it meant to stay on top.

The design came from C. Howard Crane and Bennett & Straight, working in Art Deco.

It is still open, and still part of daily life in the city.

Next time you are nearby, stop at 4140 Woodward Ave and look up.

Timeline

  1. 1915 Built Designed by Bennett & Straight and C. Howard Crane
  2. 2026 Today 111 years and still standing

Where it is

4140 Woodward Ave.

On this map

  1. Majestic Theatre This place
  2. Majestic Theater Next door
  3. Garden Bowl 120 ft
  4. Helen Newberry Nurses Home 460 ft
  5. Milaflores Apartments 470 ft
  6. Newberry Hall Apartments 480 ft
  7. Detroit Edison Company Willis Avenue Station 480 ft
  8. Billinghurst Apartments 510 ft
  9. Graybar Electric Company Building 0.1 mi

Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors

Who made it

Architect

Bennett & Straight

Architecture firm. Designed the Majestic Theatre (1915) and Alexander Blain Hospital

Also by Bennett & Straight

C. Howard Crane
Photo: public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Architect

C. Howard Crane

American architect, 1885 to 1952. Designed the Fox Theater Building (1928) and 30 more in Metro Detroit

Also by C. Howard Crane

More from Detroit in the 1910s

Around the block

It is in Midtown. See the neighborhood's homes, pros and story.

Photo credits

Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.

  1. [Majestic Theatre, Detroit, Mich.] Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
  2. The Majestic Theater in Detroit, Michigan (United States), 2018 Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  3. Majestic Theater, Detroit MI Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  4. Truscon agate product used at Majestic Theatre in Detroit, 1917 Photo: Truscon, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Sources

Facts only, gathered from these sources. The story above is written by Rebuild Detroit. Every photo names its author and license where it appears.