Theater, Detroit, since 1928
United Artists Theatre
Under renovation
- Opened
- 1928
- Style
- Spanish Gothic
- Standing
- 98 years
Designed by C. Howard Crane
The United Artists Theatre has stood on Bagley St. in Detroit since 1928, 98 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.
What is there now
Under renovation
We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 25, 2026.
The story
The United Artists Theatre opened in 1928, during the boom years when the auto industry turned Detroit into one of the fastest growing cities in America.
The design came from C. Howard Crane, in the Spanish Gothic style.
Crews are bringing it back, and Detroit is watching.
Go see it at 150 Bagley St. Photos never get the scale right.
Timeline
- 1928 Built Designed by C. Howard Crane
- 1975 Closed
- 2026 Today Under renovation
Where it is
150 Bagley St.
On this map
- 1 United Artists Theatre This place
- 2 Fairfax Hotel 190 ft
- 3 Tuller Hotel 200 ft
- 4 John J. Bagley House 240 ft
- 5 Church of Our Father 300 ft
- 6 Young Woman's Home 320 ft
- 7 Statler Hotel 340 ft
- 8 Park Avenue Building 410 ft
- 9 Kales Building 450 ft
Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors
Who made it
Architect
C. Howard CraneAmerican architect, 1885 to 1952. Designed the Fox Theater Building (1928) and 30 more in Metro Detroit
Also by C. Howard Crane
- Liberty Theatre 1871
- Adams Theatre and Fine Arts Building 1905
- Comique Theatre 1905
- Ralph E. Burnham House 1908
- Columbia Theatre 1911
- H. Cleland Allison House 1912
More from Detroit in the 1920s
-
Cooley High School
School, built 1928, Mediterranean Revival, by Donaldson & Meier, demolished 2026
Photo: Chuckjav, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Ambassador Bridge
Structure, built 1929, by Jonathan Jones
Photo: Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Broderick Tower
Structure, built 1927, Beaux Arts, by Louis Kamper
Photo: St8fan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Cadillac Tower
Structure, built 1927, Late Gothic Revival, by Bonnah & Chaffee
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Belcrest Apartments
Building, built 1926, Neo-Romanesque, by Charles N. Agree
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Brodhead Naval Armory
Building, built 1930, Art Deco/Art Moderne, by Stratton & Hyde
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Around the block
- Fairfax Hotel Hotel, built 1888, by Van Leyen & Preston, demolished 1925 190 ft
-
![Tuller Hotel, [Hotel Tuller and Hotel Charlevoix, Detroit, Mich.]](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/landmark-4860-2431-thumb-6a2e9a3db5.jpg)
Tuller Hotel
Hotel, built 1906, Italian Renaissance, by William H. Adams, demolished 1991
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
200 ft
- John J. Bagley House Built 1868, Italianate, in Downtown homes 240 ft
- Church of Our Father House of worship, built 1881, Romanesque, by Charles H. Marsh, demolished 1913 300 ft
- Young Woman's Home Built 1888 320 ft
-
Statler Hotel
Hotel, built 1915, Renaissance Revival, by George B. Post, demolished 2005
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
340 ft
- Park Avenue Building Building, built 1923, by Albert Kahn 410 ft
- Kales Building Building, built 1914, Chicago School, by Albert Kahn 450 ft
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.