Comique Theatre (a/k/a Theatre Comique) began its life when construction started on August 10, 1905. as the Crystal Theater. Amazingly, construction was swift and the theater opened a little over a month later on September 18.

The Crystal was not a film theater, but a vaudeville house with a variety of live acts with four shows per day.....and talk about eclectic! What performances they must have been!

For an admission of ten cents (twenty cents for loges), on that opening night the crowds were treated to Miss Maude Rockwell: "America's greatest prima donna soprano", the Schank family acrobats, Kippy the tramp juggler, the Two Sharplies, the illustrated songs of Oliver Wilber, the Kinodrome of moving pictures and comedians Hibbert and Warren.

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That opening day saw all 1,000 seats filled: 500 on the ground floor and another 500 in the balcony.

What Other Acts Performed at the Comique Theatre?

With the opening day success, more unique entertainers were brought in: The Juggling Jordans, comedians Howley & Emeron, marksmen Coleman & Mexis ("the shooting wonders") who shot the ashes off a cigar held between the teeth of some sap they coaxed into, Master Slater Boy Tenor, Jack Brown and Lillian Wright (the "dancing wonders") "the mystery known as Zutka" (a robotic fortune teller) and William Ver Valin & Company: "the ventriloquist wonder and the mechanical woman” - whatever the heck that was.

With success comes imitators and competition. By 1907 the Crystal was almost begging for performers, thanks to competing theaters like the Avenue, Gayety, Lyceum, Princess, Temple, and Whitney.  On May 28, 1907, the Crystal claimed bankruptcy.

According to Historic Detroit, “On Oct. 26, 1907, articles of association were filed with the county clerk to reorganize the Crystal as the Theatre Comique.” The first show - when it re-opened as the Comique on February 17, 1908 - featured comedian Bert Shepherd (assisted by Miss Angmon and their trained football dogs) and Professor Manson, "the Australian giant, who breaks a stone with his bare fist and allows a 200-pound stone to be broken on his chest with a sledge hammer." As the years rolled into the 1920s, movies began being presented at the Comique.

Why Did the Comique Theatre Close?

A few years later, on September 16, 1925, a roll of film caught fire in the projection room. As soon as someone yelled ‘FIRE!” a few women were trampled by the mad rush for escape, some fainted, and the projectionist was found injured and passed out in the projection room after he attempted to save the film.

If that wasn’t enough, on October 4, 1926, part of a brick & wood cornice fell, hitting and injuring six people.

By May 16, 1928, the theater started to be utilized as a storefront. With no more entertainment, the theater became retail space. The theater was bought by Crowley’s and became a department store.

Crowley’s carried on until it closed in 1977. That historical building was turned into a parking garage then demolished in 2023-2024 (scroll down for photos).

Comique Theatre, Detroit

MORE STUFF:

The Defunct Grand Riviera Theatre, Detroit, 1925-1952

Memories of the Fox Theatre, Detroit

Purple Rose Theatre

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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