A neat shot of C. Howard Crane’s Walkerville Theatre, on Wyandotte Street East, between Gladstone & Lincoln. The theatre opened in 1920, and this photo, based on the film noted on the marquee, was also taken in 1920. When built the theatre straddled the town line, with half the building in Windsor and the other half in Walkerville. The theatre was also known as the Tivoli Theatre, before closing to films, and becoming a bingo hall. Over the last few years, ideas have come and go, but sadly nothing has lasted in this old beauty. Recently a deal for the purchase of this old cinema fell through, and the theatre is back on the market.
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i was just looking at this today while stuck in traffic. what a shame it looks the way it does on the outside. the interior has been restored to some degree hasn't it?
thanks Andrew!
Yes a lot ofmoney has been spent on the interior. But the outside of it is still in relatively good shape. Yes the marquee is in a bit of a mess and the demi-lune window is bricked in but a little work could go a long way.
The problem is what to do with such a large building?
beautiful! that half window looks gorgeous. how great would it be to have a functioning theatre again in old walkerville? maybe even something like the burton theatre in detroit. film screenings, community theatre. if only.
Section it off into apartments for welfare recipients. Restoring this building to its former glory is a pipe dream.
I remember going to this theatre in 1961 to see the movie Gorgo. The main thing I remember about the experience is that I spent my bus money on popcorn and had to call my dad to come and get me. He wasn't happy.
Us Walkerville kids always sat in the Walkerville side of the theatre. Two movies and games and stuff during intermission for 25 cents.
$325,000 and she's yours!
The exterior definitely needs a bit of work:
I would absolutely love to see this become a community theatre... like the Burton. Hey- isn't the WSO looking for a place to perform?
WSO probably would find a hundred and one things wrong, because they did not think of it, or it is not Downtown,no parking no million dollars spent, that the city dose not have.
The city is spending the money on roads and sewers,not the Arts.
I'm not sure why they wouldn't want it other than no parking for 1200 people (thats how many it can seat). I would love to see them at the Capitol but that is too small at 800 so perhaps this one is too small at 1200.
Community theatres are great but they must be subsized as none of them make money on their own. Not to mention this region is horrible for supporting and funding the arts anyway (hmmm....quality of life issue folks?)