  Detroitsky Member Username: Detroitsky Post Number: 1 Registered: 06-2007 |
Hello all, first post. I was wondering if anyone had any information, pictures or anything else of the United Shirt company. Thanks. | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1888 Registered: 11-2003 |
Welcome to the Forum, sky. Old duffs like me ( and jjaba, and Ray36 )don't always recall our last names, but still have a recollection of "that which was" in this old town. United Shirt used to have a retail store in the building where the Lafayette Coney Isle is located. 3 button-down dress shirts for $10. What a bargain. I thought they were actually called United Shirt Distributors. | ||
Oldredfordette Member Username: Oldredfordette Post Number: 2447 Registered: 02-2004 |
There was a United Shirt at the 7 Grand Shopping Center too, I think. | ||
Karl_jr Member Username: Karl_jr Post Number: 61 Registered: 06-2007 |
Also right across the street from the white castle at michigan and 12th | ||
Offical_birdbath Member Username: Offical_birdbath Post Number: 10 Registered: 06-2007 |
United Shirt was in the Livonia Mall in the 60's and 70's. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1866 Registered: 04-2005 |
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Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 1979 Registered: 10-2003 |
So, the upper two stories were removed from the building? Was there a fire that made that necessary? | ||
Rickinatlanta Member Username: Rickinatlanta Post Number: 96 Registered: 07-2006 |
Actually, as can be seen in the picture, United Shirt was at the tip of the building with American Coney and Lafayette Coney behind it. In 1989, American purchased the space formerly occupied by United when they "went under" and expanded into what we have today. | ||
Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm Post Number: 900 Registered: 10-2003 |
Seems I remember one in downtown Royal Oak on Washington. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1867 Registered: 04-2005 |
 Grand River and McNichols | ||
Dodgemain Member Username: Dodgemain Post Number: 174 Registered: 04-2005 |
Harper and Van Dyke also. | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1891 Registered: 11-2003 |
Hornwrecker--Grand River and McNichols? You sure? I thought it was Livernois and McNichols, kitty corner to dear old U of D. Varsity theatre was a former favorite of mine back in Jesu Parish days. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1868 Registered: 04-2005 |
Sorry for the error, Rock. I was going by what was on WSU's site, and didnt' bother fact checking it. You are correct, address listed as 1721 Livernois, at: http://www.waterwinterwonderla nd.com/location.asp?id=789&typ e=5 (Still can't find my spreadsheet with all of the threatres listed, since moving files to my new computer last week.) | ||
65memories Member Username: 65memories Post Number: 435 Registered: 10-2003 |
I used to buy ties there for a buck apiece. | ||
Waz Member Username: Waz Post Number: 155 Registered: 11-2006 |
I remember 'em at Oakland Mall, too. I can't recall if I ever bought anything from them or not. | ||
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner Post Number: 1349 Registered: 04-2006 |
I remember them at Fairlane, Northland, Wonderland, Sears/Dix, Grand River Greenfield. They were all over. The store at Michigan and Rosa Parks was an outlet store. | ||
Ja1mz Member Username: Ja1mz Post Number: 57 Registered: 02-2007 |
They had a big store at Eastland until '90 or so I think.. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1869 Registered: 04-2005 |
 Another Downtown USD, near the State/Palms/State/Filmore Theatre on Woodward. Again, a Cunningham's is nearby; I'm sensing a trend here, of course almost everything was once located near a Cunningham's, at one time. (I forgot to add that all photos are from the WSU/VMC.) | ||
Parkguy Member Username: Parkguy Post Number: 89 Registered: 04-2007 |
United Shirt was also in some malls up until the '70s. There was one at Westland Mall. And, you could count on every shopping area having a Cunningham's and a Sander's, and very likely a Winkelman's, too. | ||
Detroitsky Member Username: Detroitsky Post Number: 2 Registered: 06-2007 |
In that last pic, is United Shirt in the second floor too or is that just advertising? | ||
D2dyeah Member Username: D2dyeah Post Number: 64 Registered: 09-2005 |
The company that owned United Shirt, didn't they also own the Richman's stores and the Fay's dress shops? | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3420 Registered: 10-2003 |
United Shirt Distributors circa 1940... Henry Hyman, pres R Leo Watson, v-pres Wm Sharpe, treas office: 115 State (5th & 6th floors) branches: 33 Campus Martius 13612 Fenkell 5870 W Fort 7316, 8988 & 10761 Grand River 9, 9625 &13557 Gratiot 8017 & 14357 Harper 13124 E Jefferson 15348 & 17105 Livernois 14339 Mack 10, 101, 560 & 5421 Michigan 89 Monroe 7731 E Seven Mile 7905 W Vernor 16434 E Warren 2209, 6558 & 14135 Woodward | ||
Johnberk Member Username: Johnberk Post Number: 67 Registered: 11-2003 |
My Mother-In-Law worked for United Shirt for 13-1/2 years, and she tells me that Burt Hyman was either the son or grandson of Henry. He was the snake that sold USD to Fines Mensware out of Norfolk, VA. They in turn bought the name and rights till 92 then turned around and dumped the stores with no warning. The last time she saw Burt was at Laurel Park Mall where he was working at Jacobsons. Jeans Galore was a small spin off of USD catering to the younger crowd. The USD on Michigan Ave across from Tiger stadium was the outlet with the offices upstairs and the warehouse in the back. | ||
Leob Member Username: Leob Post Number: 98 Registered: 10-2005 |
Wow the Varsity !! Rock - that was on Livernois proper, right ? The Architecture sure looks like Charles Agree who did all the deco Cunninghams as well as the Vanity and Grande Ballrooms. Do you, by chance remember the Campus Ballroom around the corner ? | ||
Kaptansolo Member Username: Kaptansolo Post Number: 110 Registered: 07-2007 |
I have a question I remember the stylish street lamps seen in the pictures in this thread. You could tell what street you were on if you paid attention to the lamps (not all obviously, but quite a few). Like the one that lined Outer Dr and Can Dyke had unique ones as well. Woodward with the "double" lamp that was nothing more than the lamps that lined Grand River just with two heads. I was just wondering if anybody knew where they were made? I have looked this info up many times over the past 7 years and I have come up with absolutely nothing. Maybe I am looking in the wrong places? | ||
Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm Post Number: 905 Registered: 10-2003 |
Leob.... .....according to www.cinematour.com the architect of The Varsity was Hector Payne, and the address was 1721 Livernois. Alas, I viewed it from afar, or at least across the street, waiting in line at The Chessmate..... Didn't John Sinclair attempt to buy it for use by Trans-Love as a music venue? | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1873 Registered: 04-2005 |
Here's the United Shirt on Campus Martius, from the list that Mikem provided. It's just to the right of Sam's, which was the old Detroit Opera house in a prior life. I think the other merchants are Parish Shoes (?) and Adam's Hats.  wsu/vmc | ||
Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm Post Number: 911 Registered: 10-2003 |
I said I thought there was a United Shirt in Royal Oak? It was a Fintex store. That's what I get for thinking.... | ||
Spacemonkey Member Username: Spacemonkey Post Number: 214 Registered: 03-2006 |
You might try tshirtwebsites.com | ||
Bob_cosgrove Member Username: Bob_cosgrove Post Number: 564 Registered: 03-2005 |
Rock, do you and all the other old-timers remember the night the "R" on the United Shirt sign went out and they had to turn it off? Bob Cosgrove That's a 1950's Detroiot joke | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1900 Registered: 11-2003 |
No, Bob, I guess that I have not heard that one, but I do recall when the E and the s went out on the Essex House sign overlooking Central Park in NYC. That made the front page of the NY Times , and Readers's Digest. | ||
Lmr Member Username: Lmr Post Number: 89 Registered: 03-2007 |
Wow, Sam's Cut Rate. Everything that could possibly be fitted into one display window and then some! I have a June, 1959 Detroit News here with coupons for Sam's in it. | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1901 Registered: 11-2003 |
As I recall, Sam's Cut Rate had both the store that occupied the old opera house, but another, larger store near the Water Building. They sold shirts and shirts and shirts--piled up all over the place. Were there even other locations? | ||
Lmr Member Username: Lmr Post Number: 91 Registered: 03-2007 |
From the Sam's ad in the Detroit Times (I have a Detroit News also but the Sam's ad is in the Times, to correct my earlier post) on Monday, June 8th 1959 the locations of Sam's are: Woodward at Campus Schaefer at Michigan Randolph at Monroe E. Warren at Connor The only two I recall going into were #1 and #3 on that list. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 5112 Registered: 08-2004 |
Although borderline politically incorrect... Bob_Cosgrove and The_rock, I remember one night driving out Northwestern Hwy to Telegraph and seeing the BENNIGINS restaurant sign, where "BEN" went out!! | ||
Gary Member Username: Gary Post Number: 230 Registered: 02-2004 |
I remember the United Shirt store at Northland as well as the Michigan Ave. location downtown. Leo...the Campus Ballroom was a mile south of the Varsity theatre on Fenkell and Livernois. Hornwrecker...Thanks for that shot of the Varsity and the McNichols/Livernois intersection. My family moved into that neighborhood in '59 and I have a lot of good memories of the Varsity. There is a McDonald's on that corner now. | ||
Ookpik Member Username: Ookpik Post Number: 316 Registered: 01-2007 |
quote:  Not a Detroit thing, but this "slightly" altered photo, taken from Central Park in NYC, shows what Rock was talking about. I also have it on good authority that this is the girl that Jjaba took to Bennett Park. You know - the one that he kissed on the strikes...... Ookpik | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1904 Registered: 11-2003 |
LOL!!! Knowing jjaba as I do, if he took her to Bennett Park, she paid her own way. Essex House was a fine hotel. I saw Cassius Clay there in the lobby. He was in town to testify in a criminal (murder)case regarding a boxer named Rubin "Hurricane" Carter. That's a story unto itself. |
