  Ookpik Member Username: Ookpik Post Number: 314 Registered: 01-2007 |
 Besides the Fox, what are we looking at and where was the photographer standing? For a larger version of the photo, please click here. Ookpik | ||
Waxx Member Username: Waxx Post Number: 244 Registered: 09-2006 |
If I'm not mistaken, that's the Gem Theater behind the Fox, and where the word 'copy' is in smaller print, I believe that's the State (now Fillmore). | ||
Danny Member Username: Danny Post Number: 6348 Registered: 02-2004 |
It's ILLITCHVILLE before Mike Illitch takes over. | ||
Toolbox Member Username: Toolbox Post Number: 1097 Registered: 10-2003 |
That is the Fox office building and theater in the background and the State Theater, what is now the small recording studio and the Womens City Club in the foreground. The Gem was across Woodward on Elizabeth. | ||
Yelloweyes Member Username: Yelloweyes Post Number: 172 Registered: 02-2007 |
The photographer could be standing In/on top of the Michigan Building or Fyfe. | ||
Rfban Member Username: Rfban Post Number: 153 Registered: 02-2004 |
Fyfe? Come on. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 1632 Registered: 12-2005 |
The photographer was most likely standing on top of the Michigan Mutual building. | ||
Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell Post Number: 4075 Registered: 10-2003 |
Is that stairway [fire escape?] on the side of the Fox still there? When I looked at it in the little picture, I thought it was an old style Greyhound bus where the back passenger section was elevated. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 1633 Registered: 12-2005 |
Lowell--yes, it is still there, sans sheet metal roof--that is the fire escape for the balcony portions of the theatre. | ||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 2431 Registered: 10-2003 |
So then is that the Donovan/Motown building in the left rear? And in the right rear the old Mount Carmel Hall? (Somebody help me out here with that name!!) | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 1635 Registered: 12-2005 |
From left to right: the Donovan/Mowtown bldg. (west side of Woodward), The Savoy hotel (had many names, ended up as Mount Carmel Hall, then Dy-No-Mited) just a small peek at St. John's Episcopal, a commercial building that has been gone for a long time(all east side of Woodward) The Fox theatre and "Fox daylight building" in the left 3/4 of the picture, the State theatre stagehouse and auditorium in the lower right. The buildings in the lower left were buildings that fronted on Columbia, and are well back of the building that today is a recording studio. (Message edited by 56packman on August 15, 2007) | ||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 2432 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks, 56packman, for the clarification!!! | ||
Swingline Member Username: Swingline Post Number: 879 Registered: 11-2003 |
A very interesting early 1960's photograph that was taken pre-Fisher Freeway. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 5506 Registered: 11-2003 |
56packman nailed the hell out of it. Good work. jjaba, Old timey Michigan Mutual customer. | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1903 Registered: 11-2003 |
Welcome back, jjaba. the rock- Old timey Michigan Mutual employee. | ||
Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 3 Registered: 08-2007 |
I think the photographer was standing on the roof of the Tuller Hotel. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 1637 Registered: 12-2005 |
no-ahh-ahh, The Michigan Mutual building would be in the way http://maps.google.com/maps?f= q&hl=en&geocode=&q=2211+woodwa rd+detroit+mi&sll=37.0625,-95. 677068&sspn=31.426353,59.23828 1&ie=UTF8&ll=42.336976,-83.051 813&spn=0.003577,0.007231&t=k& z=17&om=1 I say Michigan Mutual or Kales (Message edited by 56packman on August 16, 2007) | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 5507 Registered: 11-2003 |
Thanks Rock. Maybe you took that photo back when. I know you took your smoke breaks up on that roof. What was The Rock's job at Michigan Mutual? jjaba, Westsider. | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1906 Registered: 11-2003 |
Outside claim adjuster in the workers' compensation department,9-5 during the day, U of D law night school from 6-9. Made for a long day, and never had time to get up to the roof. Best part of the job was driving a company Chevy Impala, MM paid for all the gas, insurance and maintenance and we had personal use and unlimited personal miles all for $20 a month. Couldn't beat that deal. But those silicosis cases filed by retired Hudson Motor Car workers kept me pretty busy. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 5508 Registered: 11-2003 |
Rock, did you pay off to the workers who got sick at Hudsons Motors? Sounds like a bad sentence for just bolting some cars so jjaba could drive his Hornet. Chevy Impala is still a good car. Too bad nobody drives them except police and cabbies. jjaba is happy to report that The Rock owns a Chevy. jjaba. | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1908 Registered: 11-2003 |
The claimants were mostly Yugoslavians refugees who at one time worked for an outfit in Detroit called City Pattern Co, and then worked for Hudson Motor Car ,and then retired. Two Detroit law firms, with strong Union connections, got ahold of the retirement lists, contacted the retirees, and the claims were then filed.(Talk about solicitation!) Both CP and Hudson were "defendants" in the comp tribunal. Most of the cases were settled rather cheaply. Pronouncing the names of the claimants was the toughest part of the litigation. Speaking of litigation, jjaba, I suggest you check out "This Day in 1812" on the Discuss Detroit Forum, and give me a call. We can file your suit either in Wayne Circuit or Federal Court--usual fees. I'll pop for the filing fee. | ||
Oldestuff Member Username: Oldestuff Post Number: 36 Registered: 01-2007 |
heh Rock, any of these names familiar...Larry Cripps Vic Lacca, Jim Fitzgerald, Henry Brokora, Cathy Crawford, Don Smith, Brian Francis, Lou kennedy????? | ||
Davetroit Member Username: Davetroit Post Number: 14 Registered: 03-2007 |
I think it's safe to say that the photographer was in the Kales building, on the 12th floor:  This is the view from my apartment. Cool to have this old picture to compare as I stare out the window from my desk and daydream about Detroit back in the day... Good pick for the pic of the day Ookpik! | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 1903 Registered: 10-2003 |
Wow Dave! You must be in exactly the same spot. That's really really cool. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 1904 Registered: 10-2003 |
BTW looks like scrappers got the casing around the machinery on top of that building in the lower right, LOL. | ||
Ookpik Member Username: Ookpik Post Number: 321 Registered: 01-2007 |
Davetroit - Awesome pic! Thanks!  Then:  Now:  Ookpik | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 5509 Registered: 11-2003 |
Amazing work. Thanks Davetroit #14. Welcome to Forum. Yes, sounds like a scam to jjaba, Rock. So Rock defended the company and gave the workers bupkas, maybe enough to drive Up North for a weekend, eh. Sounds like Hudson self-destructed anyways although The Rock drove off in a new Hornet. jjaba. | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1911 Registered: 11-2003 |
Oldestuff--Henry Brokora was my boss in the W.C. department. He offered me a job as a supervisor on the desk rather than continuing as an adjuster on the outside, but I would have had to give up my company car. I only got a $300 a year increase, and the car allowance alone was worth 7 times that, so I said "no thanks", and remained an outside adjuster til I passed the bar and left. Under him was Ray Batson, a legend in the MM archives. Cathy Crawford rings a bell. John Imesch was the manager over all liability units. I see him occasionally in GP. A few of the guys I worked with became worker comp referees. MM was a real training ground and the largest worker comp carrier in the state. At one time they owned Doctors Hospital(then called Michigan Mutual Hospital) and which used to be at E. Jefferson and Joe Campau, just to treat comp. injuries. | ||
Oldestuff Member Username: Oldestuff Post Number: 38 Registered: 01-2007 |
the_rock: Yeah, I used to work there too. John Imesch suffered from the salvage scandal and Jim Fitzgerald replaced him for awhile before being sent to the Warren Office. I really thought MM would go on forever because of it's history, but,nothing ever stays the same. I left right after they became Amerisure because nothing seemed "sure" at that time. Now they're in the "pickle" building in Farmington. Cathy was my boss for awhile and they she got promoted to Regional WC Mgr and then suddenly she was ousted. CJ Pentis was another of the biggies. Never could spell his last name right. | ||
Dan Member Username: Dan Post Number: 1428 Registered: 10-2003 |
That is terrific! Nice work Dave. | ||
Vetalalumni Member Username: Vetalalumni Post Number: 566 Registered: 05-2007 |
The before and after is remarkable. More please! |
