  Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 587 Registered: 08-2007 |
It is a strange little building tucked into the side of the Fillmore/State theater and behind the Women's City Club. The building is on W. Elizabeth St., between Park and Woodward. http://tinyurl.com/yw669t go to StreetView for a pic of the building. It appears as though it was a house with a couple of brick additions on the street. I have no interest in the building, just curious as to its history. | ||
Rugbyman Member Username: Rugbyman Post Number: 208 Registered: 06-2005 |
I wondered that the other day- we staggered past it after Cliff Bell's during my bachelor party. I think it's probably the entrance to Hogwart's. | ||
Toolbox Member Username: Toolbox Post Number: 1122 Registered: 10-2003 |
Recording studio. (Message edited by toolbox on January 22, 2008) (Message edited by toolbox on January 22, 2008) | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 4726 Registered: 10-2003 |
quote: A "questionable part of town!" Ha. That kind of marketing might just work for rock bands, though. Although that is probably one of the least questionable parts of town. | ||
Asbury Member Username: Asbury Post Number: 15 Registered: 10-2007 |
bit confused. looks boarded up and closed in the picture. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 1812 Registered: 07-2004 |
Hey, it's the blue pigs van! | ||
Rugbyman Member Username: Rugbyman Post Number: 209 Registered: 06-2005 |
If you believe the door will open, it will. Sometimes it helps to get a running start. | ||
Rugbyman Member Username: Rugbyman Post Number: 210 Registered: 06-2005 |
^^^ That was the last Harry Potter reference. Promise. | ||
Dabirch Member Username: Dabirch Post Number: 2501 Registered: 06-2004 |
Wow Toolbox was here. How the hell are you? | ||
Sumotect Member Username: Sumotect Post Number: 283 Registered: 08-2004 |
I have always referred to that building as “The Green Hornet’s House”. I had heard that it was originally built by the producer of the radio program, who also produced shows at the surrounding theaters. It was kind of a late night crash pad. Like the house that the green hornet had with a garage door facing the street. You can still see the remnants of the opening for the garage door. The curb cut was eliminated by a sidewalk and curb replacement project from not too long ago. It is kind of a model for a housing type that you don’t see much around here. | ||
Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 588 Registered: 08-2007 |
I searched flickr "ghettorecorders" and there are a couple of pictures of the door on the left with some musicians hanging out. But no indication of what that "OmegaMan" looking castle thing might be. | ||
Andylinn Member Username: Andylinn Post Number: 683 Registered: 04-2006 |
if that is ghetto recorders, which I think it is, that's pretty awesome. it's a fairly legendary studio at this point... | ||
Bobj Member Username: Bobj Post Number: 3666 Registered: 11-2003 |
I wonder what it was originally or at least back when the CBD was a bit more vibrant?? | ||
Chitaku Member Username: Chitaku Post Number: 1795 Registered: 03-2006 |
it is ghetto recorders whom has had jon spencer, white stripes and such record in it | ||
Wilus1mj Member Username: Wilus1mj Post Number: 240 Registered: 05-2005 |
It could use some facade improvements.... | ||
Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 590 Registered: 08-2007 |
Found a reference that a WWI Distinguished Service Cross soldier lived at 60 Elizabeth ... lost the link but will try to find it again. I know Detroit re-configured its street numbering system in the late 1920s, but I don't know if the new numbering effected the east-west numbering. I know it effected north-south. (Message edited by gnome on January 22, 2008) | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 3629 Registered: 10-2003 |
Street address renumbering affected all addresses. It took effect 1/1/1921. From what I've heard, the front part of the building once housed a butcher shop and store. It's grafted onto a mid-19th-century house that is still extant in the rear. The theater was built around the buildings. | ||
Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 591 Registered: 08-2007 |
thanx fury ... wasn't sure about that. It is strange though, there are several mentions of a street called Elizabeth Street North in the old city directories ... you can see them in googlebooks ... One book from 1851 mentions a sunday school being built by Sam Larned on Elizabeth between Park and Woodward. Weird. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 2012 Registered: 12-2005 |
It was a poultry shop in the 20s | ||
Whithorn11446 Member Username: Whithorn11446 Post Number: 183 Registered: 03-2007 |
In 1928, 66 W. Elizabeth is listed as being vacant. 54-60 W. Elizabeth is listed as the Faltis Poultry market. (Message edited by Whithorn11446 on January 22, 2008) | ||
East_detroit Member Username: East_detroit Post Number: 1416 Registered: 11-2003 |
Wasn't that place also the City Club in the 1980s? I'm pretty sure we hung out those upstairs windows, gasping for fresh air. | ||
Pam Member Username: Pam Post Number: 3353 Registered: 11-2005 |
quote: No, that was this place: http://www.detroit1701.org/Wom en%27s%20City%20Club.html | ||
Valkyrias Member Username: Valkyrias Post Number: 501 Registered: 02-2005 |
pam, i believe east_detroit was talking about the goth club, city club...which is located in the leland hotel ballroom, and as far as i know, has always been in that location. | ||
Ddaydave Member Username: Ddaydave Post Number: 516 Registered: 04-2005 |
that building was discussed on this forum about a year ago . last time I ate at the park bar I asked the owner about it he said the owner of the state theater also owned that building . I look at that building every time I walk by it I would kill to own it it lust looks like the kind of building you could fix up and make a one of kind place to live in in what I see as an great location . the only drawbacks would be parking and the bums right in that area | ||
Pam Member Username: Pam Post Number: 3354 Registered: 11-2005 |
quote: Ok, the one I posted had bands playing there in the 80s also. | ||
Waz Member Username: Waz Post Number: 247 Registered: 11-2006 |
The original Clutch Cargo's was housed in the Women's City Club building back in the late 70's/early 80's | ||
East_detroit Member Username: East_detroit Post Number: 1417 Registered: 11-2003 |
Actually, no, I meant the City Club. It was Clutch Cargo's, then the City Club... and then the Leland City Club came after.... after the cops moved in. Here's proof...  | ||
East_detroit Member Username: East_detroit Post Number: 1418 Registered: 11-2003 |
I can't remember the name of the owner. He was also manager of Figures on a Beach later. He was a nice guy and talked to me when we were in line for DK's tickets in '81... after all the non-nice "punks" made fun of my 64 Chevy (and later probably ran for their Mommy's station wagon to get back North of 8 Mile). Later, Jerry Vile said the guy had a reputation for being nice to all the guys... Hmmm, can't remember his name. | ||
Rugbyman Member Username: Rugbyman Post Number: 212 Registered: 06-2005 |
I think my friend Tom Zito, a/k/a DJ Tom, managed the City Club at some point. He also spun/worked at Industry during the 90s. | ||
Valkyrias Member Username: Valkyrias Post Number: 502 Registered: 02-2005 |
wow...my mistake, ya learn something new every day! i just knew city club existed in the 80s and i guess i assumed it was always at the leland hotel...i think because i know people who went to the leland location in the 80s. when did it move out of the women's city club location? (unless it's just an odd coincidence that two clubs in the city had the same name...?) | ||
Dan Member Username: Dan Post Number: 1490 Registered: 10-2003 |
The original Clutch Cargos was owned by Vince Bannon and Amir Daiza. The original CC was open for a very short time, but there was some serious music that went on there. A whose who of american punk rock. Rugbyman, I think you are right DJ Tom did manage City club for a while, he also managed Industry for a while. | ||
Pam Member Username: Pam Post Number: 3358 Registered: 11-2005 |
I think I still have some City Club flyers too, in a box in the closet. I remember John Brannon and Larissa, the king and queen of Detroit punk, lived in the building at one time. | ||
East_detroit Member Username: East_detroit Post Number: 1420 Registered: 11-2003 |
Who? | ||
Pam Member Username: Pam Post Number: 3360 Registered: 11-2005 |
quote: John of Negative Approach and Larissa from L-7. (later of the Laughing Hyenas.) | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 1373 Registered: 10-2003 |
leland city club has always been in the leland house. this hotel was built by henry leland (of cadillac and lincoln founding fame) at the corner of cass and bagley. i don't know much about the CC then city club history, but it is a different club than the city club that is in operation today. | ||
Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 592 Registered: 08-2007 |
So here is something I didn't know ... the Elwood Bar got its name because it originally sat at the corner of Elizabeth and Woodward. Little factoid. | ||
Toolbox Member Username: Toolbox Post Number: 1123 Registered: 10-2003 |
RSA The original Clutch Cargos became the City Club (both in the women's city club) and then moved to the Leland and became the Leland City Club. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 2013 Registered: 12-2005 |
Gnome--some of us remember all too well the Elwood at Woodward and Elizabeth. Before Chuck--when it was a funky dive bar. | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 1374 Registered: 10-2003 |
are you sure toolbox? i really don't think the two were ever associated. the leland city club was called "lidernacht" before it became leland city club. from leland city club's website: quote: i mean it would make sense that's where the name came from. however, i've just never heard of the two connected before. did higgins own the women's city club building and the club before chuck forbes owned it? | ||
Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 593 Registered: 08-2007 |
Packman- Maybe we met at the old Elwood. When I had hair, I used to stumble between the Tuller's Harp and 101 Lounge and the Elwood. The old Elwood was indeed a dive. In the vein of the Temple Bar, without the cross-dressing hookers. The kind of place that you'd never drink from a glass. It just never dawned on me that the reason it was named Elwood was because of its location. Maybe that was obvious to everyone except me, oh well. On the double naming thing: don't ya think Higgins just stole the name? | ||
Norwalk Member Username: Norwalk Post Number: 179 Registered: 11-2006 |
I remember the Elwood when we used to go in there after work when I worked for Splane Electric @ 439 E. Columbia. I remember they had a thick board on the floor of the mens room so that you had something to walk on so your feet wouldnt get wet. It was the neighborhood dive | ||
Waz Member Username: Waz Post Number: 249 Registered: 11-2006 |
Didja think it was named for Elwood Blues?  (Message edited by waz on January 23, 2008) | ||
Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 596 Registered: 08-2007 |
lol ... and a briefcase full of blues | ||
Hamtragedy Member Username: Hamtragedy Post Number: 58 Registered: 10-2007 |
Derrick May used to spin at Lidernacht on Wednesdays. He had a sign beneath the Dj booth said said "Derrick May, Scientist at Work." Then he worked his way up to weekends. I believe Sterling (silver) was running the place then. | ||
Krawlspace Member Username: Krawlspace Post Number: 345 Registered: 04-2004 |
The building was once a residence. There are remains of a fireplace, and I also found remains of Victorian era felt wallpaper with a very intricate design. At some point it was home to the Carter Electric Company, and is commonly referred to as simply the Carter. It is owned by Chuck Forbes, who also owns the State/Palms building. It has been used for storage for the Forbes properties for many years. Currently it has pieces of the WMCA and YWCA from the stadium site, as well as the letters that spelled out STATE on the marquee before it became the McFillmore. (Message edited by krawlspace on January 28, 2008) |
