  Gsgeorge Member Username: Gsgeorge Post Number: 701 Registered: 08-2006 |
Does anyone know about the history of the Howrani Studios building on E. Grand Boulevard between Oakland and Melrose? The address is 2820 E Grand Blvd. It is my understanding that Jam Handy, the educational and industrial film production company run by mad genious Jamison "Jam" Handy from the 1940s to 1960s, housed his film studio in the building. Any historic photographs, information on when it was built, possibly even the architect? Or can anyone provide some fun information on Jam Handy itself? I am sure the company has a rich and colorful history. Mikeg, Ray1936, I'm talking to you guys. For those who don't know, Howrani Studios is the home base of Detroit photographers Ameen and son Ara Howrani, www.howranistudios.com and www.ameenhowrani.com . Ameen is noted for his vibrant portraits of Detroit-area characters, residents, and celebrities. (Message edited by gsgeorge on February 10, 2009) | ||
Gsgeorge Member Username: Gsgeorge Post Number: 702 Registered: 08-2006 |
Google streetview: http://tinyurl.com/cfgc7m | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 6627 Registered: 11-2004 |
If I recall properly Ameen Howrani's no longer doing photography any more. Someone told me that due to failing health, he's stepped away from the camera a few years back. It's unconfirmed so don't take it to be the word of God here. | ||
Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 2337 Registered: 08-2007 |
Jam was a great guy. Never owned a desk becuase he thought that it made one lazy. Got up every morning and swam 50 laps in the DAC pool. 2-time Olympian, both times with bronz medals, once in 1904 and again in 1924. He died in 1980 or '81 after his morning swim. He was 90 something years old. Introduced the Australian Crawl to swimming. Kicked out of UofM for drawing a cartoon lapooning a Professor. There are a ton of jam handy films around including interviews with the guy. His films are sometimes viewed as being cornball, and maybe they were, but if you ever watched one there was no mistaking the point of the film. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J am_Handy_Organization http://watches.ryanrooney.com/ hamilton/jam-handy-organizatio n.html Want to know how to fly a P-47? Here you go: http://watches.ryanrooney.com/ hamilton/how-to-fly-the-p-47.h tml Youtube is filled with jam handy films. Some of them are labeled Chevy or GM. Here is one about WJR, about Detroit, pre riots. http://www.archive.org/details /WjrOneOfAKin | ||
Gsgeorge Member Username: Gsgeorge Post Number: 704 Registered: 08-2006 |
Smogboy, you are correct, Ameen is staying at home with his wife now and has retired from photography. However, his son Ara has picked up where he left off and is continuing to create compelling work for corporate and private clients, and his daughter Ana is also helping to run the business. Things haven't slowed down at the studio, and they are carrying on the tradition. | ||
Eastsideal Member Username: Eastsideal Post Number: 295 Registered: 10-2007 |
Love that WJR video. Very nostalgic for me, both in its contents and in that '50s-'60s Jam Handy promotional style. It seemed like my parents listened to WJR all day every day. And I'll never forget all those Jam Handy Productions we were subjected to in the good ol' Detroit Public Schools. | ||
Eastsideal Member Username: Eastsideal Post Number: 296 Registered: 10-2007 |
Not to mention the great Tigers and Lions footage... |
