Leob Member Username: Leob
Post Number: 36 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 69.14.94.94
| Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 5:39 pm: | |
I am in the process of expanding the photo archive at our web site on the Grande Ballroom. We are searching for unpublished photos of the Ballroom and the intersection of Grand River and Joy. Interior photos are especially rare and sorely needed. If you can help, please drop me a note at the webmaster address. Detroit Yes Grande Ballroom Forum Grande Photos Thanks, Leo B webmasterATthegrandeballroom.c om |
Livedog2 Member Username: Livedog2
Post Number: 118 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 24.223.133.177
| Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 7:03 pm: | |
Great post, Leob! Is that the "Grande Ballroom" as in 20 Grande Ballroom of Martha Jean-the-Queen fame? Livedog2 |
Pffft Member Username: Pffft
Post Number: 895 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 69.221.67.48
| Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 8:27 pm: | |
Livedog, You're confusing the 20 Grand -- famed nightclub where R&B greats like Billie Holiday and later, Marvin Gaye played, with the Grande Ballroom on Grand River, which started out as a big band ballroom in the '30s and '40s, and in the '60s became a hippie venue where the MC5 was the house band. |
56packman Member Username: 56packman
Post Number: 205 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 24.208.234.52
| Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 8:30 pm: | |
you must have seen this one, from WSU virtual motor city |
Leob Member Username: Leob
Post Number: 37 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 69.14.9.224
| Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 11:07 pm: | |
Wow! that looks like the Riviera in the Distance. Is this looking West/Northwest? I am not certain which side of the Street the Riv. was on. Leo B |
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker
Post Number: 1056 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 66.2.148.82
| Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 11:14 pm: | |
I think it was on the northwest corner. See the Old Detroit Moviehouses thread, page one for more on the Riviera. https://www.atdetroit.net/forum/messages/5/61205.html?1135998357
|
56packman Member Username: 56packman
Post Number: 208 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 24.208.234.52
| Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 11:57 pm: | |
Leob, yes, and yes. |
Nedab3 Member Username: Nedab3
Post Number: 82 Registered: 01-2004 Posted From: 71.28.147.244
| Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 8:18 pm: | |
To me Grand River and Joy Road was the home of Detroit Lutheran High School from 1940 something to 1957. An old office building just down the street fron Cunninghams. 5040 Joy Road. Went there 54-57. Then was first class at Lutheran East 8 mile and Kelly. "EASTSIDE". Lutheran West was at Greenfield and Joy Rd. Both schools are now closed. Lutheran HS are still going strong in the burbs. |
Leob Member Username: Leob
Post Number: 38 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 69.14.9.224
| Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 3:02 am: | |
NEDAB3, Any memories of the Grande Ballroom around the corner in the 50's ? Leo |
Nedab3 Member Username: Nedab3
Post Number: 83 Registered: 01-2004 Posted From: 71.28.147.244
| Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 7:44 pm: | |
Sorry I don't recall anything about the ballroom |
Leob Member Username: Leob
Post Number: 39 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 69.14.9.224
| Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 8:43 pm: | |
Here is the Grande under construction 9-11-28. There was apparently a single story outbuilding and a two story wooden frame church on the property at survey time. This would eliminate any brick storefronts razed. Therefore, I am trying to identify the two or three buildings west of the Grande and east of the Annex that appear in the Wayne state photo. Address range 8960-8990. Thanks ! Leo B |
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker
Post Number: 1060 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.56
| Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 10:38 pm: | |
1926 Sanborn maps of what was there before, ranging from 8880-9000 Grand River. (Beverly Ct.) (North Martindale Ave) S=storefront F=apt flats D=single family residence A=auto garage Your history site peaked my interest, so I fired up Photoshop. |
Leob Member Username: Leob
Post Number: 40 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 69.14.9.224
| Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 11:42 am: | |
Hornwrecker, Thanks! that's awesome stuff. I had wondered what the name of the church was and what the Engine 42 building was called. Do you have a Sanborn all the way to the Riviera North of Joy ? Ninde Methodist became Nardin Park methodist in 1927 (The church must have been razed sometime after the '27 Sanborn Map and before the Grande Construction in Summer of '28) From Michigan Markers: "In 1927 the Nardin Park Methodist Episcopal Church was formed by a merger of two Detroit Churches; the Ninde Church, organized in 1886, and the Grand River Avenue Church, established in 1891. The following year and educational building and gymnasium were constructed on a site across West Chicago Boulevard from Nardin Park. The Depression delayed construction of the sanctuary. In 1937 a building campaign began. The Kresge Foundation donated $50,000. The completed sanctuary was dedicated in 1943. In 1963 the congregation sold the building to the Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church. The present church was dedicated on October 17, 1965." Apparently the Engine 42 house was phased out by the end of WWII and consolidated with ladder 21 at West Chicago and Livernois. http://www.box42.net/history.shtml Here is the Grande Ballroom Plot plan from architect Charles Agree's estate showng the former Church and how the the sidewalks were moved forward. Leo B |
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba
Post Number: 3676 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107
| Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 12:33 pm: | |
Previously recorded by jjaba, Joy Rd. and Grand River was an important Westside intersection for development in Detroit. It was the confluence of 7 street car lines. This made for the building of entertainment, commerce, retail, offices, churches, etc. Detroit 4, Michigan post office is here. Making the area zone 4 tells you it was an inner city important old place. Zone 3 was Highland Park. Along Grand River are some important buildings, campuses, retail, etc. The Lee Plaza Hotel, Northwestern High School's K-12 school operations, the Fisher YMCA, Riviera Theater of John Eberson, a major diagonal arterial, The Olympia Arena, streetcar line. Wilbur Wright Vocational High School, Cass Technical High School, Carl's Chop House, Wonder Bread Bakery. Nardin Park Methodist, St. Cecila Catholic Church (Livernois around the corner), Temple Baptist Church, Grande Ballroom. Just up the street, is the Oakman-Grand River regional shopping district which was huge after the 1930s and 1940s with Sears-Roebuck, Federal Dept. Store, Richman's Clothing, Kresge's, Baker Shoes, National Shirt, Cunninghams, Meyers Treasure Chest Jewelers, Beverly Theater et. al. jjaba, Grand River Memories. |
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba
Post Number: 3677 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107
| Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 12:51 pm: | |
Henry Bourne Joy, 1864-1936, graduated from Yale in 1892. He was young, abitious, and had connections. After buying his first Packard car, he convinced James Ward Packard to move his factory from Warren, Ohio to Detroit, behind the amazing group of investors assembled by Joy. Joy hired Architect Albert Kahn and they built the amazing Packard factory on East Grand Blvd. in Detroit. The automobiles were of the finest quality, catering to the high end carriage trade. Joy was active in the Anti-Saloon League, convinced of the value of Prohibition. Then, after a fisherman was shot near his estate by U. S. Treasury Agents, he worked actively to repeal it. It ended in 1933. On the Lincoln Highway at the Continental Divide, a Monument to Henry Joy was erected in 1939. He is credited as a main advocate of our US Highways. He was an major patron of the Detroit Athletic Club and a huge booster of a national road system. Joy was a civic leader, a statesman, and one of Detroit's most famous industrialists. No wonder we have Joy Road here. jjaba, Westsier. |
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936
Post Number: 482 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 207.200.116.139
| Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 1:51 pm: | |
Henry Joy died on November 6, 1936. He's buried in Elmwood Cemetery. As I recall, the family has a huge plot there. |
Neilr Member Username: Neilr
Post Number: 233 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 69.242.218.76
| Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 4:21 pm: | |
Helen Bourne Joy is buried in the family plot at Elmwood. She was in her 80's when she died. Inscribed on her marker in addition to her name and her dates are the words: "Never a Dull Moment." |
Leob Member Username: Leob
Post Number: 41 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 69.14.9.224
| Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 9:11 pm: | |
Livernois is named for what / whom ? Leo B |
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen
Post Number: 1273 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.122.57
| Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 9:35 pm: | |
According to a couple websites covering the origins of Detroit's street names, Livernois was named for the Livernois family who owned one of the original ribbon farms on the western edge of the city. Francois Benoit dit Livernois came to Detroit in 1707. |
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker
Post Number: 1062 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.40.152
| Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 10:03 pm: | |
Leob, here's the 1926 Sanborn of the Grand Riviera Theatre, 9222 Grand River. For the motherlode of photos and drawings of it, try this link at the LOC:Built in America. Search for "Riviera, Wayne County, MI" , without the quotation marks. Their search engine uses time sensitive searches so direct links to it are FUBAR. Built in America |