Graystone Theatre

Info Updates:

3/8/2021 - Andy Gray

The two color images of the Graystone Theatre below were shot by my grandfather A.S. "Al" Johnson in December 1949. He owned the Johnson Construction Company based in Birmingham and built and remodeled dozens of Michigan theaters and drive-ins between 1934 and 1956. Al’s son’s list of Johnson theater projects does not include the Graystone so it's not clear what year a Johnson job might have been completed there. The Graystone Theatre is in an older building, but the entrance appears to have new doors and a new front. The building at 7816 Michigan Avenue in Detroit, currently (2021) appears to house part of the Sunshine Laundry Center.

6/16/2005 - Joe Pio

In the early 80s was purchashed by Russ Gibb of Grande Ballroom fame, and housed a venue for a new exploding hardcore punk rock crowd... Despite the usually roudy crowd, The kids kept the place clean....Gibb usually offering free admission and pay for kids that stuck around to sweep up and buff the floors... Gibb sold the building to Cary Safarian,but due to Mr. Safarians substance abuse, the club soon started to fall apart, shows being closed by the Detroit Fire Marshall, as well as an ongoing problem with fights and nuisance. As The doors shut itself in the suummer of 87, it was later a storefront church, then finally sold and gutted the interior for an expantion of the neighboring laundry mat.

2/3/2004 - WaterWinterWonderland

This old house started in the Depression area but could not survive the dawn of the television age in 1953. The building still stands.

HomeMovie TheatersGraystone Theatre