A Southwest Detroit theater is celebrating its 100 anniversary with movies and live music.
The festivities begin at Senate Theater on Michigan Avneue Wednesday, Oct. 7 — 100 years to the day the theater first opened its doors.
The celebration continues Saturday, Oct. 10, with a larger centennial event featuring special programming. The Senate Theater, at 6424 Michigan Ave., is bringing together musicians, spoken-word poets, comedians, magicians and other Detroit talent.
On Oct. 7, the Senate will screen Cecil B. DeMille’s 1926 silent film “The Volga Boatman,” the same movie audiences watched on opening night. Detroit Red Wings organist Lance Luce will accompany the film live on the Mighty Wurlitzer, allowing guests to experience silent cinema as early moviegoers did, with the score created in real time and the theater itself becoming part of the performance.
The theater will host what it’s calling the Party of the Century on Oct. 10 at 7pm. It’s a $25 community event inspired by the era when neighborhood movie houses paired films with live entertainment. The Party of the Century will feature music, comedy, magic, spoken word, film and Detroit performers.
The Senate Theater was a staple in Southwest for several decades before closing in the 1950s.
“The Senate made it to 100 because generations of volunteers and supporters believed Detroit still needed a place like this,” said Lance Luce, Detroit Theater Organ Society president. “This anniversary is our chance to welcome more people in, celebrate what the community saved and build the support needed to keep the theater open for the next 100 years.”
The Detroit Theater Organ Club purchased the theater in 1961, cleaning up the building and installing the “Mighty Wurlitzer” organ, originally built in 1928 housed in the Fisher Theatre.
The theater closed again between 2009 and 2011 but managed to reopen after a near closure in 2017. The theater is operated by community members who helped restore its marquee and continue to repair the theater, maintain the organ, pop the popcorn, book films and welcome audiences.
Over the next two years, the theater plans to include preserving and sharing more than 700 historic concert recordings that featured the organ with the Detroit Sound Conservancy and the Detroit Collaborative Design Center.
Organizers say the event is also to raise money for significant capital work over the next several years, including a roof replacement, waterproofing, ongoing maintenance and specialized care for the Mighty Wurlitzer.
Ticket sales and donations tied to the anniversary will help the volunteer-run organization continue offering affordable programming.