The Broadway entrance in 1931, during the Opera House's days as the Paramount
Photo from the Manning Brothers Historic Photographic Collection; Retouching by Helmut Ziewers
The Detroit Opera House in 1931, during its days as the Paramount
Photo from the Manning Brothers Historic Photographic Collection; Retouching by Helmut Ziewers
A crowd crams into the seats in the 1960s
Photo courtesy of Michael Hauser; Retouching by Helmut Ziewers
The Opera House in the 1980s
Courtesy of Michigan Opera Theatre Archives; Retouching by Helmut Ziewers
The Opera House in 1985, boarded up after it had closed following a stint showing soft-core porn
Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University
The Opera House in 1963, when it was showing movies as the Grand Circus
Photo courtesy of Michael Hauser; Retouching by Helmut Ziewers
The Opera House in 1973, when it was the Grand Circus Theatre
Photo courtesy of Michael Hauser; Retouching by Helmut Ziewers
The Capitol's orchestra in 1927
Photo from the Manning Brothers Historic Photographic Collection; Retouching by Helmut Ziewers
The lobby off Broadway in 1929. The only pieces that are missing today are the large attraction boards and the brass rails in the front.
Photo from the Manning Brothers Historic Photographic Collection; Retouching by Helmut Ziewers
The main stairway off the lobby in the early 1920s, shortly after opening
Photo from the Manning Brothers Historic Photographic Collection; Retouching by Helmut Ziewers
The stage from the balcony in the 1920s
Photo from the Manning Brothers Historic Photographic Collection; Retouching by Helmut Ziewers
Looking out at the seats from the stage in the 1920s
Photo from the Manning Brothers Historic Photographic Collection; Retouching by Helmut Ziewers
The original splendor of the Detroit Opera House in the 1920s, during its Capitol Theater days, doesn't differ a lot from today's. However, it is unknown what happened to the chandeliers that hung from the Oregon grills on both sides of the auditorium.
Photo from the Manning Brothers Historic Photographic Collection; Retouching by Helmut Ziewers
The Detroit Opera House in May 1923, during its Capitol Theatre days
Photo from the Manning Brothers Historic Photographic Collection; Retouching by Helmut Ziewers
The Capitol Theatre in March 1922, shortly after it opened
Photo from the Manning Brothers Historic Photographic Collection; Retouching by Helmut Ziewers
The Madison side of the Opera House in 1929, in its Capitol Theatre days
Photo from the Manning Brothers Historic Photographic Collection; Retouching by Helmut Ziewers
The Capitol as seen from Grand Circus Park in 1926
Photo from the Manning Brothers Historic Photographic Collection; Retouching by Helmut Ziewers
The Broadway facade in 1923, shortly after the theater opened as the Capitol
Photo from the Manning Brothers Historic Photographic Collection; Retouching by Helmut Ziewers
The Detroit Opera House in 1927, in its Capitol Theatre days
Photo from the Manning Brothers Historic Photographic Collection
The Broadway-Capitol in 1946
Photo from the Detroit Free Press archives; Retouching by Helmut Ziewers
Among the last movies to show at the theater: "Jailbait Babysitter."
Photo from the Detroit Free Press archives; Retouching by Helmut Ziewers
The restored auditorium
Photo by Vito Palmisano courtesy of Michigan Opera Theatre Archives
The stage and a peek at the incredible rigging used to handle large stage shows.
Photo by Albert Kahn Associates courtesy of Michigan Opera Theatre Archives - Retouched by Helmut Ziewers
The Madison Street facade at night
Photo by Glen Calvin Moon courtesy of Michigan Opera Theatre Archives - Retouched by Helmut Ziewers
The Detroit Opera House complex
Photo by Mark Mancinelli courtesy of Michigan Opera Theatre Archives
