Blast From The Past: Photographer snaps inside abandoned Michigan Theater

THIS now dilapidated building in the heart of Detroit, serves as a constant reminder of the city’s rich history

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The iconic building has been used as a car park for decades

Michigan Theater, which has played host to a bevy of music icons such as Duke Ellington, David Bowie and Aerosmith, is now partly used as a car park.

Despite the fact that the building has been left virtually abandoned for decades, it still boasts remnants of its heyday with its towering columns and gothic styled arches.

Music icons such as Duke Ellington and David Bowie have performed at the old playhouse

First opened in 1926, the venue was constructed on the same site as Henry Ford’s workshop, where he built his very first automobile.

The ageing building now stands as a stark reminder of Detroit’s glittering past, as the city has struggled to cope with financial turmoil in recent years.

The distinctive columns and gothic styled arches are still intact on the building

Photographer Ioanna Sakellaraki, 26, explored the once iconic building to get a glimpse of one of Detroit’s most historic sites which also served as an entertainment hub showcasing the best silent movies of that era.

She said: “I was meant to travel to Detroit and I was planning to visit the Henry Ford Museum. I read that the Michigan Theater was built on the site of the small garage where Henry Ford built his first automobile.”

The theater was built on top of the site of Henry Ford's workshop where he built his first automobile

“The Michigan Theater opened on the 23rd of August 1926, with the film You Never Know Women with Florence Vidor and Lowell Sherman,” she added.

By the mid 1960s the building had become unprofitable and was eventually put on the market - changing owners numerous times during the decade.

Photographer Ioanna Sakellaraki, 26, took the pictures after hearing about the building's rich history

The playhouse was turned into a nightclub in 1972 and renamed the Michigan Palace, however by 1976 after more ownership changes the final curtain call was made for the historic site.

The following year, the building was partially demolished and turned into a car park, however construction workers managed to keep some of the main features intact.

The building started to become unprofitable in the mid 1960's and regularly changed owners

Ioanna said: “The first levels are occupied by cars as the building was partially demolished and then turned into a car park. As you walk up the floors though you can find the relics of the marvellous 4000 seat theatre which is rather astonishing.”

In 1972 the ageing building was transformed into a nightclub and renamed Michigan Palace

Unfortunately the sight of abandoned buildings has now become common place in Detroit, a city once renowned for being one of the centres of industry in the United States.

Michigan Theater is just one of many iconic buildings that has been left abandoned in Detroit

She said: “Downtown Detroit has many more abandoned buildings to discover with the Michigan Theater and the Michigan Railway station building being some of the most significant ones.”