Posted on 05/29/2014 6:32:35 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
In terms of basic creepiness, few buildings in Detroit can match the Masonic Temple. Stained by a century of Detroit soot and weather, the building's limestone exterior is almost comically foreboding. Legends surround the Temple's interior, which is said to contain a labyrinth of rooms, some connected by secret passageways. It's also full of dramatic, unused spaces—the most famous being an unfinished swimming pool on the sixth floor. Unfortunately, most of the building is off-limits to the public. But with rumors of renovation and a possible loft conversion floating around, we snapped some photos during a recent tour from Preservation Detroit.
(Excerpt) Read more at detroit.curbed.com ...
Those are for shoe shines. Not for poo times.
Yeah, you can see the marks where the foot stands used to be . . . .
Iconic concert venue, too. I can’t recount the number of HUGE, local acts (Nuge, Ohio Players, Kool&The Gang, Temptations, Gladys and the Pips, etc.) that “played the Masonic”.
I was there for The Nuge but lots of Motown acts, comedy acts (IIRC, Sinbad has a video) and symphonic acts can be proud of their affiliation with this venue.
The Masonic was the Midwest’s answer to the various “Harlem” clubs (Cotton, Apollo, etc.) in NYC.
Exactly. I was talking about Catholic Churches in NYC to a freeper recently - how they tended to be modeled after European churches rather than the modest (but to me, equally, beautiful) old Protestant churches of the northeast.
OMG. That is incredible. How beautiful.
That is one beautiul building. Holy cow.
I concede that puts to shame, Cleveland's Severance Hall
Mike Ilitch paid some $11 million for renovations of the FOX theater. As I understand it he’s paying out some big bucks in the area around the Masonic temple building as well.
Roger Penske is another “evil rich guy” spending a lot of his own money to attract more.
I don’t which is grander but I sure do like seeing these photos!
I don’t know which...
There was a movie back in the 80s about some teenagers trying to get into a Kiss concert at the FOX theater.
no..its still open...in the early 80’s. i saw Ozzy Osbourne, with the great Randy Rhoads on guitar..it is an amazing theater.
Detroit Rock City.
Old theaters like that are great venues because you’re never a quarter mile away from the stage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGqb_q6dyaY
Freakin’ AWESOME! Thanks.
the auditorium is acoustically perfect..
you can whisper on the stage and hear it in the balcony..
went to many a concert there in my youth..
Any male adult who perceives value in a moral society has the basic qualifications to join Freemasonry. He will have to be free of any felony charges and have references to his character. The references will include a couple of active Masons who will vouch that he will not dishonor the Fraternity.
It’s a shame the author did not reference the lodge site of the temple where much more useful information and pictures may be found. http://www.detroitmasonic.com
I love the Oak Paneling.
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