Historic movie palaces / Michigan Avenue / Downtown
Loop Theater
Closed – archive entry · 1928–1961
Michigan Avenue's round-the-clock movie house for second- and third-shift factory workers, opened in 1928. Its calling card was a tall vertical sign topped by a circle with a red star.
Quick facts
- Opened
- 1928
- Closed
- 1961
- Architect
- H.D. Ilgenfritz
- Style
- Renaissance Revival
- Seats
- 550
02 / The story of this place
Make time for these
The 550-seat Loop opened on February 17, 1928, on Michigan Avenue, designed by H.D. Ilgenfritz. It ran around the clock so second- and third-shift factory workers could catch a show. Its best-known feature was a tall vertical sign topped by a circle with a red star. Associated Theaters was running it by 1950. It closed on May 16, 1957, reopened briefly in 1960–61 while the area awaited redevelopment, and was demolished in April 1962.
- Open around the clock for factory shifts
- A tall sign topped with a red star
- 550 seats on Michigan Avenue
Plan your visit
The Loop was demolished in 1962 and no longer stands on Michigan Avenue. For a movie night, check the working Detroit cinemas in our guide.
Cinemas nearby
Back to cinemas ↗
Multiplexes / Detroit
Bel Air Luxury Cinema
The only first-run multiplex inside Detroit's city limits: ten screens on East Eight Mile with luxury rockers, recliners and a giant custom chandelier. No need to drive out to the suburbs for the new releases.
IMAX & giant screens / Detroit
Michigan Science Center – Immersive Dome Theater
Midtown's science museum runs three screens: the giant Immersive Dome Theater, the Penske Planetarium and the 3D Toyota Engineering Theater. The museum calls the dome the largest theatre in Michigan.
Film festivals / Detroit
Detroit Black Film Festival
Independent films directed, written or produced by Black filmmakers, at a Detroit festival Lazar and Marshalle Favors started in 2020. The 7th edition in September 2026 screens 89 films from 30 countries, with the Charles H. Wright Museum as its hub.
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