I’ve been going to the Detroit Film Theatre since it first started, in 1974. I was in college then and well on my way to becoming a serious movie nut, perhaps even a true cineaste.
I loved the classic American films from the 1910’s to the 1970’s. As time went on I liked a lot of the new stuff too. I grew to love films from all around the world, especially those from France, Japan and pre-World War Two Germany. Subtitles don’t bother me. From the movies, I get a sense of other countries and of this country’s history. Great stuff from everywhere! I love animation, documentaries and experimental films as well.
The Detroit Film Theatre has been a real education. The silent movie shows were a blast whether accompanied by the Alloy Orchestra, Frank Pahl and band or by others. The Detroit Home Movie Festival was really amazing. I enjoyed the 3-D movies. The Silent Clowns festival had me laughing. They’d have guest speakers and special events.
They’d have sneak previews of movies not yet in theatres, most memorably Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver.
In the 1970’s and early 1980’s there was an amazing Afternoon Film Series. Topics included westerns, silent films, avant-garde films, film noir, animation and vintage international cinema.
I was at the showing of Luis Bunuel’s film The Milky Way when there was a loud crash and the screen went black. Someone had attacked the projectionist and tore the film off of the projector because he was upset by the movie and its content! Some of the audience fled. For those who stayed, they eventually finished screening the rest of the movie.
I saw the late Howard Armstrong do a live show there before they screened a film about him called Louie Bluie. I enjoyed hearing talks by filmmakers like Les Blank and Frederick Wiseman.
The Detroit Film Theatre started in January 1974. This year marks their 50th anniversary. Going to a movie there is one of the great things to do in Detroit. They have music as well, including live music accompanying a silent movie. It’s a beautiful room and many of us have spent hundreds of hours there, in the dark, soaking in the cinema.
From
https://dia.org/events/detroit-film-theatre
https://dia.org/support/auxiliary-groups/friends-detroit-film-theatre
Thanks to Lawrence Baranski, Elliot Wilhelm, Matthew Breneau, Cate Lauerman, Ellen Kulie and to the other helpers and volunteers over the years.
Show runs from July 2024 to September 12, 2024
From 2016:
https://www.modeldmedia.com/features/detroit-film-culture-053116.aspx
My Summer 2024 exhibit Detroit and the Movies has a lot of material related to the Detroit Film Theatre.
Cinema, Movies and Motion Pictures 
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