Detroit Pictures - Pix of the Motor City

History of Orchestra Hall 1919: Orchestra Hall is built as home of Detroit Symphony. 1939: DSO moves to Masonic Temple. 1941-51: Orchestra Hall is purchased and renamed Paradise Theatre. The greatest names in black jazz play there. 1951: Paradise closes. The building is used as a church and DSO recording hall, then abandoned. 1970: A restaurant chain buys the building to demolish it. Save Orchestra Hall Inc. is formed.
History of Orchestra Hall (cont'd) 1971: The hall is placed on the National Register of Historic Places and restoration begins. The first jazz and chamber music series are presented. 1989: The DSO merges with the Orchestra Hall board and stages concerts there. 1990: Restoration completed, the DSO returns permanently to Orchestra Hall. 2000: A massive expansion is announced, including a multistory lobby and atrium, a performance hall and education center to be finished by 2003. Source: Detroit News research
The expansion to Orchestra Hall is coming along quite nicely. Not bad, considering this building was 30 minutes away from the wrecking ball.
A rear view of the expansion to Orchestra Hall, which is called 'Performing Arts High School.