Forgotten, out-of-the-way, abandoned, deserted, but historic. There are so many of these buildings throughout Michigan, especially Detroit, where these structures probably range into the thousands.
One such place is the former Zellah Theater. It is believed to have been run by a Jewish owner, as “Zellah” is morphed from the Hebrew word “tsela,” meaning ‘rib’ or ‘side’. Nearby is the Hebrew ‘Beth Olem’ cemetery.
The business is long gone, but the structure remains, located at 5467 Moran Street in Detroit. As far as I could learn, the Zellah first began operating in May 1914. The first newspaper ad that touted the theater was for the silent film “Lucille Love, Girl of Mystery” starring Grace Cunard, opening that same month.
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The Zellah Theatre changed names by 1942, when it was called the Moran Theater, and ads from the 40s referred to the theater as “formerly the Zellah”. The Moran Theater lasted a few years and during the 1950s they stopped showing movies permanently…