Senate Theater

The Senate Theater is an art deco movie theater in Detroit with multiple performance spaces and original architectural details from its construction period. Red velvet seating and ornate wall decorations create a visually rich environment throughout the building.

The building opened in 1927 as a major entertainment destination during Detroit's industrial prosperity and the golden age of cinema. Its design and furnishings reflect the confidence and wealth of that era.

The theater serves as a gathering place for independent filmmakers and musicians who present their work to engaged audiences throughout the year. It has become a hub where locals return repeatedly to experience art outside mainstream commercial circuits.

The space inside is clearly marked with good signage and multiple exits that make it easy to navigate between different areas. Arriving early gives visitors time to notice architectural details and choose good seating positions.

The building houses a 1928 Wurlitzer theater organ that plays before selected film screenings and during special concert performances. Few visitors realize this instrument still functions and is regularly played for the audience.