Hello Art Deco and Mid-Century Friends! Memorial Day is in our rearview mirror; the landscape has taken on a distinct vibrancy as annual flowers decorate our porches and gardens, trees are teeming with new leaves and lawns are green and lush. It’s the season of graduations, weddings and BBQs. Daylight hours are longer; temperatures are warmer as summer officially arrives June 21st. All hands are on deck as we prepare for our biggest night of the year, July 16th at the Turkel House for an evening of architecture, music and design. This promises to be a special evening. Tickets available at: www.daads.org
Read on to see what we’ve been up to and what’s coming up. Until next month, take care and get out there and have fun!
In The News
Historic theater in downtown Berkley to evolve into concert venue
The Detroit News
Berkley — For decades, the Berkley Theater building on 12 Mile in downtown Berkley has been a movie hall and a drug store.
By the end of this spring, the facility will add “concert venue” to that short list.
Glenn Wilhelm, owner of The Roxy in Rochester, another live entertainment venue, has acquired the theater building for $4 million in an effort to bring live entertainment to downtown Berkley. He plans to open the new BERKLEY Entertainment Complex — which will pay homage to the building’s history and provide modern amenities — by the end of May.
For most of the 20th century, the Berkley Theater, which opened in 1941, operated as a movie hall, where patrons watched everything from blockbuster hits to World War II news reels. Its final movie, “Jurassic Park,” was shown in 1993 before Perry Drugs took over the building.
The building kept the marquee on its exterior but functioned for three decades as a Rite Aide. It sat unused when the drug store went out of business in 2024.
“(It) didn’t really fit the building or really what the community would want as far as entertainment,” said designer Mark Dunneback, who is in charge of executing Wilhelm’s vision.
With the renovation, Wilhelm is intent on preserving the theater’s legacy. He’s preserving the design and lettering on the marquis, and there will be a display on the inside dedicated to the theater’s history, he said.
More info and full article here: https://www.berkleytheater.com/
The Detroit Area Art Deco Society invites you to view Detroit’s only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home – The Turkel House
The Turkel House
Thursday, July 16th
5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Join us for an evening of architecture, music and design.
Enjoy a lovely selection of hors d’oeuvres, hand-selected wines and beverages. The Ben Dannug Trio is ready to set the tone of this special evening for Deco Society members.
Parking and driving directions:
19145 Strathcona Dr., Detroit
Parking is on Strathcona Drive with a connecting walkway to the Turkel House. Please do not park at the residence.
Tickets must be purchased in advance. There are a limited number of tickets available due to the home’s capacity. Tickets are first come, first served. Please note: Members may purchase up to two (2) tickets at the $125 price by July 1st.
Silent Auction
Pay online using our secure website: www.daads.org
$125 – Detroit Area Art Deco Society Member ticket price
$150 – Non member ticket price – this includes an individual membership to DAADS at a discounted rate
Proceeds from this event benefit the Detroit Area Art Deco Society’s scholarship program. The Detroit Area Art Deco Society is a Michigan not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) organization.
Thank you to everyone who came out for the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House tour on May 28th! We had a great turnout. The evening kicked off with a cocktail reception, guests were able to chat with other members while sipping on cocktails created for our event. The Art Deco Walter Dorwin Teague rooms were the highlight of the tour for our group.
Things to do, places to go…
Thursday June 4, 2026. 6:00-9:00 pm Tickets $40 each
Event Features: Self-guided tour of Meadow Brook Hall and Gardens, Live music by Detroit singer-songwriter Audra Kubat, Cash bar, Croquet & yard games, Light snack display. More info & tickets: https://meadowbrookhall.org/events/gatsby-garden-party/
Back to the Future: A Mid-Century Modern Home Tour
Indiana Modern’s annual Back to the Future tour presents five outstanding mid-century properties in Anderson.
June 6, 2026
Noon to 5 p.m. EDT
Anderson Community School Corporation, 1600 Hillcrest Avenue, Anderson
Indiana Modern’s 18th annual Back to the Future tour presents five outstanding Mid-Century Modern properties in Anderson dating from 1958 to 1972, including private residences and a standout Modernist office building.
Mid-Century Modern houses often incorporate walls of windows, skylights, and other features that maximize views of surrounding nature, blurring the boundaries between indoors and outdoors. Tour stops include the following:
- The 1958 home of Steven and Darlene Tague on Beauvoir Circle
- The 1962 home of Logan and Kayla Whitesell on Overlook Drive
- The 1964 home of Roger and Susie Reed on Van Buskirk Road
- The 1972 home of Kyle and Wendy Gerard on East 500 North
- The 1964 former Church of God Home Mission and Church Extension office on University Boulevard, now home to PlainSong Music Services
On the day of the event, check-in at tour headquarters (Anderson Community School Corporation, 1600 Hillcrest Ave., Anderson) to exchange your Eventbrite receipt for a tour program with map that will guide you during the go-at-your-own-pace tour. Transportation between most sites is on your own with select properties accessible by shuttle only due to limited street parking. Your tour program received at check-in will provide detailed parking or shuttle instructions for each tour site. Attendees should plan two hours to enjoy the full experience.
Note on accessibility: Some sites require navigating stairs to enter or transition between levels and are therefore not fully accessible to all. Questions? Contact central@indianalandmarks.org.
Back to the Future is presented by Indiana Modern, an affinity group of Indiana Landmarks that works to preserve and promote the best of mid-twentieth century architecture, design, and landscapes across the state. Learn more.
Advance tickets cost $20/person; $15/Indiana Landmarks member; $10/Indiana Modern member. Day of tour tickets cost $25/person and are available only at tour headquarters (Anderson Community School Corporation, 1600 Hillcrest Ave., Anderson, IN 46011).
Pewabic Uncovered Tour of the Guardian Building June 17, June 25, 5-6 PM
Step inside one of Detroit’s most celebrated architectural treasures for an unforgettable journey through the Cathedral of Finance, the iconic Guardian Building. Led by a Pewabic expert, this exclusive tour uncovers the building’s extraordinary decorative tile work–featuring a rich blend of historic tile manufacturers woven throughout its soaring interiors.
Learn how to distinguish Pewabic tile from other makers as you explore vibrant glazes, intricate patterns, and hidden details that tell the story of American craftsmanship and Detroit’s design legacy. With rare access to the building’s secured vault and the 32nd floor, you’ll experience sweeping views of the city alongside intimate encounters with one of its most visually stunning interiors. Please note that access to the vault requires descending and ascending a flight of stairs, as there is no elevator service to this area. Elevators will be used to reach the 32nd floor. $50
Fleatroit at 100 Proof by Detroit City Distillery. 1000 Gratiot Ave, Detroit 11 am- 4 pm
North Cass Summer Flea June 27 12-6 pm In the Traffic Jam lot on Canfield. More Info: CITYBIRDDETROIT.COM/EVENTS
Chihuly at Meijer Gardens May 2-November 1, 2026
Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park welcomes back acclaimed artist Dale Chihuly. Experience the magic of glass art like never before. This highly anticipated exhibition transforms both the beautiful outdoor gardens and inviting indoor Sculpture Galleries with the world-renowned artistry of Dale Chihuly. Stroll through the gardens and discover monumental glass sculptures, vibrant Reeds, and stunning site-specific installations that harmoniously blend art with nature, creating breathtaking moments around every corner.
Photo courtesy of Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park
Have you checked out the website www.daads.org recently? You can now find previous newsletters, the Modern magazine, upcoming events, membership information, and advertisers who support our organization. Interested in advertising your business on our website? Send us an email for more information. DetroitArtDeco@gmail.com
Looking Ahead
Alden B Dow Home and Studio Tour: Saturday September 26, 2:00-4:00 pm
Books You May Like
During the midcentury period, Michigan attracted visionary architects, designers, and theorists, including Alexander Girard. While much has been written about Girard’s vibrantly colored and patterned textiles for Herman Miller, the story of his Detroit period (1937–53)―encompassing interior and industrial design, exhibition curation, and residential architecture―has not been told. Alexander Girard, Architect: Creating Midcentury Modern Masterpieces by Deborah Lubera Kawsky is the first comprehensive study of Girard’s exceptional architectural projects, specifically those concentrated in the ultra-traditional Detroit suburb of Grosse Pointe.
One exciting element of the book is the rediscovery of another Girard masterpiece―the only surviving house designed entirely by Girard, and former residence to Mr. and Mrs. John McLucas. Restored in consultation with iconic midcentury designer Ruth Adler Schnee, the McLucas house represents the culmination of Girard’s Detroit design work at midcentury. Stunning color photographs capture the unique design elements―including the boldly colored glazed brick walls of the atrium―reminiscent of Girard’s role as color consultant for the GM Tech Center. Original Girard drawings for the building plan, interior spaces, and custom-designed furniture document the mind of a modernist master at work and are made available to the public for the first time in this beautiful book. (Amazon Review)
We are always looking ahead and working on tours and events. Members are always the first to know and have first access to tickets. You can keep up with us on Facebook and Instagram @detroitartdeco
Questions about membership? Contact Renee southpacificpixie@gmail.com
Join or renew HERE
Contact Us: DetroitArtDeco@gmail.com
Thank you for your continuous support and active participation. We wouldn’t be here without you.
The Detroit Area Art Deco Society is a non-profit 501c and your investment supports our annual Eastern Michigan University Preservation Scholarship.