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Looking Back

April 1956

Step back in time to see what area movie theaters were presenting in April 1956. Film titles are linked to the Internet Movie Database.

For more information about these theaters, see Cinema Treasures or Water Winter Wonderland.


An "exciting new policy" was announced for the Redford and other neighborhood and drive-in theaters. The featured movies would be appearing in Detroit for the first time, at "regular prices." This policy started on April 4 with Never Say Goodbye, starring Rock Hudson. Other affected indoor theaters were the Eastown, Harper, Mercury, Riviera, Wyandotte and 6 Mile Uptown.

At the Music Hall, Cinerama Holiday passed the 60-week mark. The advertising for this second Cinerama feature (following 1952's This is Cinerama) noted that it "cannot and will not be shown at any local or neighborhood theatre." On April 22, 2006, the Redford showed Cinerama Adventure, a documentary about this dramatic widescreen format.

The suspenseful 1953 French film The Wages of Fear opened in Detroit at the Surf (13135 Fenkell) and Coronet (15635 Mack). In March 1992, a restored (and longer) version of this movie was shown at the Detroit Film Theatre.

The Michigan Theater rode the waves of current events. On April 7, moviegoers enjoyed a midnight showing of Rock Around the Clock ("The Screen's First Great Rock 'N Roll Feature"), with Bill Haley and the Comets. Also on the big screen were On the Threshold of Space and French sex symbol Brigitte Bardot in one of her first English language films (Doctor at Sea).

The Michigan also presented a documentary about Monaco, where film star Grace Kelly would be reigning with her new husband Prince Rainier (they married on April 19, 1956). And, in this Presidential election year, Michigan visitors laughed at the cartoon Popeye for President.


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This website is not affiliated with the Detroit Film Theatre, the Michigan Theater, or the Redford Theatre.

Website copyright © 2021 by Robert Hollberg Smith, Jr.

Launched November 25, 2005.

Last updated November 25, 2020.

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