8730 Harper Avenue
Arthur Theatre, Crane Theatre, Rose Theatre, True Light Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, True Light Temple
Detroit had numerous opulent movie palaces downtown, but most Detroiters frequented more localized neighborhood theatres. This is one of the lucky establishments that still stands, albeit to serve a different purpose.
The construction of the Arthur Theatre at 8730 Harper was completed in the early 1920s. According to Water Winder Wonderland, it seated 340 patrons. By the 1930s, it would be renamed the Crane Theatre. In November of 1947, the name changed again, and it was called the Rose Theatre. I believe it closed around 1950. I don’t know what it was used for after it closed until the mid-1960s.
True Light Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ was incorporated in 1967 by Reverend Floyd Mitchell Jr. Their address at the time was 8730 Harper, the location of the former theatre. The same church calls it home today.
In the 1980s, Agatha Nathalia Weston, better known by her stage name, Kim Weston, directed two choirs at True Light Church.
Weston had signed to Motown in 1961 and landed a few minor hits before recording ‘It Takes Two’ in 1966, from her duet album Take Two with Marvin Gaye. She left Motown in 1967 to pursue other labels to some success.
In addition to two choirs directed by one of Motown’s finest, True Light hosted an annual Women’s Day event, various community programming, and carnivals for children throughout the years. The current pastor is Michael Mitchell, and the church’s name was changed to True Light Temple in 2008.
I believe the congregation still exists, but the church may be having work done. Thanks to the dedication of this parish, a historic structure still stands on a section of Harper that’s primarily vacant lots.
