Guided Tour
Classic Film + Theatre History
Attend a classic film screening with original Barton theatre organ pre-show. Volunteer-led building tours available before select shows.
- Duration:
- 3 hr
Photo coming soon
Theater / Performance Venue
Redford Theatre
Atmospheric 1928 movie palace with Japanese-themed decor and original Barton organ, said to be haunted by longtime cleaning lady Ethel O'Leary and at least eight reported spirits.
17360 Lahser Rd, Detroit, MI 48219
Wheelchair Accessible
Research-Backed · 5sources
Age
All Ages
Cost
$
Classic film screenings typically $5-7; special events priced higher.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Theater is wheelchair accessible at main entrance; some balcony sections stair-only.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1928 · One of the largest surviving 1920s atmospheric movie palaces · Original 1928 Barton 3-manual 10-rank theatre organ (one of two surviving in metro Detroit) · Opened by John H. Kunsky's Michigan theatre chain · Owned and restored by Motor City Theatre Organ Society since 1985
The Redford Theatre opened on Friday evening, January 27, 1928, as the Kunsky-Redford Theatre — part of John H. Kunsky's chain of Michigan movie palaces. Marketed at opening as 'America's Most Unique Suburban Playhouse,' it was built by a local consortium out of Plymouth, Michigan, with the architectural firm of Verner, Wilhelm, Molby, RF Shreive responsible for the design.
The house was conceived as an 'atmospheric' theatre — a style invented by New York architect John Eberson that simulated the experience of sitting in an outdoor courtyard under a starlit sky. The Redford adopted a Japanese motif: pagoda silhouettes, painted lanterns, garden murals, and decorative panels in red and black with gold accents. The original Barton 3-manual, 10-rank theatre organ was installed during construction and remains in place — one of only two original theatre pipe organs surviving in the metro Detroit area. The auditorium seated more than 2,000 at opening; current seating is approximately 1,550-1,661.
After decades of single-screen operation through ownership changes, the Motor City Theatre Organ Society (MCTOS) entered a partnership in 1977 to maintain the Barton organ and present film and concert programs. When movie attendance declined further, MCTOS purchased the theatre on a seven-year land contract and made the final balloon payment in 1985, taking full ownership. Since then MCTOS has restored the Japanese decor, the Barton organ, and the building's mechanical systems, and operates the Redford as a non-profit classic-film and live-music venue.
The theatre is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and remains the largest surviving atmospheric movie palace in the Detroit area.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redford_Theatre
- https://redfordtheatre.com/history/
- https://redfordtheatre.com/redford-theatre-facts/
- https://historicdetroit.org/buildings/redford-theatre
- https://www.historictheatrephotos.com/Atmospheric/Redford-Detroit.aspx
Smell of bleach in unoccupied women's restroomToilets flushing on their ownShuffling footsteps on tile floorPacing in third-floor hallwaysApparition of a little girl in auditoriumWoman apparition near top-floor dressing roomsCold spots throughout the buildingPhotographic anomalies near Barton organ
According to Visit Detroit's haunted-locations guide, Ethel O'Leary was a Redford Theatre cleaning lady who died in 2007 at the age of 100 or 101 (sources differ on her exact age at death). Her presence is reported most often in the women's restroom, where volunteers working alone after hours describe the smell of bleach where none has been used, toilets flushing on their own, and shuffling footsteps on the tile floor.
Motor City Ghost Hunters, who have hosted multiple paranormal lock-in events at the theatre, report a minimum of eight distinct spirits in residence, including: a little girl encountered in the auditorium; a woman who appears on the top floor near the dressing rooms; pacing footsteps through the third-floor halls; and unexplained activity in the basement and the steam tunnels beneath the building. According to WXYZ's coverage of the 2019 paranormal lock-in, apparitions near the original Barton organ console have been reportedly captured on still cameras during investigations.
The theatre's ghost reputation has been the basis for the annual Motor City Ghost Hunters lock-in event, in which paying participants spend a full night inside the building with investigation equipment. The events are presented as recreational paranormal investigation rather than scientific claim.
All Redford apparition reports trace to volunteers, theatre staff, and ghost-hunting investigators rather than to documented historical events at the building.
Notable Entities
Ethel O'Leary (former cleaning lady, d. 2007)
Media Appearances
- Visit Detroit 'Most Haunted Locations' guide
- WXYZ paranormal lock-in coverage (2019)
- ClickOnDetroit ghost-hunt feature
- 99WFMK and WGRD radio features
Plan Your Visit
2 ways to experience Ghost Hunt Booking Required
Paranormal Lock-In
Periodic overnight paranormal investigations with Motor City Ghost Hunters; access to dressing rooms, basement tunnels, and the women's restroom where Ethel O'Leary's presence is most often reported.
- Duration:
- 8 hr
Sources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Redford Theatre family-friendly?
Daytime film screenings are family-friendly; overnight ghost-hunt lock-ins are 18+. Overall family fit: High.
How much does it cost to visit Redford Theatre?
Classic film screenings typically $5-7; special events priced higher.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Redford Theatre wheelchair accessible?
Yes, Redford Theatre is wheelchair accessible. Terrain: Theater is wheelchair accessible at main entrance; some balcony sections stair-only..