The Stone Theater Burlesque was located on Woodward Ave in Detroit. The only reason that I know that it must have been a haunt for gays is because there was a semi popular singer in the 50's and 60's named Johnnie Ray who was arrested in the men's room for soliciting sex from an undercover male Detroit police officer in 1951. He was later arrested for the same thing in 1959 at the Brass Rail Bar. (See my post about the Brass Rail) If you know anything else about this place as a gay hangout please post. It has since been demolished. Also check out my other blog at: motorgay.net
I think you are wrong about the Stone Theater. Johnnie Ray if I recall was a early R&B singer or R&R artist. The Stone was owned by a former Detroit cop. There were also two other burlesk theaters, the National Theater on Monroe (still standing) and the long gone Empress Theater that was on Woodward Ave. I think it was torn down to build the Coleman Young Municipal Center. Probably was less corrupt when it was a cheap burlesk house. An ancient theater that even my grand father went to.
ReplyDeleteThe National Burlesk was designed by Alfred Kahn and is a historical site. I attended the National in the 60's and it was popular with a lot of single young guys. The balcony there was kind of a cruise spot until the end. They had some high class burlesk comics and gals. The late Bud Abbott of Abbott and Costello was the manager of the National. Bud was in the business end of burlesk and only teamed up with Costello in New Jersey when another comic was too drunk to go on, the rest is history.
The only Theater I can recall where man on man action happened all of the time, in the aisles, bathroom and back room was called the Wood 6.. It was located on Woodward Ave and 6 mile road. I have to say it was the first place I ever went to where I experienced full man on man sex... Enjoyed the place..
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed you too yumm
Deletestones had lots of action in the mens room.men didn't just go there to see the girls.remember francine?beautifull black gitl.brandy lane???
ReplyDeleteIt is true that Johnnie Ray was arrested in the theater. We are actually working on a documentary involving the Stone. If you would like to share your memories, please email us at stoneburlesk@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteum my retired partner from Detroit Police Department went to " The Stone" when he was in his early 20's to see the shows with women before topless clubs existed or nude bars. I don't remember him mentioning anything about anytype of gay action or activity in the bathroom but hey it could have happened. Scott from Belleville
ReplyDeleteWhere was the back room at the Wood Six?
ReplyDeletewhen you walked in to the wood six, porn theater was on the left, you walked down all the way to get to the bathrooms, and there was a small room just to the right of the bathroom behind the screen that led to a outside back door.
ReplyDeleteI walked into the Wood 6 one time in 1977 and turned and walked out because the smell was so overpowering Imagine a broken sewerage line on a hot summer day the smell of A))was sickening and my feet literally stuck to the floor (I threw those shoes away)and never came back.
ReplyDeleteAt the Stone, there was a stairway behind a curtain, next to the movie screen that led downstairs to a rather small, very dark basement. It offered privacy for anyone too shy to play around n the auditorium. The only light was from a small TV set that showed porno flicks, and a overhead bulb halfway down a tunnel behind a locked gate, that apparently ran underneath Woodward. It was a creepy, kinky scene down there, with fisting and S&M activities often happening down there.
ReplyDeletehi can u tell me what year this was I am trying to find someone my mother worked at the empress and hung out at the stone
Deletemy mom and my auntie worked at the stone here and there they went by the names of honey ( something) and fancy deal ANY info about them would be great thanks
DeleteI went to the Stone in 1974 with my straight buddies. None of us had any idea that gay men hung out there. I remember sitting down and watching The Devil and Miss Jones. The gay boys would walk up and down looking for someone to sit next too. These guys kept sitting next to me and my other buds. We had no idea what they were doing. I ended up going to the bathroom to piss and OMG, 3 guys followed me in, 2 guys were having sex in a stall and the 3 dudes all stood around me as I tried to piss. It freaked me out. I didn't come out until 10 years later. I wish knew then what I do now. I could of had a lot of fun!
ReplyDeletedoes anyone remember someone by the name of SHIEK he worked at the empress in downtown detroit I have recently found out he is my father my mother worked at the empress and the gaity ?? theaters downtown and was also told she hung out at the stone theater as well if there is anyone with info please contact me thank you my mothers name was gloria but used the name of morning stat if thats any help this would have been in the early sixties
ReplyDeleteI got many good blowjobs there. Sissies everywhere!
ReplyDeleteIf the walls of the Stone, Sassy Cat, World Wide Books, Palmer Park and Belle Isle bathrooms could speak, they would be telling out my name.....had some of my best ass and dick there back in the day....Now its all gone, just like everything else, a fond, very fond memory....RIP
ReplyDeleteI started going to the world wide news bookstore on Woodward in the 1980s. Loved the peepshow booths with gloryholes. I was always looking for black guys.
DeleteI was a regular at both the Stone and Sassy Cat throughout the 80s. Both were dedicated to man on man sex, despite the straight porn movies. Both had box offices under brightly lit marques. I can remember the anticipation I would feel after paying (7 dollars at both) as I walked from there to front door. At the Stone you walked up a narrow ramp past a pair of waist high wall with pinball machines on either side of a curtain into the main aisle of the small theater. At Sassy Cat there were doors on either side of the box office which led to a single wide staircase, at the top of wbich was a large run down lobby with faded 70s posters of girlie movies, leading to curtains on either side of the lobby which led to two aisles. Wonderfully seedy!
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