Community theaters / Hastings Street / Black Bottom
Circle Theatre
Closed – archive entry · 1912–1936
A Hastings Street house from 1912 to 1936: first the showplace of Detroit's Jewish community, staging Yiddish-language plays from 1921, then, as the Dunbar, a movie house in the heart of Black Bottom.
Quick facts
- Opened
- 1912
- Closed
- 1936
- Seats
- about 660
02 / The story of this place
Make time for these
The Circle opened in 1912 as a legitimate theatre of about 660 seats on Hastings Street and became the showplace of Detroit's Jewish community, which then lived on the near east side. In 1921 it was renamed the Yiddish Theatre to match its program of Yiddish-language plays. As the neighborhood became the heart of Black Bottom, it was renamed the Dunbar in 1927 and ran mainly as a movie house. It closed in 1936 and was demolished.
- Showplace of Detroit's Jewish community
- Yiddish-language plays from 1921
- The Dunbar, a Black Bottom movie house, from 1927
Plan your visit
The Circle closed in 1936 and the building was demolished. For live theatre today, see the working stages in our guide.
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