100 Years of Film and Music: Detroit’s Senate Theater Marks Milestone With October Event
DETROIT – The Senate Theater will celebrate its 100th anniversary this October with two community-focused events bringing together silent film, live performance, Detroit talent and the unmistakable sound of its historic Mighty Wurlitzer organ. The festivities begin Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026 — exactly 100 years after the theater first opened its doors on Michigan Avenue. The celebration continues that Saturday with a larger centennial event featuring special programming and welcoming the broader community. Both events take place at the Senate Theater, 6424 Michigan Avenue, in Detroit.
The October events will also launch a centennial initiative extending through the Mighty Wurlitzer’s 100th anniversary in November 2028. Over the next two years, plans include preserving and sharing more than 700 historic concert recordings with the Detroit Sound Conservancy, working with the Detroit Collaborative Design Center to help the community shape the theater’s future and pursuing a National Register of Historic Places designation.
The Senate’s upcoming centennial events will include:
Oct. 7, 7:30 p.m.: Centennial Encore: On the exact date of the theater’s 1926 opening, the Senate will recreate the spirit of its first night with a screening of Cecil B. DeMille’s The Volga Boatman, the same silent film presented to audiences a century earlier. Detroit Red Wings organist Lance Luce will accompany the film live on the Mighty Wurlitzer, giving guests the opportunity to experience silent cinema as early moviegoers did, with the score created in real time and the theater itself becoming part of the performance. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at https://app.gopassage.com/events/39617.
Oct. 10, 7 p.m.: Party of the Century: The celebration will continue with a $25 community event inspired by the era when neighborhood movie houses paired films with live entertainment. Party of the Century will feature music, comedy, magic, spoken word, film, Detroit performers and the Mighty Wurlitzer, creating a lively and welcoming evening that feels distinctly Detroit. Tickets are $25 to $150 and can be purchased at
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/party-of-the-century.
“The Senate made it to 100 because generations of volunteers and supporters believed Detroit still needed a place like this,” said Lance Luce, Detroit Theater Organ Society president. “This anniversary is our chance to welcome more people in, celebrate what the community saved and build the support needed to keep the theater open for the next 100 years.”
While the centennial is a celebration, it also comes at an important moment for the building itself. The Senate will need significant capital work over the next several years, including a roof replacement, waterproofing, ongoing maintenance and specialized care for the Mighty Wurlitzer. Ticket sales and donations tied to the anniversary will help the volunteer-run organization continue offering affordable programming while addressing the physical needs that make every film, concert, performance and community event possible, as well as opportunities to invest in audio and volunteer recruitment.
The Senate has survived because generations of volunteers and supporters believed it was worth saving, from the local enthusiasts who purchased the building for $1,000 in back taxes to the community members who helped restore its marquee and the volunteers who continue to repair the theater, maintain the organ, pop the popcorn, book films and welcome audiences today. That same spirit will carry the centennial forward, inviting Detroiters to attend, donate, volunteer, share their memories and help introduce a new generation to the Senate.