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A short research revealed, that the Statler was accustomed to work with cars as exhibits - well, we talking about Detroit at its peak. Was the bar part of the hotel?

The following photo series has been taken at a superb concert hall or theatre.



[pictures source:LIFE] Click to enlarge!

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Hello Guscha:

You are looking that the gracious Masonic Temple in downtown Detroit.

When you posted photo 2(a) back on page 2 I thought I recognized the stage doors in the background and thought that could not be the Statler Hotel. Now that you posted more photos I can see it is the Masonic Temple. BTW our local Packard club toured this building about a year ago.

Attached below is a somewhat current image - they painted over some of the fancy paint work from when it was first built in 1927. You can see those unique stage doors in the background. Contrast that with the vintage image also attach? and with more found here:historicdetroit.org/galleries/masonic-temple-old-photos/

This was the largest of several auditoriums in the Masonic and would seat 4,000 people. It was (and still is) the largest Masonic Temple in the world. Read more here:historicdetroit.org/building/masonic-temple/

Yes, Detroit was a wonderful town during its heyday.

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Roger, good job! It answers both, the question related to the theatre as well as to the above mentioned bar. Please compare the column and the little stage here with the stage and columns showed there. I think that the localisation is done. Again thank you.

Next to a new set of pictures comes a snippet, which may reports from the other side of the delivery chain: the handover of one of the anniversary cars.





sources
snippet - wallawalladrazanphotos.com
pics - LIFE
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Hello Guscha:

Fabulous work you are doing here and digging up this Packard Golden Anniversary celebration. Both your "here" and "there" photos are from the Masonic Temple. As I mentioned earlier, they had several auditoriums and various sized ballrooms for conventions and paries.

You can verify the location for yourself. In my post #42 I have a link to the historicdetroit.org website that contains vintage images of the Masonic Temple. Your "there" image is among the vintage images on historicdetroit.

BTW, I love the Packard radiator shell framing the stage in the large auditorium.

Quote:
Roger, that's what I did. The "there"-link goes to the historicdetroit.org website, you recommended.
Now two stories are offered to the auditorium which show an accidental resemblance. Please find below two ways to get a 1949 Packard for free. But one points to the very begin of the Packard history, whereas the other one came into being a couple of months before the final curtain.


sources
snippet #1 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; November 6, 1949
snippet #2 - The Sunday Star-News; May 1, 1955
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When reading the last sentence above "All you have to do is Register" then I have a sense of d?j? vu. Haven't we seen it before somewhere? All you have to do is Register ... All you have to do is ..., is that you, Mal?

Below an item, found on ebay today.


[pictures source: ebay; item number 201233160710] Click to enlarge!

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Hi Guscha

Well, Star Furniture Co. was exactly giving away the store offering a six year old Packard for free, but one only need come-in and register.

The April to July 1955 NADA Used Car values of various '49 Eights averaged $225-250 for trade allowance, $295-325 retail. Even Super and Customs were in that range.

But, a free used car was a free car just the same, so someone got wheels for just registering.....and maybe endured the hard sell on a lovely new living-room suite!

Imagine how many of us would have beat a path to the door if a Custom Eight convertible were the prize!

Steve

""All you have to do is Register" then I have a sense of d?j? vu. Haven't we seen it before somewhere? All you have to do is Register ... All you have to do is ..., is that you, Mal? "

Guilty as charged, but.......I'm following a time honoured tradition!

Steve, Mal, thanks!
The attached snipped hasn't to do with the aniversary but is an appropriate occasion to return to the above mentioned Ed Jones, who is the first from right at the next pic.


"...driver's door reads 'The Millionth Packard 1899-1947,' man standing at driver's door, front view of 1899 Packard model A with two men seated inside. Inscribed on photo back; Packard convertible, the millionth Packard built, shown with 1899 Packard and three company executives.
"


sources
pic #1 - Photo courtesy of the Detroit Public Library, National Automotive History Collection and used with permission.
snippet - The Spartanburg Herald; May 16, 1947
pics 2 & 3 - LIFE
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Hi Guscha

Mr. Neal pictures the handing of keys to a new 23rd Series Deluxe Eight to Ed Jones in recognition of his long service to the company.

But, I know what George Christopher thinking at that moment....."well, there's one less leftover to get rid of.........wonder who else I can palm off a few onto!

Steve