 |
|
|
UER Store
|
|
sweet UER decals:
|
|
|
|
Activity
|
|
672 online
Server Time:
2024-05-12 05:44:53
|
|
|
 Intrinsic
      
Location: Collingwood
Gender: Male
 |  | ‘Lost Detroit’ shows city’s dismissed dozen
< on 12/11/2010 3:05 PM >
|  | | | 
By JILLIAN GRANDISON
Reminiscing about Detroit’s history often brings to mind images of Motown singers, auto factories and classic cars that made the city famous.
But historian and journalist Dan Austin, with photographer Sean Doerr, offers a different history by examining the city’s distinguished abandoned buildings in the book “Lost Detroit: Stories behind the Motor City’s Majestic Ruins.”
The book, released in September, tells the story of 12 of the city’s crumbling treasures, from their admirable beginnings to their depressed existence today.
Each building contains a unique story in which Austin revisits an overlooked piece of Detroit’s history.
Austin said his inspiration for writing “Lost Detroit” was born from the negative media attention that abandoned buildings in the city receive.
“I wanted to let people know that there was a story behind the boarded-up windows and the graffiti, barred exteriors of these places,” he said. “That these places all played a role in many people’s lives and in the story of the same Detroit.”
Austin takes readers on a virtual tour of the structures through elaborate details. He describes the hand-painted designs carved into the ceilings of the Eastown Theatre and the colorful brick design and ancient Aztec symbols that marked the Vanity Ballroom.
For each structure, Austin answers the question: Can this building be saved? He notes the various attempts of city stakeholders to revive the buildings and comments on their expected future.
The book is 12 chapters, each focusing on a Detroit landmark. With the turn of a page, the reader is pleasantly interrupted by a glimpse into the past, typically photographed in black and white, paralleled by a present photo.
The pictures capture all the cracks and crevices of the decaying buildings while also highlighting the breathtaking remnants of the past.
“Lost Detroit” is rich with history and paints a portrait of the era and times in which each building flourished.
Every chapter attempts to tug on the hearts of its readers with narratives brief enough to hold readers’ attention, but long enough to explain the journey.
Sections within the chapters are labeled with catchy subheadings encouraging further reading. “Dancing Days,” a subheading in the Grande Ballroom chapter, describes the venue’s transition from a jazz/big band dance club to a hot spot for punk rock music.
The subtitle “Dinner and a Movie — Minus the Movie,” in the Michigan Theatre chapter refers to its transformation from a movie theatre to a concert hall.
Austin opens with the Broderick Tower, a 34-story skyscraper that he believes would benefit the city most if revived because of its proximity to downtown.
“They say that they’ve gotten some financing and some deals in place for that,” Austin said. “But any time you’re trying to resurrect a building that is 371 feet tall that’s been empty for 22 years, it’s going to be complicated.”
The Detroit Free Press reported Dec. 3 that a deal is in process to renovate the building into an apartment complex.
The Michigan Central Station, a building Austin covers more extensively than others, is the centerpiece of the book.
He explains the massive neglect of the building from the neon graffiti on its Corinthian columns to the shattered windows.
In the book, Austin calls the building “a heartbreaking testament to the grandness of the time before the automobile and the way American life changed after it.”
Austin said he spent more time focusing on the Michigan Central Station because it is one of the most infamous abandoned buildings in the world.
“Not a day goes by when I drive by on my way into work or something where there aren’t people outside taking pictures of it,” he said.
The train station has been on the cover of national magazines and was visited by notables including Presidents Herbert Hoover, Harry S. Truman, Franklin D. Roosevelt and inventor Thomas Edison.
Doerr, who wandered into the collapsing buildings to photograph the ruins, spoke about his passion for documenting the destroyed buildings in a Newsweek video entitled “More Than Just Ruins.”
“People have been urban exploring for years, but we’re out to get the full history of the building,” he said. “I feel I need to document these places either before they get destroyed by humans or the elements — renovated or demolished.”
Austin and Doerr teamed up in 2004 after discovering their joint passion to explore Detroit’s ruins. Together they started the website Buildingsofdetroit.com to spread awareness of Detroit’s architectural history.
In both their book and website, they present a hope that these lost buildings can be restored.
This is their first book, but Austin is hopeful for more to come.
“I think that there are plenty of other stories, untold stories, in Detroit that we’d like to do,” he said. “Specifically, the buildings that have been torn down and lost for good — forgotten buildings like old city hall and our old post office.”
Source
|
|
leafloving4x4gal
   
Location: Durham Region
Gender: Female
Someday is NOT a day of the week !
| | Re: ‘Lost Detroit’ shows city’s dismissed dozen
<Reply # 1 on 12/11/2010 3:10 PM >
| | | | "The book is 12 chapters, each focusing on a Detroit landmark. With the turn of a page, the reader is pleasantly interrupted by a glimpse into the past, typically photographed in black and white, paralleled by a present photo."
I would like this book for ^ that reason !!!
Interesting article...thanks for sharing 
"if you are not selfish enough to make yourself happy, you have nothing of value to offer the world." |
|
DrainStormer
Location: Detroit, Michigan
| | Re: ‘Lost Detroit’ shows city’s dismissed dozen
<Reply # 2 on 1/11/2011 11:04 PM >
| | | | i flipped thru it, didnt buy it.
seemed pretty run of the mill
"Back in '98 my crew numbered 12, now it is just me and Andy. Most were lost on the eastside but there was an especially bad day at the UA back in 03. I don't like to talk about that day." DK-- |
|
AdventureDog
Location: Detroit, MI
Gender: Male
| | Re: ‘Lost Detroit’ shows city’s dismissed dozen
<Reply # 3 on 1/17/2011 6:03 PM >
| | | | Posted by DrainStormer
i flipped thru it, didnt buy it.
seemed pretty run of the mill
|
It is pretty run of the mill - second rate photography compared to what members here routinely post. The author works for the local newspaper and has done a great job of whoring himself out at every opportunity. They've done a first rate job of constantly promoting a second rate "book" and if I see or here one more interview with them I'm going to puke.
www.detroit-madness.com |
|
iFUBAR
This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information.
Location: East TX
Gender: Male
I <3 Hoodrats
| | Re: ‘Lost Detroit’ shows city’s dismissed dozen
<Reply # 4 on 1/17/2011 7:53 PM >
| | | | Posted by AdventureDog
It is pretty run of the mill - second rate photography compared to what members here routinely post. The author works for the local newspaper and has done a great job of whoring himself out at every opportunity. They've done a first rate job of constantly promoting a second rate "book" and if I see or here one more interview with them I'm going to puke.
|
This.
"Detroit Lives" was more fun to watch.
I'm a relatively respectable citizen. Multiple felon perhaps, but certainly not dangerous. |
|
ilduce
Oceania has always been at war with Eastasia
| |  | Re: ‘Lost Detroit’ shows city’s dismissed dozen
<Reply # 5 on 1/18/2011 12:15 AM >
| | | | Posted by AdventureDog
...The author works for the local newspaper and has done a great job of whoring himself out at every opportunity. They've done a first rate job of constantly promoting a second rate "book" and if I see or here one more interview with them I'm going to puke.
|
I know Dan Austin, and I can say with total confidence that he is in fact a complete and total whore.
That said, he is an incredibly hard-working whore. An Über-whore, if you will, who has gone to great lengths to document every aspect of the buildings and the people that built them featured in the book.
Sure, he's been hustling his action all over town, pimping it on every street corner because that's what a good author whore does. And you know what? If there wasn't a demand for it, if the people didn't want what he is pushing, he'd go back to selling crystal meth and stolen car stereos. He is filling a need.
Plus, Dan's a pretty good guy, a hard worker. He's the kind of whore who stays behind after closing time at the brothel, wiping down loads of cold jizz off the walls not because someone asked him to, but because he loves what he does. And that is why he is a successful whore. Because he's worked for it.
I respect your opinion of the book and the content. I'm not crazy about some parts of it either. That said, the wonderful thing about the free market is if you disagree with them, what's stopping you from taking a stand? If you think you can do a better job then they did, what's stopping you from doing so? I know that myself and most of the other people in this thread would welcome different views on the subject matter.
Failing that, I suppose the next time he is on NPR babbling about Detroit you could drive down to that station, bust in the studio Fight Club-style, and tell him what you think.
And if you do, tell him Duce says hi. I hardly get to talk to him anymore.
|
|
Canadaboy
If it aint rough, it aint right....
| | Re: ‘Lost Detroit’ shows city’s dismissed dozen
<Reply # 6 on 1/18/2011 2:15 AM >
| | | | Read the book, thought it was interesting. Some of the shots were decent, some not so much, but there was some care put into the book, and I thought it was reasonably well done. Def worth a buy.
|
|
mowthelawn
Location: last one out of michigan please turn off the lights
Gender: Male
| | Re: ‘Lost Detroit’ shows city’s dismissed dozen
<Reply # 7 on 1/26/2011 4:34 AM >
| | | | I picked up the book last fall and happened to show it to my dad. He had some stories about being in several of those places in the mid to late forties and fifties. It was neat to see him reminisce about the places. He also told me about all the times he was to the Hudsons store downtown. If anything maybe the book will help to get people to give a damn before these treasure are gone.
|
|
ahhntzville
Location: Boston
| | Re: ‘Lost Detroit’ shows city’s dismissed dozen
<Reply # 8 on 1/26/2011 6:51 AM >
| | | | The photographer has a penchant for installing padlocks on buildings that he does not own or have any right to be in himself. Based on this fact alone, I would never purchase this book, and in fact would love to encounter said douchebag in an abandoned building sometime.
|
|
TrixieSparrow
Location: Hamilton, ON
Gender: Female
I guess.
| | Re: ‘Lost Detroit’ shows city’s dismissed dozen
<Reply # 9 on 1/26/2011 7:01 AM >
| | | | Posted by AdventureDog
It is pretty run of the mill - second rate photography compared to what members here routinely post. The author works for the local newspaper and has done a great job of whoring himself out at every opportunity. They've done a first rate job of constantly promoting a second rate "book" and if I see or here one more interview with them I'm going to puke.
|
Oh well I suppose I shouldn't ask you if we can meet him next time I visit then?
Haha kidding.
Actually...you might enjoy me meeting someone like that lol.
Really though, did he think he was doing something original?
|
|
DrainStormer
Location: Detroit, Michigan
| | Re: ‘Lost Detroit’ shows city’s dismissed dozen
<Reply # 10 on 1/26/2011 9:41 AM >
| | | | Posted by Dresden
Really though, did he think he was doing something original?
|
lol, it was a career move, for sure. (for both of them)
the time is obviously ripe for photo books of detroit, and they didnt want to miss their chance before this topic becomes overplayed and publishers stop taking on these projects.
yeah the lock on the Book Tower roof thing that arntzville mentioned was done by Sean Doerr, aka partybag, aka SNWEB.
it was accompanied by a sassy note to the effect of "the book tower's closed, kiddies" (which is laughable since he himself is no older than 18). this is the act of a self absorbed, location hoarding, ruin pornographer of the textbook definition. if he were as righteous as his real-life persona claims that he is, and were more concerned about the welfare of the blg, then he would have locked the OUTSIDE of the building, like some of us here in fact sometimes do.
instead, he snuck in early on, got his supposedly exclusive roof shots, and then locked the roof. which is of little consequence since that bullshit can be snipped off easily.
but nonetheless since arntz brought it up i figured i'd pull the kid's card the rest of the way out into the open.
im just in a rotten ass mood tonite, lol
"Back in '98 my crew numbered 12, now it is just me and Andy. Most were lost on the eastside but there was an especially bad day at the UA back in 03. I don't like to talk about that day." DK-- |
|
desmet
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
| |  | | Re: ‘Lost Detroit’ shows city’s dismissed dozen
<Reply # 11 on 1/26/2011 4:23 PM >
| | | | Posted by arntzville
The photographer has a penchant for installing padlocks on buildings that he does not own or have any right to be in himself. Based on this fact alone, I would never purchase this book, and in fact would love to encounter said douchebag in an abandoned building sometime.
|
Exactly.
Fuck this guy up the ass with a rake. No one should buy this book if you don't like self-righteous pieces of human garbage who make things more difficult for other explorers just so they can feel cool. If it didn't give him money I'd buy a copy of his book to use as toilet paper.
His stuff is mediocre to poor at best.
36 fucking flights of stairs to find this fuckface's padlock. That does...what??...to protect the building again? I would love to run into shithead too.
[last edit 1/26/2011 4:25 PM by desmet - edited 2 times]
|
|
|
|
All content and images copyright © 2002-2024 UER.CA and respective creators. Graphical Design by Crossfire.
To contact webmaster, or click to email with problems or other questions about this site:
UER CONTACT
View Terms of Service |
View Privacy Policy |
Server colocation provided by Beanfield
This page was generated for you in 279 milliseconds. Since June 23, 2002, a total of 741436077 pages have been generated.
|
|
