Saturday, Jan. 14 

VIP Entry – 7:00 PM

Doors – 7:30 PM 

Organ Overture—7:30 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets - $12 

VIP Tickets - $25 (See below for details)  

1hr 19min | NR | Documentary | USA 

The Senate Theater is proud to present this screening of the locally and lovingly produced documentary, Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale, the winner of the Hometown Talent Award and Opening Night Film at the Freep Film Festival. Narrated by local music legend Martha Reeves, the film tells a story of local history and contemporary preservation efforts surrounding the long shuttered Boblo Island amusement park and its ferry boats. With whimsicality and magical realism Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale creates a fantastical atmosphere in keeping with the collective memory of that bygone bit of Shangri-La in the Detroit River. 

This may be your only chance to see this film in a theater, and it is sure to be a memorable night, filled with a sense of community, nostalgia and hope for renewal. A portion of each ticket will go towards historical preservation: one portion to the upkeep and restoration of the Senate and its priceless theater organ, and the another towards the ongoing efforts to restore the “Boblo Boat” Ste. Claire steamboat which was severely damaged by fire in 2018. Attendees can also expect an organ overture featuring Boblo Island music, plus a question-and-answer session with the filmmaker and the Ste. Claire Restoration Project. Additionally, there will be a 50/50 raffle with prizes for attendees with all proceeds going to the Ste. Claire restoration. 

Synopsis: 

When Ste. Claire and SS Columbia sounded their whistles, every Detroit kid knew it heralded the coming of summer and the magic of ferrying over to nearby Boblo Island Amusement Park. After 85 years of operation, these two sister steamships – the oldest in America - awaken from a deep slumber to find a devoted team of enthusiasts have set out to rescue them from their deteriorating state. SS Columbia has been whisked away to New York while Claire's fate rests in the hands of an unlikely band of heroes: a doctor, a psychic, and an amusement park fanatic. Martha Reeves, the Motown legend with a lilting voice, narrates this revelatory fable-doc that’s full of heart and hard truths about a challenging restoration, the iconic amusement park’s exciting yet whitewashed history, and the intoxicating ways that nostalgia can inspire and blur memories. 

Go to Bobloboatdetroit.com for more information on the Ste. Claire restoration efforts. 

Check out bobloboatsfilm.com to learn more about this remarkable Detroit-centric film. 

  VIP ADMISSION INCLUDES:

• Early entry to theater for behind the scenes tour 
• Free small popcorn 
• $5 discount on movie and St. Clare Restoration project merch 
• Vintage design souvenir ticket 

The Senate Theater and The Detroit Theater Organ Society is supported by The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and The National Endowment for the Arts.