asonvs-ardi

cr,

Going
downtown to
Hudson's was a
much-anticipated
adventure for thousands
of metro Detroiters.

A documentary illustrates not only the debate over demolition but the depth
of feeling metro Detroiters share for a Detroit landmark.

SUZANNE CHESSLER
Special to The Jewish News

I

f you have pleasant memories of
shopping at Hudson's down-
town, you're certainly not alone.
The store is legendary for its
range of merchandise, ambience and
courteous staff.
Gary Glaser remembers all that well
and recalls. it for others through a doc-
umentary video to be shown at 7 p.m.
Sunday, June 14, on WTVS-Channel
56.

6/12
1998

86

"The Hudson's Building," which
Glaser produced and wrote with Dave
Toorongian, spotlights happy reminis-
cences of customers and employees
with pictures of the store when it was
in its prime.
The film also shows the darker side
of the building and the controversy
surrounding it. Closed in 1983, now
gutted and dilapidated, it brings heat-
ed debate from people committed to
saving anerestoring the structure and
those set on seeing it torn down.
"There is a depth of feeling that

people have for the building," said
Glazer, who makes industrial videos as
well as documentaries. "We don't have
the answers, but we did bring groups
together for discussions."
Glaser, who reports that the implo-
sion of the 106-year-old structure
seems imminent, interviewed develop-
ers, city planners, preservationists and
city council members to offer differing
views. The documentary is narrated by
WXYT personality Dave Dixon and
features former employees Jessie
Schneidewind and Namon Clarke,

Preservation Wayne president Jim
Turner and developer Randy
Alexander.
"My father had a small store off
Woodward in Highland Park, and we
used to go straight down Woodward
to Hudson's," recalled Glaser about his
own experiences. "When I went there
as a child, I knew that people loved
it.
Glaser, a graduate of Oakland
University, received the school's first
degree in film/video in 1974. After
graduation, he took a job as stage