14 | JANUARY 28 • 2021 

TOP: Temple Beth El, Woodword and 

Elliot, 1903 (later the Bonstelle Theatre). 

LEFT: Stained glass window from Kahn’s 

Temple Beth El, now on display at Temple 

Beth El in Bloomfield Township. A display 

from the Kahn Legacy Foundation quoting 

the architect, “Nine-tenths of my success 

has come because I listened to what peo-

ple said they wanted and gave it to them.” 

A photo of young Albert Kahn, in fore-

ground, at the Mason & Rice firm, 1888.

MICHAEL G. SMITH

MICHAEL G. SMITH

BURTON HISTORICAL COLLECTION, 
DETROIT PUBLIC LIBRARY

