The real winner of the Democratic debates? The Fox Theatre

Many were disappointed by the first of two Democratic debates that took place in Detroit last night. Viewers felt that the format—“gotcha” questions followed by short answers and even shorter replies—made substantive discussions impossible, and that largely irrelevant candidates like John Delaney and Tim Ryan got too much airtime.

But one thing didn’t disappoint anyone: The Fox Theatre. The Art Deco masterpiece where the debates are being held has been getting rave reviews from visitors and reporters experiencing the venue’s majesty for the first time.

The Fox Theatre, designed by C. Howard Crane and opening in 1928, contains an eclectic and ornate mix of decorations in Egyptian, Far Eastern and Indian styles. The over-5,000-seat theatre built for the Fox Films chain became a National Historic Landmark in 1989.

It’s also one of the few unquestionably positive redevelopments undertaken by the Ilitch family, which bought the building in 1987. Soon after, they completed a $12 million restoration, built a new marquee, and in 2006, added the multi-story and now iconic “FOX” tower with LED lights.

People took to Twitter to express their awe of the venue and share photos.

If you want to see more, both the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News shared some photos of the Fox from their archives.