Minnesota Theater
36-40 Ninth Street South,
Minneapolis,
MN
55403
36-40 Ninth Street South,
Minneapolis,
MN
55403
10 people
favorited this theater
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The July 2, 1938 issue of Film Daily had this item:
If Paramount’s lease was ending until February, 1939 and the house opened in March of 1928, it seems unlikely that they were the original operators of the Minnesota. I’ve never heard of anyone taking an eleven year lease on a theater.March 8th, 1944 grand opening ad in the photo section as Radio City.
Poking around the Radio City theatre
Found on Newspapers.com
Full page grand opening ad at
Found on Newspapers.com
and the photo section.
Opened 24 March 1928 and closed 14 October 1958.
Post card added courtesy of The Last Seats Remaining Facebook page. Likely the same as the 2005 dead link. Below Minnesota Theater history link also via their Facebook page.
http://spytwincities.com/twin_cities_history_minnesota_theater-600/
Click here for an exterior view of the Minnesota Theatre in 1930.
Supr8, you’re right—I stand corrected.
The remaining portion of the theater was the home of WCCO-TV/4 until the station moved to 11th & Nicollet in 1983, after which the structure was converted to office space. KSTP-TV was never located here.
WilliamMcQuade, the remaining part of the building that was the lobby is now KSTP Television; none of the original interior is intact. However, if you go to the following link and scroll through to the end, you can see the remnant of the theater exterior visible through the larger (third?) story window, at www.lileks.com/mpls/mntheat/index.html.
Is the lobby still here & intact? If so, what is it used for?
According to some, it was a victim of its own size; it would’ve had to nearly sell out every performance to turn a profit. But oh, what a magnificant theatre! Part of the arched window (in the former lobby area?) is still visible in the existing structure, if you look carefully.
“Damn Yankees” was the last film.
Here is an item from the Fergus Falls (MN) Daily Journal dated 8/27/58:
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) â€" Radio City Theater has been sold to WCCO-TV and radio and will close as a loop movie showhouse Oct. 15. It is the largest theater in Minnesota with 4,000 seating capacity. The sale was announced Tuesday night by Minnesota Amusement Co., the owner of the building, and Midwest Radio-Television, operator of WCCO. Price was not disclosed.
Martin & Lewis…by far the most successful live act at the time…played the house in the early 50s and were a sensation.
http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=12385
These are a little better. It was certainly a magnificent building.
Thank you for the additional pics!
If anyone has a pic of the chandalier(s) inside the building, in more detail, I would greatly appreciate it! Thank you!
Here are some interior photos:
http://tinyurl.com/l42fp
http://tinyurl.com/ge25u
Are there any books that have pictures of the inside of the building, or of the elaborate chandalier? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Print for sale at this link:
View link
Old postcard here (note different address):
View link
I saw “The Bridge on the River Kwai” there in April 1958 shortly before it’s October demise with “Damn Yankees”.. Coming from NYC, it reminded me more of the Roxy than RCMH, even though my cousins from Mpls. said it was designed after Radio City in NY.. Wrong.. Radio City in NY was built three years later… And God Bless, it is still standing.. Any comments?? It appears that Minneapolis currently has a paucity of movie theaters.
P.S. “Bridge” played the Palace in New York which is still running and showing “All Shook Up” , the new Elvis musical.
http://www.lileks.com/mpls/mntheat/
Good perspectives here also:
http://www.cinematour.com/tour_us.php?id=12385 <<< here are some pictures of the magnificent. Such a shame