World Theatre
16 N. 7th Street,
Minneapolis,
MN
55402
16 N. 7th Street,
Minneapolis,
MN
55402
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“The Graduate” opened here fifty years ago today. The film went on to play a venue record 57 weeks. And here’s a new retrospective article which includes some exhibition history (and other) details to commemorate the classic film’s golden anniversary.
October 20th, 1932 grand opening ad in the photo section.
Article:
Found on Newspapers.com
I worked at the World and Academy theaters in the late 70’s. Here is a comic I did about one story……https://www.facebook.com/357853984334717/photos/a.656286354491477.1073741834.357853984334717/923656207754489/?type=3&theater
I moved to Minneapolis in 1966. The World began its showings at 10:00 am. I could squeeze in an early movie and still make my afternoon classes at the U. The concession lady who sold popcorn always flexed the box so I’d get an extra generous helping.
Photo added to Photos Section. Photo credit and below copy Ⓒ James Orndorf.
The WORLD Theater letters were removed in the middle of the night by Tom H. and brought to First Ave., they were used in a downtown holiday decorating contest, which the Ave. lost to Glam Slam (I think).
They eventually disappeared from the Ave. when the storage room was gutted for the bar behind the ladies restroom.
Ⓒ James Orndorf
1958 photo added courtesy of The Last Remaining Seats Facebook page. Possibly the same photo from the 2008 dead link.
1977 photo added, credit William Burleson, who worked there at the time.
1972 photo added courtesy of Mike Evangelist.
Before it was remodeled in 1933, the lobby fronted on Hennepin Avenue. Later, during Ted Mann’s tenure, the balcony was remodeled into his offices and screening room, with an entrance on 7th. Street.
Before it was remodeled in 1933, the lobby fronted on Hennepin Avenue. Later, during Ted Mann’s tenure, the balcony was remodeled into his offices and screening room, with an entrance on 7th. Street.
When Ted Mann had the World Theatre remodeled in 1955, the project was designed by Liebenberg & Kaplan. Boxoffice of October 22, 1955, published a four-page article about the project, which begins here.
Here’s some trivia about The World and/or Academy (Shubert) theaters: Purple Rain was filmed in Minneapolis, including a lot of scenes at the First Avenue nightclub directly across 7th Street (the former Greyhound bus depot). The scene in which Jerome Benton dumps a woman in a trash bin was shot in the alley next to one or both of the theaters.
Here is a view of both theaters from wikipedia, circa 1957:
http://tinyurl.com/6hfdpo
Here is the video mentioned on 2/6/06. I think that’s the Academy in the beginning of the video as well:
http://tinyurl.com/5ownqm
Here is a 1957 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/er9vq
1953:
http://tinyurl.com/oek98
This and the theater next door are shown towards the beginning of an old Husker Du video, “Makes No Sense At All.” The World looks identical to this pic, except for being run down – tiles missing from the blank marquee, a “For Lease” sign in the window.
The large theatre next door to the World with the sign “Minneapolis Evangelical Auditorium” on the side and the name “Alvin Theatre” on its stage tower, was the 1910 Shubert Theatre, listed on Cinema Treasures under the name it received when remodeled and reopened as a road show house two years after this picture was taken, the Academy.