Fargo Theatre

This beautiful theatre originally opened on March 15, 1926 by the Finkelstein & Ruben chain. Its first movie played was “The Man on the Box” staring Syd Chaplin and directed by Charles Resiner. Tom Mix and his Wonder Horse Tony appeared on stage here as well.

It was equipped with a Wurlitzer Style ‘EX’ 2 manual 7 ranks organ. The instrument fell out of use in 1948 and didn’t play for the next 25 years. It was restored in 1973, but replaced in early 1979 by a 3 manual refurbished church 3 manual Wurlitzer console. Between 1979 and 1986 the organ was expanded to 15 ranks. In 1988-1989 during a restoration of the theatre, a new 4 manual console by the Johnson organ company was installed. Over the enxt few years the instrument was enlarged to 21 ranks, eventually becoming 32 ranks, but since July 2023 the instrument is a 4 manual 27 ranks in 2026.

Remodeled in 1937 by architects Liebenberg & Kaplan in an Art Deco style, with 1,124 seats. For years it has been home to a twice annual silent movie night, in which classics like the “Phantom of the Opera”, “Ella Cinders”, “The Thief of Bagdad”, and “The General” are accompanied by an original live score on the pipe organ.

Recent comments (view all 27 comments)

kencmcintyre on April 24, 2010 at 9:27 pm

Brrr:
http://tinyurl.com/23oxuod

TLSLOEWS on April 24, 2010 at 10:10 pm

Thers snow business like snow business.

Mike Rogers on June 26, 2010 at 3:38 pm

In 1993 the Fargo Theatre was the only Red River Valley area Theatre to boast a 70mm Projection system.Funded in part by a Grant from Great Plains Software.The first 70mm movie was “Lawrence of Arabia” The David Lean Classic.This comes from Boxoffice Nov.1989.

Mike Rogers on June 26, 2010 at 3:40 pm

Sorry Guys,I caught my mistake, It is not 1993,BUT 1989.

Patsy on March 22, 2011 at 4:13 pm

This theatre was featured today on the Weather Channel when Mike Sidell broadcast in front of the theatre…could see the vertical marquee.

Patsy on December 12, 2011 at 3:45 pm

This theatre has also been featured in a recent Travel magazine.

DavidZornig on May 5, 2015 at 1:33 am

December 1947 photo added, photo credit Clinton L. Voss. “Kiss Of Death” on the marquee.

GBC72 on November 19, 2015 at 2:42 pm

Regarding the Fargo Theatre’s premiere movie “The Man on the Box,” Syd Chaplin wired a telegram for opening night that read:

“WISH TO GREET YOU ON THE OPENING OF YOUR NEW THEATER STOP I FEEL HIGHLY HONORED TO KNOW THAT MY LATEST FARCE COMEDY ‘MAN ON BOX’ IS TO OPEN THE HOUSE STOP THINK IT MY BEST WORK STOP HOPE FARGO FANS LIKE IT.”

rivest266 on November 1, 2024 at 4:42 pm

Opening article:

Fargo theatre opening 15 Mar 1926, Mon The Fargo Forum, Daily Republican, and Moorhead Daily News (Fargo, North Dakota) Newspapers.com

50sSNIPES on June 20, 2026 at 7:41 am

Once operated by CEC Theatres.