Cooper Theatre

5755 Wayzata Boulevard,
St. Louis Park, MN 55416

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Cineplex Odeon, Cooper Foundation, Plitt Theatres

Architects: Richard L. Crowther

Styles: Streamline Moderne

Previous Names: Cooper Cameo Theatre

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News About This Theater

Cooper Theatre

Opened in 1962 with the Cinerama film “The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm”. The 808-seat Cooper Theatre was the home of Cinerama in Minneapolis, part of the Golden Triangle of Cooper theatres (with the Cooper Theatre in Denver and the Indian Hills Theater in Omaha). In February 1977 a 300-seat Cameo Theatre was opened attached to the main theatre.

The Cooper Theatre later became the flagship of Plitt Theatres, but eventually closed in January 1991, after a run of the film “Dances With Wolves”.

Contributed by Mjv

Recent comments (view all 66 comments)

DTSguy
DTSguy on August 27, 2011 at 8:53 am

Great theater we saw “Abyss”, “Hunt/Red October”, “Godfather 3”, and even “Ten Commandments” in….

Flatnate
Flatnate on December 11, 2011 at 5:48 pm

I was excited to see that the Cooper was included in a segment produced by Twin Cities Public Television for the Lost Twin Cities III special. It was really well done with lots of pictures and information. Covered everything from the premiere with the Brothers Grimm, to the long run of How the West was Won, Airport and its end with Dances With Wolves. Definitely worth checking out for any Cooper or Cinerama fans. Would love to find a way to put some screen caps up on the site here (although I’m not sure if that is allowed, and I’m not sure if many of the pics were the St. Louis Park Cooper or ones taken from Indian Hills or Denver).

NERVA
NERVA on November 28, 2012 at 9:49 pm

I saw Bladerunner (the original cut) at Indian Hills in Omaha in 1982. 10 years later… I saw Bladerunner (The Director’s Cut) at the Cooper Theater in Denver. Glad I was able to see those films in those beautiful movie theaters.

Jesse Hoheisel
Jesse Hoheisel on June 17, 2013 at 12:21 am

I just posted a write up about the Cooper on my website. Let me know what you think. http://wp.me/p20gfX-15z

Redwards1
Redwards1 on March 8, 2014 at 9:25 pm

This was the best Cinerama installation in America. The screen was gigantic, the projection & sound superb. I recently attended the Cinerama Festival in Los Angeles at the Cinerama Dome and it did not come close to the thrill of seeing & hearing Cinerama at the Cooper. Ironic the Minneapolis Tribune celebrated the opening of the Cooper as the successor to the Radio City movie palace downtown & they have both met the wrecking ball.

Denvercary
Denvercary on March 22, 2014 at 8:38 pm

I have three Cinerama projectors and a Cinerama sound reproducer like the ones that were installed at the three Cooper Cinerama Theaters during the three-strip Cinerama days. If anybody would like to see them, please contact me at . I would be happy to show them to you. Or, I’ll be happy to send photographs to you.

oldusherette
oldusherette on September 10, 2015 at 6:06 pm

I was an usherette in a black dress with pearl necklace in the early 60s. “How the West Was Won” was playing. Salary was $1.10/hour. There were so many terrific young women who worked as usherettes, and most were university students. There was Mauricette, Emily, Linda, Dallas. I should drag out photos. We partied together, had wedding showers, sleepovers. It was the best time for me as I had just moved there from California. —A big shout out to all those usherettes. —Patty Fewer

mntwister
mntwister on September 10, 2015 at 7:52 pm

Here is a link to watch Lost Twin Cities III, the Cooper Theater section starts at about 36 minutes. Be prepared to shed a tear or two:

http://video.tpt.org/video/2258670927/

rivest266
rivest266 on January 16, 2017 at 6:49 pm

Grand opening ad in the photo section and below

Found on Newspapers.com

Coate
Coate on June 26, 2017 at 1:22 pm

New Showcase Presentations in Minneapolis article includes mention of the numerous Cinerama and 70mm presentations here and other Twin Cities area cinemas.

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