Heights Theatre

The Heights Theatre was opened in 1926 by Arthur Gluek of the Gluek Brewery family as a real estate venture.

Built in the Italian Renaissance style on the exterior, resembling a Florentine palace, the inside was decorated in the Beaux-Arts style, more popular 20-30 years prior to the theater’s opening.

It originally featured both "high class amateur vaudeville acts" (as an early advertisement stated) and motion pictures, but later became simply a neighborhood movie house.

The Heights Theatre could seat about 450 and contained a stage, orchestra pit, and Egyptian crystal chandeliers hanging in the auditorium.

In 1988, the theater was purchased by Dave Holmgren and Todd Letness who restored the Heights to its 20s appearance, including the original color scheme of the auditorium, uncovering the orchestra pit, which was covered over at some point decades ago, restoring polychromed woodwork that were walled over in the 1940’s, and adding new seats and carpeting.

A state of the art light and sound system have also been installed, as has the former Wurlitzer Pipe Organ of Radio Station WCCO which was originally at the Nicollet Hotel.

It is the first movie theater in the Twin Cities area to offer live organ music before the feature since the 1950’s.

Today, the Heights Theatre offers first run, art, revival, and foreign film, as well as concerts on its stage.

Recent comments (view all 20 comments)

lostmemory on October 5, 2007 at 7:15 am

This is another recent view of the Heights Theater.

lostmemory on November 12, 2007 at 9:09 am

Another recent photo of the Heights Theater can be seen here.

MinnesotaJones on February 18, 2009 at 11:50 am

The Heights is in a class all by itself. Not only first run shows, but FUN showings as well. In the last few years, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the original Planet of the Apes, Lawrence of Arabia, and the Wizard of Oz there. And Jerry Marien (the lollypop munchkin) was in attendance for that showing, and at 88 years young, it was wonderful to meet him in person. Thank you Heights!

KJB2012 on June 22, 2009 at 11:51 am

“West Side Story” is screening here for a week. A new print is promised.

MPol on June 22, 2009 at 1:44 pm

Oooh! I’m excited for you guys!! Wish I could be there to see “West Side Story”, since that’s my alltime favorite film! Anyway-it’s a great-looking theate, the Heights. Enjoy!!

Kirk: Let us know how WSS went!

blueboy445 on September 15, 2009 at 5:00 pm

Tom and Dave bought the theater in 1998, NOT 1988 as it says above, and they seat just under 400, about 395 or so. Trust me. I work there.

blueboy445 on September 15, 2009 at 5:04 pm

Oh and West Side Story did well. That was really a fun show.

KJB2012 on September 15, 2009 at 5:53 pm

West Side Story must have done well. I was there on Monday or Tuesday and good crowd. The print was super. Minneapolis is so lucky to have the Heights.

hdtv267 on October 22, 2010 at 2:16 pm

The Heights looks like a great place to see a movie.

I had the great pleasure of seeing a Youtube clip of their 2008 Halloween presentation of “House on Haunted Hill” with a great variation on the “Emerg-o”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I84IY4ooVv8

I understand that they did the Tingler in 2007.

2010 will see “Strait Jacket”.

I’m sure William Castle is pleased at all of this beyond the grave!

kjb2012 on September 12, 2011 at 9:41 am

70mm is coming back to the Heights. They will be presenting “West Side Story” in 70mm on 22 Sept at 7:30.