Minnesota Theater
36-40 Ninth Street South,
Minneapolis,
MN
55403
36-40 Ninth Street South,
Minneapolis,
MN
55403
8 people
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Featured in “Minneapolis Under the Decree”: boxoffice
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
Photos and some history of the Minnesota/Radio City theater. Keep clicking “Next” on the bottom right of the page:
http://www.lileks.com/mpls/mntheat/index.html
Here is a photo of this theater when it was called the Radio City theater. Note the address:
View link
I can answer my own question. They are both this theater. Here is another link to a photo with the address of 36-40 Ninth Street South.
View link
About the different address of the Minnesota Theatre at 36-40 Ninth Street South. At that same address, I find a Radio City Theater that operated from 1944 to 1958. Could they both be this theater?
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