Gopher Theatre
619 Hennepin Avenue,
Minneapolis,
MN
55403
619 Hennepin Avenue,
Minneapolis,
MN
55403
5 people
favorited this theater
When it opened in 1911, the Grand Theatre, or New Grand Theatre as it was briefly called, was a vaudeville house, but by the 1920’s, was showing movies only. It was part of the F & R circuit. The Grand Theatre was wired for sound in 1928, but by 1936 had closed.
Two years later, it was completely remodeled, in Art Moderne style, seating around 1,000, as the Gopher Theatr. The name was chosen by a contest, and comes from the University of Minnesota’s Golden Gophers football team.
Unlike its Neo-Classical predecessor, the Gopher Theatre was then-very modern looking. It featured the colors of the University of Minnesota, maroon and gold on its Vitrolite exterior and tall tower-style marquee. The interior was done in shades of white and pink.
Though it was a downtown movie house, it originally never played the big hits, though it did host a 1941 live appearance by Gene Autry which drew a large crowd.
In 1949, the Gopher Theatre was purchased from F & R by a new owner, who began a policy of screening first-run films, which continued into the 1970’s.
By the mid-1970’s, however, the Gopher Theatre was a porno house, and was closed in 1979. It was torn down soon afterwards.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater
Recent comments (view all 20 comments)
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad opened at the Orpheum, not the Gopher. I know, I was there. It may have moved to the Gopher, but it was one of the few theaters downtown I got to go to in the fifties.
I also recall To Sir with Love at the Gopher. We had a friend who was the asst. Manager and he let us in free. We should have gotten tired of To Sir, but Ms. Geeson was so cute, and Lula was fun to listen to.
Another correction. The theater was torn down for the City Center, not the IDS. The IDS sits between 7th and 8th on the East side of Nicollet. Lastly, the photo above shows the old Aster Theater at the far right.
I could swear that I saw Goldfinger at the State back in about ‘64.
“Goldfinger” definitely played at the Gopher. It was there for several months. To the best of my knowledge, it didn’t play the State at any time unless for a later double-feature rerelease and that is unlikely.
I’ve never seen a marquee and verticle sign like that. Wow!
It looks as if they are back in business as a theatre. They have show times available @ 320-563-0315.
They are playing “Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist” as of today.
Scratch that last comment…it was the Gopher in Wheaton I was referring to. (Sorry guys)
This was the Grand circa 1915 and here is a 1929 interior view.
Gopher what a name, nice looking movie house though.
Maybe they should call it the Grand Gopher.
From the late 1950s a photo postcard view of the Gopher along with the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis.