LoringTheatre

1407 Nicollet Avenue South,
Minneapolis, MN 55403

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When the Loring Theatre opened in 1920, it was one of the grandest of the smaller downtown theaters in Minneapolis, dripping with marble, gilding and crystal. Its large screen was flanked by sets of tall marble pillars, and the auditorium ceiling was topped with a large dome. It had all the features of the largest downtown houses, but seated only 1,116.

Not only was it beautiful, but it had the most up to date projection equipment, "refrigerated air" and a pipe organ and house orchestra.

The Loring Theatre was said to cost well over a quarter million dollars to build, and unlike many of its neighbors, which suffered (or went belly-up) during the Depression years, the theatre remained in business and quite a popular venue. It was renovated in 1930 by architects Liebenberg & Kaplan, who added some Art Deco style details.

However, what did affect the Loring Theatre was the dawn of the TV age, and it rapidly fell into decline starting in the 1950’s. It closed in 1958.

It quickly reopened as a church, the Minneapolis Evanglistic Auditorium, as it remained for over two decades.

In the 1980’s, the Loring Theatre was used as a legitimate playhouse, and most recently, has been transformed into the Music Box Theatre, its interior made to resemble a Victorian-era music hall. It presents musical stage shows as well as plays and concerts. In January 2010, it was again re-named Loring Theatre.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft