Mann Southtown
7770 Penn Ave S,
Minneapolis,
MN
55423
7770 Penn Ave S,
Minneapolis,
MN
55423
6 people
favorited this theater
The Southtown opened in 1964, at the Southtown Shopping Center, the first shopping center/theater combination in the Twin Cities. Built for the Mann chain, the theater was designed in a futuristic modern style, and its auditorium sat over 1100.
Its marquee was one of the longest ever built, and wrapped around the entire front of the theater. The Southtown was said to cost upwards of $750,000 and was personally opened by Ted Mann himself on opening night.
Other amenities the Southtown included was a colossal screen, 70 by 36 feet, a pair of fountains in the lobby, an oval shaped candy counter, and smoking loges. It was hailed in newspaper ads around the time it opened as “The Comfort Theatre of Tomorrow!”
Its first decade in operation, the Southtown primarily screened second-run features, though it was used by Mann on occasion for the Twin Cities premieres of several films, which soon afterwards were moved to his Academy Theatre downtown.
In the mid-70s, the Southtown became a first-run house, known for screening blockbuster commercial hits like “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and “Superman” on its huge screen.
In 1980, the Southtown was twinned, and its great screen was lost. Some of its 60s decor was removed at this time as well, including its outdoor box office. The theater was closed in fall of 1995 and razed soon after.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 58 comments)
Great research, Michael Coate! I think you’ve proven without question the oiginal STAR WARS movie never played at Southtown. Me thinks “BuddyBoy100” may be confusing STAR WARS with STAR TREK.
I remember seeing Empire there back in 1980! After the split, I saw “9 to 5” there. Was never quite the same once it split in two. I remember when they had Batman Returns there, they got a huge spotlight and had a big cardboard bat symbol on it! Unfortunately, the clouds or whatnot didn’t show the signal like it did in the comics and movies, but a full size batsignal there in person WAS slick! I miss the Southtown!!!!!
Bigred, I’d love to see your photos too if you can. I’m at: – thanks!
Thanks for the photos my friend! Good memories!
I do remember seeing a re-run of Return of the Jedi there in 1985 or 1986 approx. I remember the re-release of Star Wars in 1979, but that was at the Edina Theater at the time. I remember seeing Star Wars at the Southdale theater in 1978.
When I saw Empire Strikes back there during the summer of 1980, they had one of those goofy “straw polls” (it was an election year) – where you selected your straw from a bin or something for Reagan, Carter, or Jessie Jackson(can’t remember offhand if he was candidate #3 or not…).
Oops. I meant I saw SW at Southdale in 1977, not 1978…. sorry.
Hello, Do any of you have any PHOTOS of the Mann Southtown Theater? If so, could you please email them to ? I would love to see them and also share them with my older brothers! That place was definitely magical. I loved looking at the bright orange stones that glowed along the entryway walls as you entered the women’s bathroom. The bathroom didn’t have an entrance door. It just curved around so no one could see you inside it. That place was way-ahead-of-its-time (futuristic) and now it’s gone. So sad. Janet
I would appreciate it if someone would email me photos of the Mann Southtown Theater (exterior/lobby, especially!). I am also looking for a picture of the old Valley West Theater which was located in the Valley West Shopping Center. I know it wasn’t near as fancy as the Southtown Theater, but it would mean alot to see a photo of it. The building is now for sale (again. Whenever I see the building I can’t help but remember the oversised red velvet draperies that once hung on the windows in the lobby. My email address is I love this website!!!
Here is a circa 1968 photo of the Mann Southtown (third photo from the top):
View link
Here is a more close-up view of the same photo (scroll down to bottom):
http://tinyurl.com/2ebvv5b
Sorry it ended I was enjoying the “STAR WARS” debate.Budyboy100,if you are still around.Michael knows his “STAR WARS” movies He corrected me on it and I was a Dang Theatre MANAGER!!!!!!!!!
They hosted a Star Trek (1-5) marathon there one Saturday which was a lot of fun…..will never forget they trumpeted the twin cities premiere of the ST6 trailer which the audience went nuts for…