Strand Theatre

36 S. 7th Street,
Minneapolis, MN 55402

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Related Websites

Goodfellow's (Official)

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Finkelstein & Ruben, Saxe Amusement Enterprises

Firms: Chapman & Magney

Functions: Restaurant

Styles: Art Deco, Spanish Renaissance

Previous Names: Saxe Theatre, Forum Cafeteria

Nearby Theaters

Saxe Theatre, Minneapolis 1914

Built for John E. Saxe as the first theatre in Minneapolis specifically as a movie house, the Saxe Theatre opened September 6, 1914, and was also one of the most luxurious and ornate theatres built in the city at that time, built for over $150,000.

Seating about 1,600, the Saxe Theatre was designed in Spanish Renaissance style, when most theatres were still being built to resemble late-19th century opera houses. The exterior was faced in highly elaborate terra-cotta decoration, with a theme of the four seasons.

Inside, the theatre resembled a Spanish royal palace, with mahogany and ivory lining the walls, etched glass doors in the lobby, red terra cotta tile floors, and a grand marble staircase leading to the mezzanine level. In the auditorium, the seats in both the orchestra and balcony were lined with leather, and its pipe organ, costing $10,000, was said to be the most expensive ever installed at the time west of the Mississippi.

Less than three months after opening, the Saxe Theatre was renamed the Strand Theatre on November 18, 1914, and quickly became the premier movie house in Minneapolis of the day.

By the late-1920’s, however, its days were numbered. When most movie theatres were rapidly being wired for sound, the Strand Theatre was not, and was shuttered in 1928.

However, its second life was only beginning, for which it would become much better known, when it was converted into the Forum Cafeteria. Though the ornate facade was left mostly untouched, the interior was completely rebuilt in 1929-30 in spectacularly glitzy Art Deco style.

The Forum Cafeteria was razed in 1979 to make way for the City Center Shopping Mall, but the marvelous interior of the cafeteria was saved, and re-installed inside the new mall. Now once again restored to its former glory, the former Forum now houses the fine dining establishment, Goodfellow’s.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft

Recent comments (view all 11 comments)

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on August 18, 2006 at 6:20 pm

Here is a photo of the Strand, circa 1920:
http://tinyurl.com/jntyr

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on August 29, 2006 at 8:02 pm

Here are photos from 1916 and 1918, respectively:
http://tinyurl.com/ncob5
http://tinyurl.com/mv4tl

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on June 28, 2007 at 8:16 pm

Designed by the architectural firm of Chapman & Magney.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on October 17, 2010 at 8:33 am

Here is a photo of the Saxe Theatre, from a 1916 book, “Theatres and Motion Picture Houses,” by Arthur Sherman Meloy.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on May 20, 2015 at 10:02 pm

Mid `50’s photo as the Forum Cafeteria added courtesy of Jeannie Tracy Pfoh.

Patsy
Patsy on January 27, 2016 at 11:33 am

Is the IL Foro now.

rivest266
rivest266 on January 15, 2017 at 9:06 am

September 6th, 1914 Saxe opening

Found on Newspapers.com

rivest266
rivest266 on January 15, 2017 at 2:55 pm

Renamed Strand on November 18th, 1914. Ad in photo section.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on May 29, 2018 at 10:13 am

1974 photo as the Forum cafeteria, and 1976-1979 photo as Scottieā€™s On 7th added, via the Old Minneapolis Facebook page.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on November 4, 2018 at 6:22 pm

Photo added. “Strand Theatre, Minneapolis, managed by Reuben and Finkelstein. Now showing Bluebirds.” ~ from The Moving Picture Weekly, 1917

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