Dundee Theatre

Once one of the many single-screen theatres in the city of Omaha, the Dundee Theatre has out lived them all (not to mention a few multiplexes). Originally opened as a stage theatre, it was converted into a movie house in the 1930’s, although the original stage, dressing rooms, and even the gold curtains can all be found right behind the Dundee’s huge single-panel screen. Originally, seating was provided for 591.

In 1958, the Dundee Theatre was acquired by Cooper Theatres and under their ownership the theatre played mostly foreign movies until 1965, when it ran “The Sound of Music” for 118 weeks. After a few more tries at playing long-running musicals, the theatre switched back to playing foreign movies, and is often mistaken as being one of the many porno-movie houses in the area at that time. In reality it was actually playing films like Ingmar Bergman’s “Cries and Whispers” and Federico Fellini’s “Amarcord”.

In 1974, Cooper Theatres ceased their theatre operations and sold the Dundee Theatre to two Omaha businesssmen, who planned to convert the theatre into a family-friendly theatre. This failed and the theatre closed for a time before being purchased by the current owner, Denny Moran in 1980.

Under Moran’s ownership the Dundee Theatre has undergone extensive renovations, including the installation of state-of-art sound system and high quality projection equipement. The Dundee Theatre has been operating since 1980 exclusively as an Art and independent theatre, running a daily regular engagement and special midnight screenings of classic and cult movies every Friday and Saturday night. In recent times I have seen “North By Northwest”, “Dr. Strangelove”, “Hard Day’s Night”, and many others.

It is a great attraction for the neighborhood and Omaha’s last single-screen theater.

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