LouRugani on April 13, 2012 at 11:03 pm

“Auld Lang Syne” – Austin Theater Closes

October 24, 1955- The Austin Theater, after operating 18 years, closed its doors on its final performance Saturday night. The building was purchased from the Minnesota Amusement Co. by Otto and William Baudler, who plan to remodel it in the near future for a store building. W. F. McKallor, who opened the Austin theater as manager in April, 1937, was present at the closing Saturday night for the final checking out. The Austin opened in the early years of modern architecture and was described as “ultramodern, but not modernistic or saucy.” The opening movie, “Park Avenue Logger,” was attended by a capacity house of 506. The closing bill included Abbott and Costello in “Lost In Alaska” and “The Great Sioux Uprising” with Jeff Chandler and Faith Domergue. The movie projector, and other equipment and furnishings, will be removed by the Minnesota Amusement Co. The closing leaves three year-round theaters in the city, Paramount, Sterling and State, and the Outdoor theater.