This theater is also very similar to the Pantages in Minneapolis, which was recently restored. Priteca used the same model for most of his theaters; only slightly altering the interior decorations between locations.
That picture is very interesting. It seems there were no cars at all and people are just milling around in the middle of the street. Odd isn’t it? Granted this was before cars were as common to own as they are today.
It is a fantastic Liebenberg & Kaplan theater. The building has so much grace and elegance even in its deteriorated state. Hopefully the right funds will come along soon. The building would make a fantastic music school.
The interior of this theater is amazingly similar to the Pantages in Minneapolis. The Minneapolis theater is missing its side boxes and , rear acoutic arch corbels and original lobby though. ( all thanks to Ted Mann, a local hero for some, a destroyer of fine theaters to others.) The Tacoma theater served as a model for restoring the Minneapolis Pantages.
This picture shows the theater as it looks today. Very little has been done to alter the facade other than the infill of upperfloor corner to add office space.
Only in Detroit. The Michigan Theater was built by riches of the automotive industry which utlimatly destroyed it. Oh how our priorities have changed…sigh
Another interesting fact is that the Stimson Building, which houses the theater was intended to be a large office block. It was discovered during the renovation that the 2-story Stimson was way overbuilt with huge columns that poke through the roof. Upon later investigation they found pictures advertising a new 12-story building housing the Pantages from the 1910s. It is still possible that the upper stories could be built, perhaps as a hotel to serve the entertainment district…
The marquee of the theater was supported on big cast iron columns over the sidewalk on Hennepin. One wall of the theater was shared with the Mason’s Hall (now the Hennepin Center for the Arts). One of the original columns is still embeded on the corner of the Masons' building which can be seen on NE corner facing Hennepin. The Shubert Theatre was moved the site adjacent to the Unique site where the West Hotel once stood. An ambitious plan to create a glass atrium between the Mason’s Building and the Shubert is awaiting funding. Hopefully they will preserve this little chunk of the Unique’s forgotten history.
Ted Mann has quite a legacy of destroying the great movie palaces of Minneapolis. Having worked closely with the architects that refurbished the theater most recently, I know first hand the damage that man could do. He was a fan of updating rather than preserving and the Pantages suffered. During remodeling, anything that protruded from the wall was hacked off to hang drapes. The original lobby was gutted, hence the new ‘modern’ lobby. I beleive he also worked on the Acadamy (Shubert) which is in dire need of restoration.
They are now discussing placing a nightclub in the Skyway. This would certainly liven up this stretch of Hennepin. Perhaps it will also push out the rather seedy skyway lounge, one of the last strip bars on Hennepin Avenue. I personally see razing the theater building as a good option. It is poorly designed and does nothing for the asthetic value of the street. Perhaps a new building could bring life back to the block with restaurants, a hotel, retail etc. As the building currently stands it is a fortress to anyone walking on the street level and exudes the poor architectural practices of the 1970s. Unfortuanly there is little of much value here other than the memories.
This is also a Liebenberg and Kaplan theater. It is the only remaining movie theater with a balcony in Minneapolis. It originally had a searchlight on at the top of the vertical neon sign that was a becon for the neighbrhood.
The architect for the theater was Liebenberg & Kaplan which built many theaters in the midwest.
Cute Theater, awkward proportions though.
The interior doesn’t appear to be pure Art Deco. I would describe it as a hybrid of French Renaissance, Beaux Arts and Deco.
Here is a link for a more detailed history: http://www.erieevents.com/warner-history.html
This theater is also very similar to the Pantages in Minneapolis, which was recently restored. Priteca used the same model for most of his theaters; only slightly altering the interior decorations between locations.
That picture is very interesting. It seems there were no cars at all and people are just milling around in the middle of the street. Odd isn’t it? Granted this was before cars were as common to own as they are today.
View link
I believe the names of the builders of the mall were Harold and Mary, hence the name HarMar.
It is a fantastic Liebenberg & Kaplan theater. The building has so much grace and elegance even in its deteriorated state. Hopefully the right funds will come along soon. The building would make a fantastic music school.
The interior of this theater is amazingly similar to the Pantages in Minneapolis. The Minneapolis theater is missing its side boxes and , rear acoutic arch corbels and original lobby though. ( all thanks to Ted Mann, a local hero for some, a destroyer of fine theaters to others.) The Tacoma theater served as a model for restoring the Minneapolis Pantages.
Current picture of the theater-
http://www.phototour.minneapolis.mn.us/1853
1953 view of the theater:
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Picture from 1910 construction-
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Here is a picture showing the theater in 1952-
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1953-
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This picture shows the theater as it looks today. Very little has been done to alter the facade other than the infill of upperfloor corner to add office space.
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The address of the theater is 345 13th Avenue NE.
A picture from 1945 showing the interesting Egygptian auditorium-
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Here is a picture of the Homewood from 1950-
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Only in Detroit. The Michigan Theater was built by riches of the automotive industry which utlimatly destroyed it. Oh how our priorities have changed…sigh
Another interesting fact is that the Stimson Building, which houses the theater was intended to be a large office block. It was discovered during the renovation that the 2-story Stimson was way overbuilt with huge columns that poke through the roof. Upon later investigation they found pictures advertising a new 12-story building housing the Pantages from the 1910s. It is still possible that the upper stories could be built, perhaps as a hotel to serve the entertainment district…
-Sean
Here is link for the project:
View link
(great visuals)
The marquee of the theater was supported on big cast iron columns over the sidewalk on Hennepin. One wall of the theater was shared with the Mason’s Hall (now the Hennepin Center for the Arts). One of the original columns is still embeded on the corner of the Masons' building which can be seen on NE corner facing Hennepin. The Shubert Theatre was moved the site adjacent to the Unique site where the West Hotel once stood. An ambitious plan to create a glass atrium between the Mason’s Building and the Shubert is awaiting funding. Hopefully they will preserve this little chunk of the Unique’s forgotten history.
A link or two for pictures:
View link
View link
Ted Mann has quite a legacy of destroying the great movie palaces of Minneapolis. Having worked closely with the architects that refurbished the theater most recently, I know first hand the damage that man could do. He was a fan of updating rather than preserving and the Pantages suffered. During remodeling, anything that protruded from the wall was hacked off to hang drapes. The original lobby was gutted, hence the new ‘modern’ lobby. I beleive he also worked on the Acadamy (Shubert) which is in dire need of restoration.
They are now discussing placing a nightclub in the Skyway. This would certainly liven up this stretch of Hennepin. Perhaps it will also push out the rather seedy skyway lounge, one of the last strip bars on Hennepin Avenue. I personally see razing the theater building as a good option. It is poorly designed and does nothing for the asthetic value of the street. Perhaps a new building could bring life back to the block with restaurants, a hotel, retail etc. As the building currently stands it is a fortress to anyone walking on the street level and exudes the poor architectural practices of the 1970s. Unfortuanly there is little of much value here other than the memories.
This is also a Liebenberg and Kaplan theater. It is the only remaining movie theater with a balcony in Minneapolis. It originally had a searchlight on at the top of the vertical neon sign that was a becon for the neighbrhood.