As a precocious lad I started seeing movies on Hennepin Avenue at age 9 (“The Giant Claw”, Orpheum, 1957). Any youngster visiting the Gopher will remember the electric-eye operated water fountain.
Isn’t it interesting how one’s memory has filed away the movies you’ve seen at certain theaters? I lived a couple of blocks from the I and II in 1971-72 and saw “Harold & Maude”, “Vanishing Point”, “Valdez Is Coming”, “The French Connection”, others. Typical two-screen Mall setup that must’ve suffered when the next-door Publix closed.
Every Saturday as a kid. “Jason & the Argonauts”, “The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad” and 25 cent popcorn with the possibility of that free pass somewhere in the box. No better memory.
One of the most enjoyable film experiences I had was watching “Paris, Texas” in the smallest theater on a weekday afternoon. I was the only patron in what amounted to my own private screening room.
As a precocious lad I started seeing movies on Hennepin Avenue at age 9 (“The Giant Claw”, Orpheum, 1957). Any youngster visiting the Gopher will remember the electric-eye operated water fountain.
Isn’t it interesting how one’s memory has filed away the movies you’ve seen at certain theaters? I lived a couple of blocks from the I and II in 1971-72 and saw “Harold & Maude”, “Vanishing Point”, “Valdez Is Coming”, “The French Connection”, others. Typical two-screen Mall setup that must’ve suffered when the next-door Publix closed.
Every Saturday as a kid. “Jason & the Argonauts”, “The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad” and 25 cent popcorn with the possibility of that free pass somewhere in the box. No better memory.
1959: “Ben-Hur”, then across 65th street to Nelson’s Restaurant for some strawberry pie.
One of the most enjoyable film experiences I had was watching “Paris, Texas” in the smallest theater on a weekday afternoon. I was the only patron in what amounted to my own private screening room.
Fondly remembered. Lived and worked in Northfield, 1972-1975 and saw “The Way We Were”, “Three Days of the Condor"and others here.
Martin & Lewis…by far the most successful live act at the time…played the house in the early 50s and were a sensation.
Correction: This theater was known as the “El Lago.”