Yup, the intermission was just as Luke was going to go into “that place is strong with the Dark Side…” on Dagobah with Yoda looking on – and after the intermission, he was in!
I saw a re-release of Star Wars here back in 1979 or so, as well as Robocop (while it was still a triplex). After the 1989 remodel, it became one of my favorite theaters to see new movies (if not my favorite). I saw Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Jurassic Park, Batman, The Lost World (JP2) all in their initial runs here and many other movies here in the 1990s.
The Heights is in a class all by itself. Not only first run shows, but FUN showings as well. In the last few years, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the original Planet of the Apes, Lawrence of Arabia, and the Wizard of Oz there. And Jerry Marien (the lollypop munchkin) was in attendance for that showing, and at 88 years young, it was wonderful to meet him in person. Thank you Heights!
I do remember seeing a re-run of Return of the Jedi there in 1985 or 1986 approx. I remember the re-release of Star Wars in 1979, but that was at the Edina Theater at the time. I remember seeing Star Wars at the Southdale theater in 1978.
When I saw Empire Strikes back there during the summer of 1980, they had one of those goofy “straw polls” (it was an election year) – where you selected your straw from a bin or something for Reagan, Carter, or Jessie Jackson(can’t remember offhand if he was candidate #3 or not…).
I remember that news story about “Boys N'the Hood” as well. But prior to that, in my high school years in the early 1980’s, the Skyway was a great theater! I still remember when it was 4 screens back then. I saw many great 1980’s movies there: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Trek III, Nightmare on Elm Street 3, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, The Fly, E.T., Total Recall, Back to the Future, and many more! Their main screen/auditorium was enormous. The last movie I saw in that auditorium before it was split in two was Return of the Jedi. As the 1990’s came, downtown on Hennipen wasn’t as nice anymore and I quit going to the Skyway. But I’ll never forget that theatre!
Back in the 1980’s they’d have “Midnight Madness” on the weekends with special runs of Horror movie fare at Midnight. I got to see The Terminator, Nightmare on Elm Street, and The Hitcher all there at Midnight on Saturdays.
I also remember before and between shows, instead of commerials or loud cruddy music in mexaplex’s today, they had this lava lamp “stuff” doing across the screens on a loop. Very 1960’s. I miss the flowing “paint” as I called it.
I remember seeing Star Wars there back in 1977. I also saw many movies there in the 1980’s: Bettleguice, Die Hard II, the list goes on and on. It wasn’t the most comfortable seating, but the good memories have replaced that with warm feelings. General Cinema’s Centenial Lakes (also not too bad a place) replaced it by 1990/1991 or so.
I remember we’d visit my Grandmother who lived in Antigo every summer like clockwork. I’m from Minnesota. My brother and I got to see The Empire Strikes Back there in 1980 when we were visiting. The place was one screen at the time (I think) and they even still had an intermission during the movie!
I remember seeing Empire there back in 1980! After the split, I saw “9 to 5” there. Was never quite the same once it split in two. I remember when they had Batman Returns there, they got a huge spotlight and had a big cardboard bat symbol on it! Unfortunately, the clouds or whatnot didn’t show the signal like it did in the comics and movies, but a full size batsignal there in person WAS slick! I miss the Southtown!!!!!
Bigred, I’d love to see your photos too if you can. I’m at: – thanks!
Man, I miss the Nile! I grew up just 7 blocks away and my first movie experience was there. It was “One of our Dinosaurs is Missing.” Being born in 1967, I was on the tail end of the Nile’s existance. I remember their last movie before closing was also the first movie that had shown there. “Showboat” I believe it was.
Yup, the intermission was just as Luke was going to go into “that place is strong with the Dark Side…” on Dagobah with Yoda looking on – and after the intermission, he was in!
I saw a re-release of Star Wars here back in 1979 or so, as well as Robocop (while it was still a triplex). After the 1989 remodel, it became one of my favorite theaters to see new movies (if not my favorite). I saw Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Jurassic Park, Batman, The Lost World (JP2) all in their initial runs here and many other movies here in the 1990s.
The Heights is in a class all by itself. Not only first run shows, but FUN showings as well. In the last few years, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the original Planet of the Apes, Lawrence of Arabia, and the Wizard of Oz there. And Jerry Marien (the lollypop munchkin) was in attendance for that showing, and at 88 years young, it was wonderful to meet him in person. Thank you Heights!
Check out the great photo’s here of the Apache from someone’s website on Apache Plaza…
http://apacheplaza.com/apachetheatre.html
Oops. I meant I saw SW at Southdale in 1977, not 1978…. sorry.
Thanks for the photos my friend! Good memories!
I do remember seeing a re-run of Return of the Jedi there in 1985 or 1986 approx. I remember the re-release of Star Wars in 1979, but that was at the Edina Theater at the time. I remember seeing Star Wars at the Southdale theater in 1978.
When I saw Empire Strikes back there during the summer of 1980, they had one of those goofy “straw polls” (it was an election year) – where you selected your straw from a bin or something for Reagan, Carter, or Jessie Jackson(can’t remember offhand if he was candidate #3 or not…).
I remember that news story about “Boys N'the Hood” as well. But prior to that, in my high school years in the early 1980’s, the Skyway was a great theater! I still remember when it was 4 screens back then. I saw many great 1980’s movies there: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Trek III, Nightmare on Elm Street 3, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, The Fly, E.T., Total Recall, Back to the Future, and many more! Their main screen/auditorium was enormous. The last movie I saw in that auditorium before it was split in two was Return of the Jedi. As the 1990’s came, downtown on Hennipen wasn’t as nice anymore and I quit going to the Skyway. But I’ll never forget that theatre!
Back in the 1980’s they’d have “Midnight Madness” on the weekends with special runs of Horror movie fare at Midnight. I got to see The Terminator, Nightmare on Elm Street, and The Hitcher all there at Midnight on Saturdays.
I also remember before and between shows, instead of commerials or loud cruddy music in mexaplex’s today, they had this lava lamp “stuff” doing across the screens on a loop. Very 1960’s. I miss the flowing “paint” as I called it.
During the 1980’s and early 1990’s, “Pavilion Place” was a great movie multiplex. Not as big as some, but decent seats and sounds for the day.
They also had the first (and still only?) digital screen in town.
In the early 90’s – it was state of the art. Saw many good first runs there. T2 for example looked and sounded great at Centennial Lakes.
I remember seeing Star Wars there back in 1977. I also saw many movies there in the 1980’s: Bettleguice, Die Hard II, the list goes on and on. It wasn’t the most comfortable seating, but the good memories have replaced that with warm feelings. General Cinema’s Centenial Lakes (also not too bad a place) replaced it by 1990/1991 or so.
I remember we’d visit my Grandmother who lived in Antigo every summer like clockwork. I’m from Minnesota. My brother and I got to see The Empire Strikes Back there in 1980 when we were visiting. The place was one screen at the time (I think) and they even still had an intermission during the movie!
I remember seeing Empire there back in 1980! After the split, I saw “9 to 5” there. Was never quite the same once it split in two. I remember when they had Batman Returns there, they got a huge spotlight and had a big cardboard bat symbol on it! Unfortunately, the clouds or whatnot didn’t show the signal like it did in the comics and movies, but a full size batsignal there in person WAS slick! I miss the Southtown!!!!!
Bigred, I’d love to see your photos too if you can. I’m at: – thanks!
Man, I miss the Nile! I grew up just 7 blocks away and my first movie experience was there. It was “One of our Dinosaurs is Missing.” Being born in 1967, I was on the tail end of the Nile’s existance. I remember their last movie before closing was also the first movie that had shown there. “Showboat” I believe it was.