Hi Bryan, sorry about that—I was just posting info from your message to me a few days ago—I must have mixed something up in transmission. 200 seat it is (or was). I do remember it being rather small.
I recently mentioned this theater to my folks, who verified that Studio 97 was called the Oxboro in the 1960s, and said it had always been a first-run theater with interesting films. The building may have been somewhat unremarkable, but it was a favorite theater of theirs because of what played there. Here’s a look at it: View link
They also recalled that it was either the first or one of the first theaters in the Minneapolis area to show Milos Forman’s Amadeus, which came out in 1984, so it was still showing first-run films in the mid-80s. They didn’t recall when or if the “Oxboro” marquee was taken down when it became Studio 97.
I forgot to mention that the Center Mayfield Theater in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, has also been converted into a Hollywood Video, similarly preserving the marquee. I wonder if there are more of such conversions across the country?
I recently saw the new Star Wars movie, “Revenge of the Sith,” in an anonymous chain multiplex here in New York, and have concluded that the only thing missing from the experience for me was the beautiful old Boulevard Theater in Minneapolis, where I saw the first three Star Wars movies. In fact, nearly all the movies I saw in my childhood were seen there. It was a second run theater, advertising 99 cent movies on the marquee. The men’s restroom was tiny, and there was always a line, but rumour had it the women’s was palatial and even had a chandelier. An old Anthony Junior High yearbook, maybe 1987 or 1988, used the theater as it’s theme; the yearbook was full of photos of the interior and exterior. If I can find this I’ll try to post a photo or two.
I haven’t been to Thunder Bay in a while, but have fond childhood memories of this theater. I’ve heard that Eatons dept. store across the street has closed and is up for sale as of 2005. Hopefully someone out there has more info on this theatre and it’s current function(s).
Rather than trust my somewhat unreliable memory, I found a photo in the bloomington.org gallery of the Oxboro Theater in 1966 (picture no. 7/19). That would fit with it being renamed Studio 97 in the 70s. “Stagecoach & Psychopath” is on the marquee in the photo. No address is given, however. Someone out there must know if the Oxboro and Studio 97 were indeed different phases in the history of the same theater.
I have a vague recollection of a theater with glass doors on 97th and Lyndale called the “Oxboro.” I wonder if this was an earlier name for the same theater?
The Shore Theater has been demolished. As of July, 2011, it is a pile of rubble between the Blue Water Cafe and Sivertson Gallery.
Hi Bryan, sorry about that—I was just posting info from your message to me a few days ago—I must have mixed something up in transmission. 200 seat it is (or was). I do remember it being rather small.
According to a cinema daily yearbook from 1945, this theater had 400 seats.
I recently mentioned this theater to my folks, who verified that Studio 97 was called the Oxboro in the 1960s, and said it had always been a first-run theater with interesting films. The building may have been somewhat unremarkable, but it was a favorite theater of theirs because of what played there. Here’s a look at it: View link
They also recalled that it was either the first or one of the first theaters in the Minneapolis area to show Milos Forman’s Amadeus, which came out in 1984, so it was still showing first-run films in the mid-80s. They didn’t recall when or if the “Oxboro” marquee was taken down when it became Studio 97.
I forgot to mention that the Center Mayfield Theater in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, has also been converted into a Hollywood Video, similarly preserving the marquee. I wonder if there are more of such conversions across the country?
I recently saw the new Star Wars movie, “Revenge of the Sith,” in an anonymous chain multiplex here in New York, and have concluded that the only thing missing from the experience for me was the beautiful old Boulevard Theater in Minneapolis, where I saw the first three Star Wars movies. In fact, nearly all the movies I saw in my childhood were seen there. It was a second run theater, advertising 99 cent movies on the marquee. The men’s restroom was tiny, and there was always a line, but rumour had it the women’s was palatial and even had a chandelier. An old Anthony Junior High yearbook, maybe 1987 or 1988, used the theater as it’s theme; the yearbook was full of photos of the interior and exterior. If I can find this I’ll try to post a photo or two.
I haven’t been to Thunder Bay in a while, but have fond childhood memories of this theater. I’ve heard that Eatons dept. store across the street has closed and is up for sale as of 2005. Hopefully someone out there has more info on this theatre and it’s current function(s).
Rather than trust my somewhat unreliable memory, I found a photo in the bloomington.org gallery of the Oxboro Theater in 1966 (picture no. 7/19). That would fit with it being renamed Studio 97 in the 70s. “Stagecoach & Psychopath” is on the marquee in the photo. No address is given, however. Someone out there must know if the Oxboro and Studio 97 were indeed different phases in the history of the same theater.
I have a vague recollection of a theater with glass doors on 97th and Lyndale called the “Oxboro.” I wonder if this was an earlier name for the same theater?