Towne Theater
508 NP Avenue,
Fargo,
ND
58102
508 NP Avenue,
Fargo,
ND
58102
No one has favorited this theater yet
Additional Info
Architects: Jack J. Liebenberg
Firms: Liebenberg and Kaplan
Previous Names: State Theater
Nearby Theaters
The State Theater opened on November 28, 1921 with Norma Talmadge in “The Wonderful Thing”. It was equipped with a Robert Morton organ which was opened by organist Norman Wright. On March 23, 1951 following a remodel to the plans of architects Liebenberg & Kaplan, the name was changed to the Towne Theater and it reopened with Fred Astaire in “Royal Wedding”.
It was screening adult movies when it closed on October 3, 1973. It was demolished in late-October 1973. A parking lot is on the site.
Contributed by
Lost Memory
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
Here is a link:
View link
Boxoffice of April 14, 1951, reported that the former State had recently reopened as the Towne Theatre. The State Theatre had been bought from the Minnesota Amusement Company (a Paramount affiliate forced to divest itself of many theaters by the consent decree) by Francis, Gordon, and H.C. Aamoth on February 9, 1951.
The Aamoth brothers, already operating the Roxy and Park theaters in Fargo, had the State remodeled to plans by Minneapolis architects Liebenberg & Kaplan, expending $50,000 on the project (a later Boxoffice item said the cost of the project was $65,000.) The Towne was to be managed by Gordon Aamoth.
Later that year the Aamoth brothers entered an agreement to sell the equipment and lease the Towne to E.R. Ruben, but this deal fell through. The October 13 Boxoffice item about the sale said that the Aamoths had paid $125,000 to buy the State, and gave the seating capacity as of the time of the sale to Ruben as 1,045.
The Aamoths made another attempt to sell the Towne in late 1953, but this deal apparently failed as well, as the April 10, 1954, Boxoffice said that Gordon Aamoth had had the Towne updated and redecorated. This $11,000 project included a new screen, improved lighting, and the replacement of 300 balcony seats. Additionally, Boxoffice said, “…the former ‘castle’ effects on the walls have been removed and replaced by acoustical wallboard.”
Gordon Aamoth finally managed to rid himself of the Towne in 1962, when he sold the house to Ernie Peasley, operator of the Auditorium Theatre in Stillwater, who would take over the Towne on March 1, according to Boxoffice of February 26. I haven’t found any of the Aamoths mentioned in later issues of Boxoffice except for a 1965 item which said that F.P. and H.C. Aamoth had opened the Roxy Theatre in Fargo in 1932.
The Towne was in operation into 1973, when the Peasley circuit sold it, and the former Roxy (which had been renamed the Broadway), to the Delaware-based Windsor Theatres, as reported in Boxoffice of April 30. The house did not remain open for long after that, though. Boxoffice of November 26 said that the Towne had been razed in late October.
Opened with Norma Talmadge in “The Wonderful Thing” supported by Fargo native star Angela Gibson’s short, “The Ice Ticket,” and live music from the venue’s $15,000 Robert Morton Concert pipe organ (billed as “The Organ with a Soul”) on November 28, 1921. Norman Wright was at the console. Opening ad in photos.
The State converted to sound to remain viable. It became the “new” Towne Theatre after a major refresh in 1951.
Became Towne on March 30th, 1951.
Closed on October 3rd, 1973, with adult movies and replaced with a parking lot for the bank next door. Grand opening ad posted.