Uptown Theatre

2906 Hennepin Avenue,
Minneapolis, MN 55408

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m00se1111
m00se1111 on August 21, 2023 at 4:04 pm

Look inside the theatre from KARE tv 11

https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/first-look-inside-the-newly-renovated-uptown-theater/89-cad50d4b-5e0f-4b9a-9e9c-7db3775d9f1f

rivest266
rivest266 on August 21, 2023 at 3:59 pm

This has been reopened as a live theatre.

Trolleyguy
Trolleyguy on May 9, 2023 at 12:56 pm

Performances begin with a kickoff on June 10. Uptown

MSC77
MSC77 on May 9, 2023 at 12:46 pm

Do any Twin Cities residents remember when the Uptown ran a 70mm double feature of Kubrick’s “2001” and Spielberg’s “Close Encounters”? I wish to confirm the playdate(s) of this booking. I’ve seen an un-dated photo of the marquee and have been unsuccessful in locating any newspaper advertising for such a screening.

Trolleyguy
Trolleyguy on March 9, 2023 at 7:07 am

Plans are to reopen as an entertainment venue in May. Story here: Uptown

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on November 15, 2022 at 7:17 pm

February 2020 video tour of the Uptown.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrbM9GX4bBY

Norman Plant
Norman Plant on September 23, 2022 at 12:46 pm

When I drove by the Uptown in August the doors were open and construction trucks were parked in front of the theater. Obviously some work is being done on the interior.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on September 22, 2022 at 11:10 am

Address in 2906 Hennepin Avenue, confirmed via Google Street View & Wiki. Opened as Lagoon Theatre on Saturday June 3, 1916, not 1913. Also confirmed. Grand Opening print ad added to gallery. Below is a January 2022 article about a potential restoration with blue prints and planned seating for 2500. Not sure if the plan went forward.

https://www.kare11.com/article/entertainment/major-overhaul-in-the-works-for-uptown-theater-in-mpls/89-eb720e31-fd8c-4f1c-bf2d-e2eca82e4bce

rivest266
rivest266 on January 15, 2017 at 12:20 pm

April 25th, 1929, November 16th, 1939 and September 14th, 2012 grand opening ads in the photo section.

Trolleyguy
Trolleyguy on May 15, 2016 at 5:33 pm

Updated website: https://www.landmarktheatres.com/minneapolis/uptown-theatre

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on September 13, 2012 at 8:51 am

A slideshow showing the recent renovations is here.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on September 11, 2012 at 9:06 pm

The Uptown will reopen on September 14, 2012; it now features all-digital projection and a larger screen. Seating has been reduced to 350, and new carpeting has been laid. The balcony was retained with love seats installed. The theater now serves alcohol. An article about the renovations can be read here.

sheepy
sheepy on January 11, 2012 at 11:26 pm

The Uptown is closing at the end of January, 2012 for renovation. When it reopens, the balcony will not really be a balcony anymore. Go now while you still can.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on January 23, 2008 at 8:56 am

Here is a 1938 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2jnfea

Here is another photo, circa 1980:
http://tinyurl.com/2npgls

CHRasch
CHRasch on January 8, 2007 at 4:34 pm

There has been a recent effort (during the month of December 2006) to re-light the marquee of this wonderful cinema. The underside and front surfaces of the lower section looks sooo much better and the whole street seems brighter. This is a major improvement and I thank the Landmark people for making this beginning. More is to be done but this is very gratifying and beautiful. Now, to restore the Rainbow Cafe down a few doors down the block. <chuckle>

CHRasch
CHRasch on December 8, 2006 at 8:00 pm

I wish the current owners would put in an effort to restore the lights and street appearance of the Uptown. They did such a great job on the Edina Theater. It sometimes seems as if it is a kind of neglect that precedes closing and demolition. I think that they should even restore the beacon that once topped the mast. The anti “light polution' crowd would go nuts I am sure. There seems to have been a minor attempt to light some of the bulbs recently. We passed it by assuming it was closed. Darkness comes on fast here in the Great White North and we need lights to welcome us in. The same people who admire the French and Paris sometimes hate lights in their own neighborhood and, I thought that some radical element may have burrowed in to influence the run down look the Uptown was beginning to take on.

So many dates with my wife ended up there. She nearly papered a closet with the wonderful weekly handbills of the wide ranging film program there. I especially loved the Italian fims there…from “Bread and Chocolate” to “Salo” to “Down and Dirty” to all of those Samurai Nights… Mifune and Kurosawa every night.. fun. This place along with the Suburban World down the block was the art house Vatican of Minneapolis. I saw all of the Astaire/Rogers films there…. a wonderful mix. The Rainbow cafe was always nearly next door for Onion Rings after 9:00 PM. You NEVER went down the block withouth reaching into the wooden box to pull out the playbill showing the dozens of films to be shown that month…marking the ones you intended to see. I miss that. ahhhh senile rapture.

Numisma
Numisma on December 20, 2005 at 8:32 pm

The Uptown Theater seats 900, not 800. Also, it might be worth mentioning that we are the only movie theater left in the state of Minnesota that has a balcony. Yours Truly, an Uptown Theater employee.

CFaber
CFaber on November 7, 2005 at 5:27 am

I’m thrilled to hear that the Uptown is still in business. I went there often during grad school in the early 1980s to see foreign films as well as old classics that somehow look better on the big screen than on your tv at home.

teecee
teecee on September 19, 2005 at 9:33 am

From the “Twin Cities” file, I would assume that this is a photo of the Minneapolis Uptown:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/amyart/35745980/

josem
josem on October 4, 2004 at 8:29 pm

During my college years (1979-1983) it showed double features of classic, foreign and cult movies. Quite a fun place for a college crowd.

budyboy
budyboy on August 17, 2004 at 10:21 pm

Long Live

ROCKY HORROR!!

Sean Ryan
Sean Ryan on February 18, 2004 at 10:00 pm

The theater before the fire:
View link

In this shot, the Granada or Suburban World is visible down the street just before the trees:

View link

And Now:
http://www.phototour.minneapolis.mn.us/881

Sean Ryan
Sean Ryan on November 3, 2003 at 12:38 am

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.

Fredf7
Fredf7 on June 30, 2002 at 12:55 pm

You should have something about the Terrace Theatre in suburban Minneapolis. In the 50s and 60s it was a lavish venue—maybe it sill is.