Mann Southtown Theatre
7770 Penn Avenue S,
Minneapolis,
MN
55423
7770 Penn Avenue S,
Minneapolis,
MN
55423
7 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 54 comments
Grand opening ad in the photo section from August 7th, 1964 and below.
Found on Newspapers.com
Does anyone have any pics of the interior of the Southtown theater? My favorite movie memories took place there, Seeing SUPERMAN, STAR TREK THE MOTION PICTURE and EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. I would absolutely love any pics that anyone has, especially when it was one screen. You can email me at
I saw a lot of movies there. I remember seeing my first Bond movie there. I also saw the now banned “Song of the South” there. Too bad it’s banned. It was great movie. The last movie I remember seeing there was Star Trek/the Search for Spock. I hated it when they tore it down. Bloomington has no theaters anymore, and the Mann was the last.
I saw a lot of movies there. I remember seeing my first Bond movie there. I also saw the now banned “Song of the South” there. Too bad it’s banned. It was great movie. The last movie I remember seeing there was Star Trek/the Search for Spock. I hated it when they tore it down. Bloomington has no theaters anymore, and the Mann was the last.
I also had the privlege of seeing The Empire Strikes Back there. It was the only time I ever saw a movie there.
They hosted a Star Trek (1-5) marathon there one Saturday which was a lot of fun…..will never forget they trumpeted the twin cities premiere of the ST6 trailer which the audience went nuts for…
Sorry it ended I was enjoying the “STAR WARS” debate.Budyboy100,if you are still around.Michael knows his “STAR WARS” movies He corrected me on it and I was a Dang Theatre MANAGER!!!!!!!!!
Here is a more close-up view of the same photo (scroll down to bottom):
http://tinyurl.com/2ebvv5b
Here is a circa 1968 photo of the Mann Southtown (third photo from the top):
View link
I would appreciate it if someone would email me photos of the Mann Southtown Theater (exterior/lobby, especially!). I am also looking for a picture of the old Valley West Theater which was located in the Valley West Shopping Center. I know it wasn’t near as fancy as the Southtown Theater, but it would mean alot to see a photo of it. The building is now for sale (again. Whenever I see the building I can’t help but remember the oversised red velvet draperies that once hung on the windows in the lobby. My email address is I love this website!!!
Hello, Do any of you have any PHOTOS of the Mann Southtown Theater? If so, could you please email them to ? I would love to see them and also share them with my older brothers! That place was definitely magical. I loved looking at the bright orange stones that glowed along the entryway walls as you entered the women’s bathroom. The bathroom didn’t have an entrance door. It just curved around so no one could see you inside it. That place was way-ahead-of-its-time (futuristic) and now it’s gone. So sad. Janet
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 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!
Great research, Michael Coate! I think you’ve proven without question the oiginal STAR WARS movie never played at Southtown. Me thinks “BuddyBoy100” may be confusing STAR WARS with STAR TREK.
Budyboy100:
The following is what played at SOUTHTOWN from September 1978 (where the previous list ended) through autumn 1980, at which time the theater closed for remodeling and re-emerged a twin in early 1981.
09.08.1978 … GREASE
09.15.1978 … GREASE
09.22.1978 … GREASE
09.29.1978 … DEATH ON THE NILE
10.06.1978 … DEATH ON THE NILE
10.13.1978 … DEATH ON THE NILE
10.20.1978 … DEATH ON THE NILE
10.27.1978 … DEATH ON THE NILE
11.03.1978 … DEATH ON THE NILE
11.10.1978 … DEATH ON THE NILE
11.17.1978 … DEATH ON THE NILE
11.24.1978 … DEATH ON THE NILE
12.01.1978 … DEATH ON THE NILE
12.08.1978 … DEATH ON THE NILE
12.15.1978 … SUPERMAN
12.22.1978 … SUPERMAN
12.29.1978 … SUPERMAN
01.05.1979 … SUPERMAN
01.12.1979 … SUPERMAN
01.19.1979 … SUPERMAN
01.26.1979 … SUPERMAN
02.02.1979 … SUPERMAN
02.09.1979 … SUPERMAN
02.16.1979 … SUPERMAN
02.23.1979 … SUPERMAN
03.02.1979 … SUPERMAN
03.09.1979 … SUPERMAN
03.16.1979 … SUPERMAN
03.23.1979 … SUPERMAN
03.30.1979 … SUPERMAN
04.06.1979 … SUPERMAN
04.13.1979 … SUPERMAN
04.20.1979 … SUPERMAN
04.27.1979 … SUPERMAN
05.04.1979 … SUPERMAN
05.11.1979 … SUPERMAN
05.18.1979 … SUPERMAN
05.25.1979 … HAIR
06.01.1979 … HAIR
06.08.1979 … HAIR
06.15.1979 … HAIR
06.22.1979 … THE MAIN EVENT
06.29.1979 … THE MAIN EVENT
07.06.1979 … THE MAIN EVENT
07.13.1979 … THE MAIN EVENT
07.20.1979 … THE MAIN EVENT
07.27.1979 … THE MAIN EVENT
08.03.1979 … THE MAIN EVENT
08.10.1979 … THE MAIN EVENT
08.17.1979 … MORE AMERICAN GRAFFITI
08.24.1979 … MORE AMERICAN GRAFFITI
08.31.1979 … MORE AMERICAN GRAFFITI
09.07.1979 … MORE AMERICAN GRAFFITI
09.14.1979 … MORE AMERICAN GRAFFITI
09.21.1979 … MORE AMERICAN GRAFFITI
09.28.1979 … THE AMERICAN SUCCESS COMPANY
10.05.1979 … THE AMERICAN SUCCESS COMPANY
10.12.1979 … TILL I NEED GLASSES
10.19.1979 … AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
10.26.1979 … AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
11.02.1979 … AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
11.09.1979 … AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
11.16.1979 … AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
11.23.1979 … AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
11.30.1979 … AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
12.07.1979 … STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE
12.14.1979 … STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE
12.21.1979 … STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE
12.28.1979 … STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE
01.04.1980 … STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE
01.11.1980 … STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE
01.18.1980 … STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE
01.25.1980 … STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE
02.01.1980 … STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE
02.08.1980 … STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE
02.15.1980 … FOOLIN’ AROUND
02.22.1980 … FOOLIN’ AROUND
02.29.1980 … FOOLIN’ AROUND
03.07.1980 … FOOLIN’ AROUND
03.14.1980 … THE BLACK STALLION
03.21.1980 … THE BLACK STALLION
03.28.1980 … THE BLACK STALLION
04.04.1980 … THE BLACK STALLION
04.11.1980 … THE BLACK STALLION
04.18.1980 … THE BLACK STALLION
04.25.1980 … THE BLACK STALLION
05.02.1980 … THE BLACK STALLION
05.09.1980 … THE BLACK STALLION
05.16.1980 … THE BLACK STALLION
05.21.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
05.30.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
06.06.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
06.13.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
06.20.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
06.27.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
07.04.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
07.11.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
07.18.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
07.25.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
08.01.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
08.08.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
08.15.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
08.22.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
08.29.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
09.05.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
09.12.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
09.19.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
09.26.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
10.03.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
10.10.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
10.17.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
10.24.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
10.31.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
11.07.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
11.14.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
11.21.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
11.28.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
12.05.1980 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
12.12.1980 … Closed for remodeling
Sources: Variety and the Minneapolis Tribune
Budyboy100:
“Star Wars” was re-released during mid-August 1979…and it did not play at SOUTHTOWN. The SOUTHTOWN during the few weeks of that re-release, per the Tribune and Variety microfilm, was showing “More American Graffiti.”
The thing that you and the newspaper reporter seem to have in common is that you’re both misremembering where you think you saw the original “Star Wars.” Considering my research has shown the original “Star Wars” movie did not play at SOUTHTOWN during 1977, 1978, or 1979, and considering both “Star Wars” sequels did play at SOUTHTOWN for several months in 1980 and 1983 makes me think you are simply confusing “Star Wars” with “The Empire Strikes Back” or “Return Of The Jedi.”
Buddyboy 100,
I’m really confused about what you are saying. In your post of 12/25/2007, you asked
“Help anyone, Michael C. and I a having an ongoing debate about whether or not Star Wars (the original) played at the Southtown back in 1977. (Not whether it opened there, it apparently didn’t, but a short time later if it played there.)”
Now, Michael Coate has rather conclusively proved that the film did not play there in 1977 OR 1978. You specifically asked Michael C. to list the films in 1977 from the opening of STAR WARS through August in your post of Jan. 13, 2008. He’s done that, and no STAR WARS. Seems to me he has proven his case. So, when DID you see STAR WARS at the Southtown?
Mark L.
bigred,
if u have pics of Southtown, would u please post them so we can all c them? that would b great.
bb
And I never said it was during the ‘original’ release. Just that is where I saw it, as did many others..
tsts
Michael Coate,
How did you get the Minneapolis Tribune as your source??
Their reported agreed with me, go forward another year, I know what I saw, as did their reporter……
bb
Thanks for that impressive list of screenings Michael. I can only drool at the idea of seeing these films all in one month at the Southtown and on that screen:
12.02.1977 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
12.09.1977 … LAWRENCE OF ARABIA
12.16.1977 … CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND
Sign me up.
Yes, as pointed out in the Remembering Die Hard article posted a couple of weeks ago, Minneapolis was among the 20 markets selected to showcase “Die Hard” in 70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo a week ahead of its nationwide release.
Sorry, about the last post. I met to say Die Hard. I worked for Control Data at the time. They supplied the movie company with a mock-up of the main-frame computer that you see in several of the shots.
I saw die here when it opened.