Ritz Theater
345 13th Avenue NE,
Minneapolis,
MN
55413
345 13th Avenue NE,
Minneapolis,
MN
55413
2 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Ballet of the Dolls Dance Company (Official)
Additional Info
Architects: Jack J. Liebenberg
Firms: Liebenberg and Kaplan
Functions: Dance Studio, Live Performances, Performing Arts
Styles: Art Deco
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
612.623.7660
Nearby Theaters
In 1920’s the Ritz Theater, a single-screen neighborhood movie house, was an anchor to the small 13th Avenue commercial strip in northeast Minneapolis.
Vacant for many years, the building was sold to the Ballet of the Dolls dance/theater group, which now calls the Ritz home. The interior is not significant other than an unsual ‘wave’ proscenium wall. The most notable feature is the large marquee over the sidewalk that features neon ‘curls’ and the name RITZ spelled out in large letters.
The Ballet of the Dolls was awarded a $500,000 grant by the McKight Foundation for the redevelopment of the theater. They continued to fundraise while they were housed in an industrial building nearby known as the Dance Factory. On May 12, 2006, they moved back into the re-opened and renovated Ritz Theater.
Contributed by
Sean Ryan
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
Here is a picture showing the theater in 1952-
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1953-
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This picture shows the theater as it looks today. Very little has been done to alter the facade other than the infill of upperfloor corner to add office space.
View link
The address of the theater is 345 13th Avenue NE.
The older links (like those above) were on the old MN Historical Society site which did not allow you to link to a search page. (I thought I had put up new ones since then, where did they go?)
The address listed is not the theater but warehouse space that the dance company renovating the theater occupies. The address should be 345 13th Avenue NE.
Also, the theater was designed by the firm of Liebenberg and Kaplan.
New links:
1952 cooking class
“Take the High Ground”
1981 view -this is how the theater appears now.
The current plans or the building are here.
The Ballet of the Dolls will be performing at the restored Ritz Theatre, beginning May 2006.
The Ritz Theatre opened in 1928 and operated into the 1980’s. A seating capacity of 742 is given in the 1952 edition of Film Daily Yearbook.
Now newly renovated as a live performance theatre, the Ritz re-opened on 12th May 2006 with a seating capacity of 245.
Here is a repost of Sean’s 1981 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/ygjz4u
1952:
http://tinyurl.com/yhuaff
1953:
http://tinyurl.com/yzj6ko
It’s hard to link to the historical society. The links always end up broken about 3 months later. They must reshuffle and sort media constantly or something. Thanks Ken.
2017 Flickr photo.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lonepinearts/33060399015/?fbclid=IwAR1Layarkca_2gEzhLAAYDmLbhI2I_P4zZMYnQ_Jv9wBgjzuXJiEcwndGRE
2014 article.
https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/ritz-theater-road-recovery/?fbclid=IwAR2SQLYxjVkOD9V1AqTQUxJYkYdl1Jjm6l2Tc5avsKB9EuiffyQ2wQ6VUiE