Davidson Opera House

The Davidson Opera House was a live performance venue that was built in 1897 and opened on December 17. But opera houses were under enormous pressure during World War I struggling against movie theaters and vaudeville houses. The Davidson burned down on February 5, 1913 leaving just enough elements to rebuild - but not as an opera house. Edward T. “Bill” Davidson relaunched it January 20, 1914 with live fare but the times had passed it by.

George Miner took on the venue on a 20-year lease. After a refresh, he relaunched it as the Miner Theatre on August 1, 1917 with admission prices of ten and fifteen cents for current movies. Moses Finkelstein and Isaac Ruben, operators of F&R Theatres Peoples Theatre decided to counter that move by purchasing the Sherman Theatre making it F&R of the Twin Cities versus the independent Miner. It didn’t go Miner’s way finding it impossible to convert to sound.

Possibly understanding the independent’s struggles, the Miner Theater’s most memorable screening was in support of imprisoned Samuel C. Pandolfo of St. Cloud’s fledgling and fiercely independent Pan Motor Company. Pan went to Leavenworth Prison for mail fraud - a ten year sentence of which he served three. Emerging penniless, Miner hosted a benefit screening for “Pan” and showed the 6-reel Pan Auto Factory film as a show of support.

Though the benefit screening held on October 26, 1926 drew 1,450 - 500 more than the capacity - the auto plant shut down in 1922 would not be relit and became a roller skating rink. Pan and his wife were able to use the $7,000 (!) in raised funds to create Pan’s Cafe in 1930 vowing “to never close”. Sadly, that is what happened in 1932. As for Miner, he could have used that money because his theater closed in 1927 with Miner on the delinquent tax roster.

The building sat vacant in the Depression years until Minnesota Amusement took on the venue in 1936 reopening it following the expiry of its lease in 1936. With the $20,000 refresh including its first sound system completed, the venue reopened as the Roxy Theatre on December 25, 1936 with “It’s Love Again”. That lasted for just over four months the Roxy closing on May 8, 1937 with “Hair Trigger Casey” and “I Conquer the Sea”.

After a lengthy period of emptiness, the building was retrofitted with offices. BCI Construction took on the venue and today the refurbished venue is back to its original name of Davidson Opera House.

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