PART TWO
THEATRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA’S
MILWAUKEE TO MINNEAPOLIS
JUNE 19 TO 24, 2007
THEATRE CONCLAVE
“AN M&M ADVENTURE”
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Up at 7:30 a.m.. Weather continues to be sunny and clear and free of humidity. We have been so lucky with this gorgeous weather! Had a banana-nut muffin we bought the night before in little snack store attached to hotel. Coffee maker weird: it only makes one cup at a time. Spilled water all over the place on the first try, but soon got the hang of it!
Down to the lobby to see who was here for the Theatre Conclave. A few arrivals. I can remember faces, but it is so difficult to remember names. Was trying to get better at it this year—not completely successful. In a rotunda off the hotel, was a coffee bar with delicious coffee at “Starbuck prices”!! Who cared; we were on vacation. Ted Gooding from Los Angeles put us on to a Milwaukee City Tour that was available. Grey Line was out of business in Milwaukee; no City Tours from other tour companies—they only ran from Wednesday to Sunday. We decided to go on this one.
We had the opportunity to Register for the M&M Adventure Conclave! Received our name tag and packet of what we would be seeing. Only 100 were due to take the Conclave this year. Not an impressive number, but it made the conclave more intimate and less crowded.
The guide picked us up at 11 a.m. We began the tour by stopping for lunch at an authentic 1950s diner, Miss Kate’s Diner. Had beef chili with cheddar cheese on top and we shared an order of their famous homemade fries. Delicious. This we had to pay for—not included in the tour. We got to see some of the famous sites of Milwaukee. Then it was time to choose where you wanted to spend some time: the Pabst Mansion (we had already been) or The Mitchell Park Domes. We chose the latter. This is a Horticultural Conservatory and it is all self-guided. We began with the Tropical Dome. Lovely flowers and quite humid inside—fortunately, the only humidity we were feeling this trip. Then on to the Arid Dome which was hot and dry; felt like I was in Palm Springs in the summer! On to the Show Dome which featured a 19th Century Picnic in the Park setting. Just lovely and so many flowers around. This took about an hour. Driver picked us up and we retrieved the passengers at the Pabst Mansion and we continued with our tour. We returned to the hotel at 3:45 p.m. What a bargain this tour was: $20 + tip for a 4 hr, 45 min tour!!! Where can you get that?? Very enjoyable and we felt that we had really seen Milwaukee.
Time for a short nap and ready for our first theatre visit. Decided to have something quick to eat before we had to show up at our first theatre at 6:30 p.m. A pub up the street, The Newsroom Pub looked interesting. It was part of a place called the Safe Lock: a speakeasy that had a secret way to enter. Eric figured it out. Once we got in there however, there were so many teenagers having a birthday party. It was so noisy, that we decided just to get back to the pub and have a hamburger and fries with some mozerella in carozza sticks with a marinara sauce.
Pabst Theatre* #1 Milwaukee, WI
*I will give some facts about each theatre that I want to save for my own information. This will be followed by some thoughts and impressions that I wrote down while I was in the theatre in a notebook that I took along with me. Hope this will work out and be informative.
Our Conclave Hosts, Don Bohatka & Tom DuBuque were at the theatre to greet us all. Cheese and fruit were there for us to munch on. A no-host bar was available. The cocktail hour lasted about 45 minutes. We were then ready to enter this theatre that opened in 1895; currently has 1,345 seats. A working organ is in there now. The style would be classified as European Baroque. The theatre was built by Captain Frederick Pabst, of the Pabst Mansion and beer empire. It now ranks as the fourth oldest continuously operating theatre in the USA. The theatre was renovated in 1928 for movies and then again in 1976 as a performing arts center.
We had our Annual Theatre Historical Society of America Meeting while seated in the theatre. Also, a slide show was given showing some of the theatres we would be seeing at next year’s San Jose to San Francisco & Around the Bay Conclave July 8 to 12, 2008. We were then told some of the highlights that would be in store for us on this trip.
Looked at theatre more closely. The proscenium arch is highlighted in gold leaf. The grand staircase is crafted from white Italian Carrara Marble. Theatre decorated in reds and maroons with gold and silver accents. We were off to a good start with this beautiful theatre!
It was early to be since we had a full day of visiting theatres tomorrow.
Wednesday, June 20
We decided to make our get up time 6 a.m. That gave us plenty of time to much on a muffin and have two cups of coffee in that crazy coffee maker. Measured water in my water bottle and poured carefully! Organized and ready for the day.
At 8:15 a.m. we were off for an hour+ ride to
Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts #2 Sheboygan, WI
What gorgeous scenery along the way! Lovely farms and we had covered this territory the week before—also lovely the second time around!
This theatre opened Feb 1928. It seats 1,150 and had a Wurlitzer which was removed in 1968. The style is Spanish and is an atmospheric theatre with clouds and twinkling stars. The outside has a huge vertical red and gold marquee with its old name, the Sheboygan. Theatre was built for only $600,000. Started out as a vaudeville and movie theatre. In 1930, Warner Brothers bought it and ran it until 1966. Marcus Theatres bought it in 1980 and closed off the balcony and twinned the main auditorium until 1996. In 1997 the dropped ceiling was removed and the atmospheric ceiling was once again visible. Now it is the home of the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra.
There are two huge chandeliers (not original) in the lobby. Carpeting in the theatre was made from photos of original. The Wurlitzer that was in this theatre is now in the State Theatre in Madison, WI. We shall be going there.
Then boarded the buses once more (only two buses this Conclave). Besides watching the scenery pass by, the bus is a great chance to renew old acquaintances and meet new members. I like the time on the bus very much.
Capitol Theatre #3 Manitowoc, WI
This opened in 1921 and current seating is 1,150. The original organ was removed. Built as a vaudeville theatre; then movies were shown. In 1987 the theatre was closed for renovation and four months later opened as the Civic Center. Today, ten local performing arts groups use the theatre giving close to 100 performances a year.
Theatre is quite plain in decoration. Two doors in the mezzanine have OUT signs instead of the usual four-letter word EXIT. These two signs are original. Not known why this was used. The Francis & Lillian Kadow Photo Collection is on display in the theatre. He was a photographer and used to book movies for the theatre. He took frequent trips to New York and Hollywood. He photographed the stars in black and white; some of the photographs even have the star’s autograph. In those days, the stars met with the distributors of movies. Some of the photos are gorgeous!!!!!
At our next stop (Green Bay), it was time for lunch. We stopped a block away from our next theatre at a small restaurant complex with a few shops. I am afraid I made the wrong choice for lunch: Noah’s Pizza. The pizza was thin crust but the topping were just tasteless—awful. Salad selection was terrible. Only good thing was penne pasta with chicken and a strong cheese sauce (gorgonzola?). The help knew absolutely nothing about Italian food. At up and were walked over to our next theatre.
Meyer Theatre #4 Green Bay, WI
This theatre was originally named the Fox and later the Bay. It opened on Valentine’s Day 1930 as a vaudeville and movie theatre. Originally sat 2,087. The Fox chain went bankrupt in 1933. It was renamed the Bay and survived until 1998. A woman named Betty Rose Meyer provided $1.5 million for a costly renovation and named the theatre in her husband’s memory. It was also converted into a triplex which destroyed a lot of the original Spanish decoration. The theatre reopened again on Feb 27, 2002 with its atmospheric sky and twinkling stars overhead.
This theatre much bigger than the Sheboygan Theatre. Has more detail and gold leaf. The décor is called “King Ferdinand’s Court at Dusk.” Well lit and looks lovely. In 2005 the theatre’s original Wurlitzer was returned and installed completing the rebirth of the theatre.
Grand Opera House #5 Oshkosh, WI
This theatre opened in 1883 and seated 1,224; it now seats 668. The theatre is very Western in style. Has an Italianate décor and decorated in the Queen Ann Style. It also had near perfect acoustics. In 1920 the theatre was known as the Granada; in 1948 it was renamed the Civic; in 1950 it was simply called the Grand. It became a second-run film house. By 1965 the theatre had gotten terribly run down and had water damage. Finally in 1980 an effort was made to renovate the theatre. In September 1986 $3.5 million was invested in the theatre and since 1990, the Grand Opera House has been operated by the Oshkosh Opera House Foundation.
Summer Student Drama Group was rehearsing the musical RENT while we were there. They received applause from us when they were done with the number we saw them do when we entered; then they did another and loved us applauding!! Great treat for us too!
There is not a very grand lobby when one enters this theatre. The theatre is made up of two buildings now; the building next door was purchased to give more “lobby” room. In the 1960s when the theatre was in hard times, it was a porno x-rated theatre. Now a National Landmark! The two pillars which support the proscenium arch are original. Most of the theatre was restored from photos. Extremely old-fashioned Western type design with poles in the audience area used for support for the upper floor.
Cabot Theatre #6 Milwaukee, WI
This was a cute little theatre that only opened in 1995 and painted and decorated as if it were built in the 1800s. Very nice and very unusual for a modern theatre!
We were back at our hotel before 6 p.m. Had a short lie down and decided to get something quick and easy to eat; off to China Gourmet again. Had fried rice and pork lo mein this time.
Then I was off to the Milwaukee Repertory Company “The Rep” to see Larry Shue’s THE NERD. The actors were quite good and the set was excellent. However, the play was at fault: a one-joke play that goes on for 2.5 hours is much too long! A young upper class couple in Indiana invite the husband’s Vietnam Army buddy to visit them and then cannot get rid of obnoxious fellow. There is a tricky ending that makes sense if you paid close attention to the first 10 minutes of the play. An enjoyable evening!
Eric had gone out to eat with other members of the Conclave and then they were talking in one of their rooms until midnight! I was very much asleep when Eric returned!
Thursday, June 21 THE FIRST DAY OF SUMMER & LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR
Slept in a bit later: 7 a.m. since we did not have to be on the buses until 9 a.m. Found out that James had his operation yesterday and was doing well. Had our coffee and muffin. On the bus by 8:45 a.m. Wanted to get away from two guys talking in non-stop bombastic tones. I thought I was a chatterbox!! Oy, vey!
Oriental Theatre #7 Milwaukee, WI
Opened on July 2, 1927. Originally had 2,110 seats; now has 1,000 in main auditorium and 250 each in the two movie theatres that are attached in the rear of the theatre on either side of the orchestra. You can hardly notice that they are there; cleverly done.
So many theatres opened in 1927 in Milwaukee. There was a total of 16 theatres totaling 18,200 seats. This has an East Indian design. The organ from the now shuttered Warner Theatre was installed in 1990. One enters a huge lobby. The original 1920’s lamps hang down along the grand lobby entrance. Quite impressive.. It all looks very new and well restored. Famous organist who lives in Milwaukee, Jelani Eddington played the Kimball Organ for us. Sounds magnificent!! And he did a great job.
Zenith Theatre #8 Milwaukee, WI
This theatre was also opened in 1927. It has 1,363 seats. It was also an atmospheric theatre. It closed in 1954 and became a church in 1954. Now it is run by Pastor Lewis and is rather poor condition. Needs work. Water leaks and damage with peeling paint can be seen on some parts of the ceiling. One can detect a “trace” of a theatre here and there, but not very much. Wonder if it is worth preserving when they convert them into churches and bookstores?? Open to debate.
Fox Paradise #9 West Allis, WI
Opened in 1928 with 1,239 seats. This was originally called the Paradise Theatre on was on a much smaller scale since it was in the suburbs of Milwaukee. Not elaborate in decoration, but nice maroons and reds along the walls with drapes. High ceilings and a good-size balcony. A nice size stage. This is also a church but looks like a movie theatre. It was certainly in better shape than the Zenith Theatre. Has been restored by the current minister who has an interest in movie theatres. This theatre showed movies until 1996 and then was leased to this evangelical church. Again, should it be used as a church?
Organ Piper for Lunch Milwaukee, WI
This is a huge restaurant which accommodated all 100 of us for lunch. They had pizza for us (quite good; much better than that awful Noah’s Pizza). Also had spaghetti with meat sauce which was quite good with garlic bread and salad. Neopolitan ice cream for dessert. As we were eating, the grand organ was played. Some old movie tunes! Quite a nice lunch.
Fred Hermes Basement Bijou #10 Racine, WI
Fred Hermes opened his basement in 1958 to the public. He designed it and built it himself. It seats 125. Fred is a founding member of THSOA and has been a long-time theatre organ buff. He has been a collector of theatre memorabilia. He has his basement full of chandeliers and lights from theatres that were torn down; decorations from a famous Racine theatre that is no has been demolished, the Venetian. He has the organ from one of the old theatres that rises u from a pit. Organist, Jelani Eddington, played this organ for us—second time in one day that he played for our group. He lives down the street from Fred. His version of Ethel Smith’s “Tico, Tico. Toc” brought back many memories; she was in tons of movie musicals when I was a kid!! Rather like a sedate Carmen Miranda!!
Fred spoke to us and demonstrated the Brenograph device that was popular in the silent movie days; designs that are done with mirrors and lights. It did not bowl me over, but some of our group were very impressed by the demonstration.
This basement has 20 foot ceiling and he and his wife live in the house built over the basement. Quite a different display of theatre memorabilia.
Modjeska Theatre #11 Milwaukee, WI
This theatre opened in 1924 and seated 2,000; now it seats 1,810. Americans have expanded in the butt, so seats have been taken out to make room! Unfortunately, this has not happened to the Broadway theatres. This theatre was built to honor the renowned Polish-American actress, Helena Modjeska. It began as a vaudeville and movie theatre; it featured 20 trap doors on the stage and a large orchestra pit. Plain décor and rather run down nowadays. Youth Theatre Group now owns it; it is used as a church on Sundays. It needs plenty of work to restore it to its old glory!
Riverside Theatre #12 Milwaukee, WI
This theatre opened in 1929 and has 2,558 seats. This was an Orpheum theatre called a “junior Orpheum.” They only did two shows a day with vaudeville and movie as opposed to the larger Orpheum houses that did four to six shows a day. A fire in 1966 destroyed much of the decoration. It was fixed up and closed in the 1970s. In 1984 the theatre underwent a fairly major renovation and reopened as a performing arts center. In 2006 the Riverside entered into an agreement with the Pabst Theatre management team to operate the Riverside. Theatre still has original elevators that require someone to operate them. The theatre was built with a deluxe suite of rooms for the manager, which now serves as a retail space for the theatre.
Theatre has very high ceilings. Decorations done in reds and golds. Has the feeling of a big movie palace; a warm, welcoming feeling.
Warner Theatre #13 Milwaukee, WI
This theatre opened May 1, 1931. It originally had 2,431 seats. The entire theatre is done in silver Art Deco design with mirrors and tons of lights: just spectacular. It has been closed since 1995. Owner of the land was there to greet us; if the theatre is not sold within 20 years, the theatre will become his. Let’s hope he will renovate it and open it once more?
A theatre known as the Butterfly had two thousand lights, a 27 foot butterfly stretched across its famous façade, and 1,200 seats in 1911. This was torn down in 1930 to make way for the larger and more spectacular venue—the Warner theatre replaced it. The Warner was built for a jaw-dropping $2.5 million by Warner Brothers. It also contained a twelve-story office building; had a 58 foot high vertical sign (removed in 1968), and featured the third-largest Kimball theatre organ ever built. Its three-story Art Deco lobby had etched mirrors and two magnificent chandeliers with matching five food wall sconces: they are still there! Magnificent!! The auditorium mixed the Art Deco with the French Renaissance design.
In 1966 Marcus Theatres bought the theatre and renamed it the Centre. The auditorium was twinned in 1973, Cinemas 1 & 2. They kept most of the decoration intact. Renamed the Grand in 1982, it eventually closed in 1995. The flooring extending from the balcony was removed several years ago, making it a single theatre once again. For a while the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra wanted to buy the theatre, but it would prove too costly. So, the Warner remains closed.
What a long but enjoyable day seeing all these theatres in the Milwaukee area!!!
Back to hotel for a short nap and then ready to go out for dinner.
Tried the other German restaurant in town, Karl Ratzach’s Restaurant. First of all it is better lit and a bit more welcoming. Is not as “tired” looking as Mader’s. Also the food is a bit “fresher” in looks and presentation. Began with a cream of mushroom soup that was quite good; then tried their sour bratten: a bit better with the usual red cabbage and potato dumpling. Ordered a side of spetzel here and they were quite good. Washed it all down with German beer.
It began to rain as we walked back to the hotel. It continued all night and was glorious the next morning. We are still very luck with the weather.
Friday, June 22 Off to MINNEAPOLIS, MN via a few theatres
Up by 6 since we had to finish packing and check out of the hotel to see several theatres on the way before arriving in Minneapolis, MN tonight! Got on the bus; realized I had forgotten a shopping bag I packed with my journal in it!! Had time and ran upstairs to get it. Another person forgot his telephone charger—what happens to the mind when we get older?!? We had a lot of bus riding to face today; I don’t mind it since it is like a sightseeing tour. Gorgeous scenery once more and a lovely summer’s day!
Capitol Theatre #14 Madison, WI
This theatre opened in 1928 and seated 2,150; today it seats 1,089. Built for movies and vaudeville, it was described as Wisconsin’s finest theatre. It began as a Fox house and was later part of the RKO Stanley Warner chain. In 1974 the theatre was purchased by the city of Madison and became after extensive construction and renovation the Madison Civic Center. It finally opened in 1980 as the Oscar Mayer Theatre. It contained an art museum and a 340-seat playhouse. The original theatre organ was restored and rebuilt.
The theatre inside is painted a teal blue with lovely drapery effects on the sides of the big fake windows. The seats are what I would call a salmon-pink fabric. The colors go so nicely. The orchestra section has very intimate seating; there are several raised levels. Acoustics are supposed to be quite good. Two original chandeliers are still hanging. A lovely theatre!
In 1998 local businessman, W. Jerome Frautschl, donated $200+ million to renovate, enlarge and update the Madison Civic Center.
It reopened in 2005 as
Overture Center for the Arts #15 Madison, WI
We had a tour of this modern theatre which is next to the Capitol Theatre. There are 2,530 seats. It has very high ceilings. Light wood all over and the theatre is very wide rather than long. This is certainly a much bigger hall than SF’s Davies Symphony Hall. The heat and air conditioning vents are under the seats just as the old theatres used to install them. The lovely organ was on display; tomorrow an organ concert was scheduled. Both theatres are now side by side and both in use. The Capitol serves as the home of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and a Silent Film Festival.
Then we ventured across the street to
Orpheum Theatre #16 Madison, WI
This opened on March 31, 1927 with 2,300 seats; it now has 1,834. The original organ was removed to the Stefanie H. Weill Center in Sheboygan in 1969. Another French Renaissance design; an important theatre in the Orpheum Vaudeville Circuit. Later it made a smooth transition to a first-run movie palace. In 1969 a 350-seat second theatre was carved out of the stage area. This did not affect the inside at all. In 1986 a $6 million health club was planned in the theatre, but that plan died. In 1999, a restaurant was opened in the lobby while still showing first-run films and featuring live shows every now and then. A fire damaged the theatre in 2004, but it reopened in 2005. In Dec 2006 some fundraisers began to help revamp the vertical marquee and to begin some much needed work in the theatre.
The original chandeliers really stand out and are still hanging. Some of the front rows have been removed so a dance floor is available. Needs some painting and has a “tired” look about it.
Then a bus ride to
Al. Ringling Theatre #17 Baraboo, WI
This lovely little jewel box opened on November 17, 1915 with 874 seats; it now has 802. The theatre was offered as a gift to his adopted hometown of Baraboo by Al. Ringling, the eldest of the five Ringling Brothers of circus fame. It only cost $100,000 to build and took seven months. It is highly ornamental and in the French Renaissance style after the opera houses of Europe. Some say it was inspired b y the small palace theatre at Versaille. It was quickly dubbed “the prettiest playhouse in America.” In 1928 and organ was installed. In 1970 the organ was resurrected and restored.
Mr. Ringling had a special box in the back of the auditorium, but died two months after the theatre opened. The original box he wanted in the front of the theatre to the right was not very good for seeing what was happening on stage.
Some silent films were shown and the theatre was renovated in 1928 for talkies. The theatre was passed out of family ownership in 1952. In 1976 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1989 the theatre was purchased by the Al. Ringling Theatre Friends. Minor renovations from the 70s were corrected in the 90s. In 2003 the façade was restored. In 2005 the theatre had a 90th birthday celebration in the theatre. Fundraising is going on at the moment to work on the inside of the theatre; some paint is pealing and other work needs to be done; it is starting to show “its age”!!!
Ceiling has panels with murals painted in each one. Some of the gold trim has been painted over. The original gold paint had brass in it and that has tarnished the gold. Needs to be redone. Each mural in the panels has two cherubs in the clouds. Mr. Ringling believed in the superstition that sitting under clouds was bad luck; he had the two panels in front of his box removed. Everything in the theatre is original except the seats. The fire curtain was never finished; it was pointed out that one boat has no back to it; people in the front boat are left out and perhaps some trees were never put in—the landscape looks empty.
We were given a great tuna hero sandwich with chips and soda for lunch. Tried to find Merrill’s sister, Agnes Rose, but got to the wrong building. They were helpful there and got her on the phone for me. Did get to talk with her. We were about ready to leave for another theatre so there was little time left to see her in person.
When we got on the bus this time, the terraine changed as we rode along. More fir trees appeared and no fields of corn. A more wooded terraine. Then as we rode along, the fields suddenly appeared again. Heavy dark clouds were with us, but it never did rain. Still lucky with the weather.
This is “right to life” country and one of the signs that kept appearing on billboards was:
“Before I was born, I could smile!” Isn’t that just precious!!??? What happens when the baby is born and then does not smile because it is mistreated by its “parent(s)?? Where are the “right to lifers” then? They are more concerned with the fetus than with the baby that is born!! I am sure the Supreme Court of the US will take care of all of this (the end of Roe vs. Wade) before the next Presidential Election.
State Theatre #18 Eau Claire, WI
This opened January 19, 1926 with 1,117 seats which it still has. It showed movies and had vaudeville. It closed in 1982. In 1984 it became the Eau Claire Regional Arts Council Performing Arts Venue. It has been renovated.
The outer lobby is rectangular; very plain. The theatre itself is rectangular with frosted red and beige glass lamps from the ceiling to almost the tops of the seats. It has a huge stage and is quite deep. This theatre now does at least 60 shows a year.
Mabel Tainter Memorial Theatre #19 Menomonie, WI
This was opened in 1890 with only 331 seats. A Victorian jewel box.
Mabel Tainter was just nineteen when she died. Her parents commissioned a theatre as a memorial to their daughter whose short life had been full of music and the arts.
The interior features hand-stenciled wall and ceiling decorations, a marble staircase, stained glass windows, walnut and oak woodwork, and brass fixtures everywhere. The theatre still houses the original pipe organ with a total of 1,597 pipes and 28 stops. The theatre is still used as a performing arts theatre, public reading room, and cultural center. The reading room serves as the Laura Ingalls Wilder (Little House on the Prairie) Historic Highway Information site.
A $4.5 million renovation of the theatre was going on during our visit. There were no seats in the theatre and everything was askew. One could see how gorgeous it would be when completed. One of the original hand painted scene backdrops was hanging on the stage. I would like to go back when it is all completed!!
We arrived at the Radisson Hotel Minneapolis, MN at 7 p.m. Eric took care of getting our luggage; I hobbled quickly to register at the desk—was the first one there! We had Room 1222. Merrill was waiting for us in the lobby. Good to see him once more. He had been in Minneapolis seeing friends and his fifth sister, Merry. Up to the room to unpack and to get a bit organized.
Decided to try the hotel restaurant, FireLake Restaurant. A great choice as it turned out. Eric and I were tired but in the mood for a nice dinner and a run around Minneapolis. Had a great gin martini with ice on the side; walleye pike with great mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. Then for dessert had a fresh peach-rhubarb cobbler. Then Merrill had the rental car and was staying nearby at the Ramada. We drove out to the new Tyrone Guthrie Theatre which is simply spectacular on the outside as well as the inside. One can still go inside to the grand balcony of the theatre and look at the magnificent view of the Mississippi River and all of Minneapolis’s twinkling lights. Hope I can see a production there one of these years. Huge photos outside honoring Tennessee Williams, Ibsen, Arthur Miller, Loraine Hansberry. Then off to meet friends of Bill Hiebert, Fred & Jason, for a look into the nightlife of Minneapolis; to the modern Chambers Hotel for a gin and tonic mingling with all the straight and mertrosexual yuppies of this sophisticated Midwest town.
By this time it was getting towards 11 p.m. and we were exhausted from a very busy day on the bus and visiting theatres. Said our goodbyes to Merrill (he would drive back to Plymouth, WI to his sister Dianne’s; he’d stay the night. Then he would return to Oakland on Sunday). We literally collapsed into bed and slept very, very well!!
Saturday, June 23 Minneapolis / St. Paul MN
Got up at 6 a.m. and we had an old-fashioned coffee maker that made a pot of coffee instead of an individual cup of coffee!! We were ready to leave today at 8:30 a.m.
Heights Theatre #20 Columbia Heights, MN
This theatre opened in 1926 with 450 seats; today it has 400. Columbia Heights is a suburb north of Minneapolis. The building is a two-story fancy brick exterior with a Beaux-Arts auditorium. This served as a neighborhood movie house for decades. At one point the brick façade was completely covered with metal siding. By 1997 it was painted a very unattractive light green. It had become by this time a discount movie house.
In 1998 the theatre was purchased by Dave Holmgren and Todd Letness who began a major restoration effort. They also took over the Dairy Queen next door. They restored the fine brick exterior, installed a new vertical marquee which is close to the original. A new screen and stage curtains were hung. Chandeliers made from Egyptian crystal were salvaged from a theatre in Texas, rewired and hung. A Wurlitzer organ was installed. Now the theatre looks so cute. All has a Japanese “hue” about it especially the stage curtain. The green and red walls are very nice. The organ plays with a “roll” and has a nice sound. There are watercolors in the lobby of Clark Gable, Marlene Dietrich, and Greta Garbo. Restroom signs are unique: no words/black and white silhouette drawings. Men’s room has man lounging on chase lounge; Women’s room has woman at vanity mirror.
Fitzgerald Theatre #21 St. Paul, MN
This theatre was built by the New York Shubert Brothers in 1910 with 944 seats; today it h as 751. It was built in memory of their brother Sam who was fatally injured in a train wreck in 1905. It was a vaudeville house as well as a theatre for touring shows. In 1933 it became a movie house. The second balcony was closed and the auditorium was decorated in an Art Deco motif.
In 1981 the Minnesota Public radio converted this theatre to a radio studio/auditorium for Garrison Keillor’s popular radio show, “A Prairie Home Companion.” We especially wanted to see this theatre for that reason! However, the person who was supposed to open for us NEVER ARRIVED!!!!! Why they did not call him on the phone is beyond me??!! We just left.
St. Paul Palace #22 St. Paul, MN
This theatre was not open at all. It was originally called the Orpheum. The marquee and vertical marquee are in fairly good shape. Looked in through the glass doors: the lobby was gutted. It looked all stripped. Maybe they will demolish it.
Uptown Theatre #23 Minneapolis, MN
Opened in 1916. They have redone the marquee. The frosted glass chandeliers in the lobby are small but nice to look at. The auditorium is gloomy inside. There is a huge screen. Not much on the ceiling. Now used as an art house and not very interesting as a theatre.
We did drive by the new Walker Museum Wing which looked lovely.
Suburban World #24 Minneapolis, MN
We drove past this. Not much to look at.
Lunch at what is now Macy’s but was once the Dayton’s Department Store’s The Oak Grill. It opened on October 2, 1947. Bob Hansen, the store architect, used characteristics from the Jacobean period in the design of the rooms with red leather chairs. The room is done all in dark oak and is very elegant. The ornate fireplace, originally from Salisbury England, was over 300 years when it was transported here in sections and then reassembled. Set in the back wall of the main dining room, it has become the focal point with its solid oak columns and vast frame.
We began with a delicious popover with butter on the side. I had pre-ordered the Chicken Pot Pie; a generous portion served with a salad and tasty. All white meat and quite a few vegetables. Had a wonderful homemade lemonade—not too tart, and not too sweet! A lovely lunch. We had a guest speaker from WalMart and Target—he is keeping their “history” for them. He did emphasize how wonderful both stores were; I lost interest rather quickly.
The buses left us for the day, so we were walking to the theatres this afternoon. I needed the exercise after spending so much time on the buses the last few days!!
Shubert Theatre #25 Minneapolis, MN
Opened August 28, 1910 with 1,418 seats. It now has 800 seats. It has a Classical façade and a Colonial Revival interior. The theatre was used for touring plays and musicals. In the 1920s it was home to a stock company, the Bainbridge Players. It was then renamed the Alvin Theatre. In the 1930s it began showing movies, live shows, and even some burlesque was performed. Fire damaged the building badly in 1941. It was repaired and continued with movies. In 1953 it became the Minneapolis Evangelistic Auditorium. In 1957 the Mann Theatres took over and renamed it the Academy. Boxes were removed and the second balcony closed. It opened with the film, “Around the World in 80 Days.” It then closed in 1983. In 199 the building was moved 3 blocks; it took 12 days. They used 70 VW chasseses. They dug a hole, put in a new foundation, filled the hole with dirt, put the theatre on top of all of this, shoveled out the dirt: the theatre was in its new location with a new basement!! It was the heaviest building ever moved and made the Guinness Book of World Records.
Now it is part of a $37 million project called the Minnesota Shubert Performing Arts and Education Center made up of three buildings. The theatre will be renovated and receive a new stage house. It is expected to reopen in 2009 as a home base for the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. One could only look inside to an empty space. They were only letting in 20 people at a time. It was so dark; no electricity, etc.
State Theatre #26 Minneapolis, MN
This opened in 1921 and had 2,800 seats; it now has 2,176 seats. It is a huge theatre and is very elegant. Lots of gold with murals above the proscenium and the side walls are all spotlighted. It is a turquoise color. The curtain on the stage is teal.
Originally built as part of a two-story block. The theatre had an early form of air conditioning which utilized cold water from a well underneath the site. Portions of the building also had a unique glass floor with lighting below. Showed movies. In 1958 they began to have occasional stage attractions. In 1975 the theatre was sold to the Jesus People Church and became a religious center. In 1989 they wanted to demolish the theatre. It was then decided that the rest of the block would be demolished and the theatre saved. A new LaSalle Plaza was constructed and its two-story façade incorporated the old State Theatre. The City of Minneapolis spent $8.8 million on renovation work including a new stage. The lobby chandeliers came from a hotel in Ohio, but the auditorium chandeliers and murals are original. It then reopened in 1991 with a production of CAROUSEL. Today it houses touring shows, concerts, and special film events. There is no organ in the theatre now.
Orpheum Theatre #27 Minneapolis, MN
This opened October 16, 1921 and had 2,298 seats; now has 2,600 seats. This was originally a vaudeville theatre. It converted to movies in 1927 and the name changed to RKO Orpheum. In 1959 the Mann Theatres purchased the building and booked the occasional stage production. Film presentations ended in the 1970s. Bob Dylan operated the theatre from 1984 to 1988. He then sold it to the Minneapolis Community Development Agency. They spent $10 million renovating it. Almost 20 feet of depth was added to the stage and the marquee and vertical were refurbished. Decorative elements inside which had been covered over were restored. The huge auditorium chandelier was rehabilitated and rewired; a mixture of brass and crystal, it is fifteen feet high and weighs one ton. In 1993 the theatre reopened with a concert. Used today as a performing arts center.
Three huge rotundas are located at the back of the orchestra and lit. The main auditorium ceiling has a huge rotunda with the brass and crystal chandelier hanging in the middle.
Pantages Theatre #28 Minneapolis, MN
Opened October 27, 1916 with 1,600 seats; it now has 990. It has a rather formal French look. Looks like it has little mirrors; instead of glass, it has satin material. This is the smallest of the three theatres that are on Hennepin Avenue.
Alexander Pantages built this new theatre for his vaudeville circuit. It was remodeled in 1922. At that time they put in a striking glass ceiling dome over the auditorium. It is well preserved and still in place. The entrance to the theatre was rebuilt in 1926. The theatre then was sold in 1946 and underwent extensive modernization work which reduced the seating capacity to l,400. It reopened as the RKO Pan with the 1946 film “Gilda” with Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford. In 1960 the theatre was sold to the Mann Theatres with another renovation which included reducing the number of seats to 1,100 before reopening as the Mann Theatre with the 1961 film, “Spartacus.” It then specialized in wide screen movies. It closed in 1984. In 2002 after a $8.9 million renovation, the theatre reopened as a playhouse with its original name.
After such a busy day, back to the hotel, took an hour’s nap, took a hot shower, and then dressed for our Theatre Historical Society of America Banquet. Cocktail hour with a no-host bar began at 6:30 p.m. The hotel was quite cheap: not even a bowl of peanuts or a bowl of potato chips to munch on! Nothin’!!! Then into the nice banquet room. No wine on the tables. At least one bottle of each would have been nice. Food was quite good. A huge salad; salmon with asparagus risotto; some type of apple pie/cake that was tasty. We had a nice table with Federico, Don & Bill. Said goodbyes to several people who were not going on the “Sunday AfterGlow” back to Milwaukee. Back to the room to pack and get ready for another full day “on the road again” as Willie Nelson would sing!
Sunday, June 24 AfterGlow back to Milwaukee, WI
Up before 6 to get all ready, have coffee and muffin, finish packing, and set for the bus ride. Down to bus at 7:30 a.m. We were ready to leave at 8 a.m. Good seats and ready to enjoy the scenery.
Paramount Theatre #29 Austin, MN
This small theatre opened in 1929 with 914 seats; it now has 622 seats. Designed as a little Spanish town, it is an atmospheric theatre. It replaced a theatre that was destroyed by a tornado in 1928. It depicts a Spanish courtyard with a blue starry sky. Built to show movies. It closed in 1975 after screening “The Godfather, Part II.” It then became a bar and nightclub. In 1985, the theatre was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. This spurred the beginning of renovations in 1992. Restoration uncovered original colors and animal designs. Today the theatre is used for local productions, business events, and the home of the Matchbox Children’s Theatre. The small balcony has stars from the orchestra level directly to the balcony just as if you were climbing stairs up a street in a Spanish town. Very cute!
On the way to Rochester, we drove by the Spam Museum. It was closed on Sunday, but I think that would have made a great hour’s stop. I remember the days of Spam that my mother would cook, mostly with eggs to get the fat out of it! It tasted great though; god knows what was in it!?!?
Chateau Theatre #30 Rochester, MN
The town is home to the famous Mayo Clinic. Plenty of hotels on Main Street in a rather big town. The theatre was closed 20 years ago and turned into a Barnes and Noble Bookstore. They have kept the lobby pretty much intact; the balcony walls are preserved. The box office still sits out front. Kept lots of the theatre intact; including some of the ceiling and stained glass windows, the proscenium arch, and the original chandelier. However, it is still a bookstore and is rather “jumbled”! Not sure if it should be preserved in this manner!??
The original theatre opened in 1927 with 1,497 seats. It was an atmospheric theatre built like a French village. The marquee was lit by 636 lights in a sunburst pattern. The first theatre to have air conditioning in Rochester. The theatre closed in 1983 even though it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1994 it reopened as a bookstore.
The Mayo Brothers were doctors in the town of Rochester and opened their clinic. They liked living in the town and stayed.
As we journeyed along to our next theatre, we had Lunch on the Bus. My tuna sandwich (what else??) was so delicious. Great mayo and also some egg salad & capers chopped in; it also had lettuce and tomato on it. Had a bag of chips, a dill pickle and an oatmeal raisin cookie. Had another half of sandwich from a few that were leftover.
Rivoli Theatre #31 LaCrosse, WI
This theatre opened in 1921 with 1,300 seats; now has 600 seats. It was built in conjunction with an office building. They built theatres in those days with businesses attached so that some income would be coming in to pay for it all. It has a Spanish garden motif and was an atmospheric theatre. It had vaudeville for a while and then switched to movies exclusively. Most of the ornate decorations were removed due to deterioration. The theatre closed in 1982. It was bought in 1994; seats were removed and replaced with tables and chairs and an on-site pizzeria supplies patrons with food during the movies. Plans to restore the theatre are afoot. Money is needed.
The theatre had a stale smell to it. Did not stay in the place very long. It needs a good cleaning and redoing.
Temple Theatre #32 Viroqua, WI
Built in 1922, it has 550 seats. It was used for silent movies, vaudeville, touring musical productions and community events. The Masonic Lodge occupied the second floor. It had a Classical Revival interior but in 1931 it was jazzed up with some Art Deco columns, a new color scheme and a modern marquee. From the 1950s onward, the theatre was in an extreme state of disrepair. In 1993 it was saved from demolition. A fundraising drive provided the money to fully restore the theatre to its original design. It reopened in 2002. The pipe organ which had been sold to a church in 1938 was reacquired. It is being restored. There is no balcony in the theatre. The 1922 fire curtain is original and so are two small chandeliers in the theatre.
As you enter the theatre there is a long rectangular lobby with murals featuring Vernon County Scenes. Nicely done and colorful.
Mineral Point Opera House #33 Mineral Point, WI
This was opened in 1914. The last theatre to see on our Theatre Conclave!!! At the moment is being slowly restored. It is rented from the city for $2 a year. Films and all sorts of live productions are done here. Lovely stage. This was a vaudeville house in the early days with jack Benny & George Burns and Gracie Allen playing here. It originally had 750 seats, but now has 400 seats. Would like to see the theatre again when it is all renovated.
Arrived back to our Intercontinental Hotel in Milwaukee, WI close to 7 p.m. Unpacked a little since we had to leave for home in the morning. Was tired and checked in rather quickly; our plan of Eric looking after the luggage and me running to the desk, worked again!
Met Fred Beale in the lobby. We then went over to the China Gourmet for some beef with snow peas, fried pork rice, and vegetable lo mein. Have been eating too much and this was all just right.
Called Merrill at home in Oakland. He had just gotten home. A message from Northwest Airlines was there. The Northwest flight was cancelled (they are in Chapter 11) and they booked me on Delta Airlines going to Atlanta and then on to San Francisco which would get me in to SFO at midnight! No way! Called Delta and they rebooked me via Cincinnati OH and then on to SFO getting in at 7 pm. Much better! Almost a dreadful airport nightmare! Some people’s flights were cancelled and they had to stay overnight again in Milwaukee; Northwest cancelled most of their flights on the Monday!?
Off to bed and we were tired after a hectic time visiting 33 theatres.
Monday, June 25 Milwaukee, WI to Cincinnati OH to San Francisco
Had a fairly leisurely morning and did not have to leave the hotel until 11:15 a.m. to get to Milwaukee Airport. All was on time for the flights and arrived at SFO a bit early since the weather was so good heading westward.
Was in the apartment at 8 p.m. and was so glad to be home!!
A wonderful journey, but “there’s no place like home!”
Will be in touch as the summer goes on. Keep in touch and enjoy the rest of the summer
Gerry
