Avalon Theatre, 1500 E Lake St, Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Avalon Theatre
2007
Address:	1500 Lake Street E
Neighborhood/s:	Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis, Minnesota
City/locality- State/province	Minneapolis, Minnesota
County- State/province:	Hennepin County, Minnesota
State/province:	Minnesota
Country:	United States
Year built:	1924
Major Alterations:	Some/mostly intact
Historic Function:	Theater/concert hall
Current Function:	Theater/concert hall
Architect or source of design:	Ekman Holm and Co.

The Avalon Theater reflects the evolution of movie theaters on Lake Street. Opened in 1937, this art-deco movie house's modern exterior boasted thousands of neon lights that attracted attention for miles. In the 1950's it morphed into the first European-art-film house, and a decade later, it became one of the first x-rated theaters in the Twin Cities. Since it's reopening in 1989 it has been the home to In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre.

Contents 1 History 2 Memories and stories 2.1 Memory 3 Badges 4 Photo Gallery 5 Related Links 6 Notes

History

Remodeled and enlarged, Perry Crosier, 1937 / renovated, Vincent James Assoc., 1997

Memories and stories

Memory

I was born on March 12, 1939. The night before I was born my parents went to see "Gone With the Wind" at the Avalon Theater. On the way from our home at 2636 - 17th Avenue they stopped at Nolander's Department Store on 17th and Lake. where my mother wanted to buy some sewing supplies. She put her name in for a door prize that night and won a beautiful gold, red, and black tray with deer on it, which came with a pitcher and six glasses. The tray was in our family until I left home. Recently when I visited my niece's home I found out that she still has that tray.

As a child I went nearly every Saturday to the matinee double features at the Avalon. Before the movies we had yoyo contests on stage with prizes. In the late 1940s yoyo was a great pastime for children like us, as well as roller skating and biking.

Sometimes, much to my mother's dismay, I stayed after the whole afternoon of movies with cartoons to watch the evening feature film.

In recent years I have returned to the now Heart of the Beast Theater to see puppet theater. It is wonderful to see the theater of my youth returned to a place for such wholesome entertainment.

Margaret

Badges

This place is part of Right on Lake Street

Photo Gallery

Related Links

[1] In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre

[2]Interview with Sandy Spieler

Notes