Avalon Theatre, 1500 E Lake St, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Avalon Theatre | |
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| 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. |
(44.948361,-93.253703)
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.
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
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Related Links
[1] In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre
