A sequel for the Hollywood Theater?
By Melissa Slachetka
Northeast Beat Contributor
“It’s amazing how everyone has a Hollywood Theater story,†Sharrin Miller-Bassi says with a glow in her eye. “People who worked here, who had their first date here … everyone remembers something.â€
The Hollywood Theater’s inside is airy and mysterious. Relics of the past are everywhere. Lanterns hang strung on cords. A painted green tulip remains on on a lobby wall. Once in a pair that framed a mirrored fountain, the flower is surprisingly perfect. An emblem of the glorious past to this historic theater.
It’s a Northeast landmark, but the theater didn’t survive the rise of VCRs and home video in the 1980s. Multiple attempts to reopen the Hollywood have failed, but with a new mix of financing now pending, city officials and a neighborhood entrepreneur are optimistic a renovation could start as soon as this summer.
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Miller-Bassi is a senior project coordinator with the city’s Community Planning and Economic Development department. Miller-Bassi is working with an Audubon Park resident, Royce Jackson, to plan what needs to be done to reopen the theater at 2815 Johnson St. NE.
“We want to be the people down the street who own the theater,†says Jackson, who became interested in the Hollywood Theater about 10 years ago when he and his wife bought a house in the neighborhood.
Jackson says it’s important the theater retains its original 1930’s art deco style, which he calls "an incredible asset to the building.†He plans to preserve the fountains as well as artistic elements of the building.
The city owns the building today. Jackson is waiting for financing to be approved to purchase and renovate the space. He’s planning a diverse slate of entertainment including movies, live jazz and blues music, spoken word and private parties. It’s a combination he says "taps into the vein of the neighborhood.â€
From outside, the Hollywood Theater looks aged, boarded up, graffiti covered, and just plain past its time. Once inside, it is like walking into the past. There is a suspended feeling in the air. Since it is lit sparsely, there is an anticipation that something is about to start: a show, a performance, or perhaps a new theater opening.
Still, there is quite a list of things to be fixed. The theater has suffered water damage, and repairs need to be made to the roof, seats, and walls. All the mechanical items, heat, air-conditioning, and electrical systems needs to be updated, too.
The Hollywood Theater, which was open from 1935 to 1987, has historical features on the facade and interior. It received a historic designation from the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission in 1990, and the city bought the building in 1993 in hopes of preserving and restoring the theater.
Any renovation must preserve items noted by the heritage committee. In the outer lobby, one historical feature is the mirrored fountain edged by tulips. There was another fountain in a second lower lobby, but that is gone: just crumbling concrete remains. The circular staircase descending into the lower lobby will be preserved along with its ornate handrail. Handrails in the main theater are also to be preserved.
The main theater is huge, with over 900 seats. The stage goes straight back to the alley and there is storage behind historical columns on either side of the stage. The huge, rough columns are the first thing to catch the eye upon entering this room. Tall and noble, they give the room a feel of an opera house. Fabric once was stretched between the columns concealing props and other equipment behind them.
The illusion of grandness is completed with these unique historical features. Lining the walls of the main room are circular lights. These are not tiny little lights. They look like they would be at home on the side of a steamship. Heavy circles jutting out into the vast sea of seats. The seats feature colorful designs on every aisle armrest, one of the many details that make this theater unique.
The Hollywood Theater has improved with the help of the Audubon Neighborhood Association and the City of Minneapolis. Asbestos and lead paint have been removed from the theater. The city bought an empty lot across the street to sell with the theater as a parking area.
Rebecca Karbon with the Audubon Neighborhood committee describes it as “a jewel for the area†and a “perfect fit with the neighborhood.†Karbon bought a house in the neighborhood in 2001 and learned about the theater through a friend who owns Audubon Coffee, just down the street from Hollywood Theater. The connection sparked interest and Karbon has been working to preserve the Hollywood Theater ever since.
Karbon is disappointed in the funding problems that have plagued the theater’s revival. “I haven’t heard of any new movement,†Karbon hesitantly states, though she acknowledges the potential interest of Jackson. Karbon invites anyone interested to contact the Audubon neighborhood office.
Do you have a Hollywood Theater story? What kind of entertainment would you like to see at the theater? Click ‘comments’ to join the conversation.
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Filed under: Audubon Park, Film, History
Does anyone know the proposed seating capacity for the space?
I’m not sure — Melissa, did you find out anything about the proposed capacity? Royce or Sharrin, are you reading?
The theater seated about 925 people according to cinematreasures.org.
This theater would be a boon to northeast Minneapolis. Just as the Ritz has brought 13th to a new level, the Hollywood Theater would keep improving Johnson Street.
Audubon Park is lucky to have this in their part of northeast.
Doron Clark
Windom Park
I can only recall going to the Hollywood once, in the 1980s – I lived in south Minneapolis. I don’t recall seeing even faded splendor inside.
But I’d love to see it open again, but I question whether yet another parking lot is needed, across the street. What about evening use of the existing lots on the block? The Riverview does quite well with the use of the small clinic lot nearby, and a lot of street parking.
Maybe once the railyard redevelopment gets going there could be a connector bus line on 29th Ave. from Central to Stinson. Gotta feed these neighborhood nodes.
We appreciate the support we have been getting from the community. It has been tremendous and very encouraging. When it comes to the parking there has been a number of studies showing different parking options. We are hoping to retain seating between 800 and 850 seats. For us to be able to run a profitable venue and cover the costs of renovation our business plan requires brining in artists (local and nationally known) that can fill the Hollywood. In order to provide an experience that will be a joy for our patrons and an asset to the community we feel that free, convenient and plentiful parking is critical to the long-term success of the Hollywood.
Aren’t we tired of watching the same reel?
The sentiments, the hope, and the obstacles have been the same for a decade. It seems that the folks running the show aren’t capable of moving ahead. We’ve burned out two operators and three developers over that time. The neighborhood has been eager for the lights to go down and the show to start again. Each time, it has been the land owner (CPED) who has discovered some way to squelch the opportunity available. Even the pollution remediation and stabilization was not accomplished by CPED initiative (it was the Councilmember’s Aide who lined up that $300K).
Perhaps we should change the projectionist…
I have a fun memory of seeing “Nine to Five” at the Hollywood with my parents and brother when I was a kid. Today, my family and I live about two blocks from the theater, and would LOVE to see it renovated and open for patrons.
Wish list? I used to live in Portland, OR, walking distance from the Bagdad theater, which, at least at the time, had $1 admission and ran second-run movies, art films, nostalgia films, and holiday films. They also served beer and pizza, which is, I’m sure, how they afforded to charge $1. Heck, even if it was $2, such a venture would be perfect in Nordeast, and would fit right in on the Johnson strip.
Food (and drink) for thought.
As a newer resident to the area I can only recall the Hollywood as an eyesore. I and others can only hope it is restored to its alleged original splendor. If that happens I believe many will welcome such a theatre with great enthusiasm. However, I’m no expert, but the building itself appears to be largely in disrepair and question whether it can be salvaged. I’m all for historical preservation, but knock it down if the cost of restoration is prohibitive. It’s been vacant for 20 years already!
I live less than a block away.
All the scuttlebutt I have heard is that the landowners want to condemn the building and sell it for a more “suburban” style property.
I don’t care about patrons parking, I have my own garage. But there are plenty of crabs in the neighborhood who do not want any real entertainment venue in the area, as they feel it will attract the “wrong element.” Some cowardly creep even tried to sabotage the last development proposal by sending out anonymous postcards that warned that they were trying to turn the venue into a “gay bar.”
Bullocks, I say.
Those creeps should move to Maple Grove. I want my neighborhood to have thriving businesses.
I moved here specifically to be in close walking proximity to the businesses on Johnson St. They are all great, and a welcome relief from corporate chains.
Luckily, I think people of my belief are becoming the majority in this area.
Gary brings up a good point - does the neighborhood want this type of action, and what type of entertainment would it bring? Most would agree that anything would be better than what exists now! Something is better than nothing; considering nothing has been vacant for over 20 years! Thoughts? Can NRP funds be used for the public good here?
I was just driving by the Hollywood theater and thinking about how it could be used as a non-profit community/youth arts center. I can see that a number of ventures are apparently underway, but would very much like to see what could be done to support a non-profit arts venture in conjunction with that which is already occurring. I’m an art teacher in Columbia Heights and would love to know what my students and I could do to support this idea. I would also be willing to write some grants (i.e. State Arts Board) or form a committee of local arts organization/art teachers to get the ball rolling. Let me know what I can do.
Ariane
(I also posted this on cinema treasures so for those of you that watch them both, yes, you are seeing double, but that only shows my dedication to seeing to it that this building once again finds its glory and becomes an important part of the community)
I am so happy to hear about The Hollywood Theater! I have never been in the theater, and have never seen it open, but since I was a kid I have wanted to put on fashion shows in this theater. I know for sure our community will have it alive and running in no time. Maybe we should start a fundraiser? I am looking forward to this revival!
What are you happy to hear about the HOLLYWOOD THEATER . I would love to hear some good news about it as it has been a eyesore for this community for what 20 years now.
It seems money is not available from the city even though it is a HISTORIC BUILDING and for the past 35 years I HAVE LIVED IN THIS AREA NOBODY HAS REALLY TRIED to improve it.
I would love to see it open and making that block the great place it should be.
It’s really sad to see how much a theater like this just sits and rots. I grew up a few blocks away and remember seeing “Three Amigos,” “American Werewolf in London,” “Conan the Destroyer,” “Clue,” and Star Trek: The Rath of Khan.” It was easy to see why nobody went to see movies there back in the day. Most of the reasons probably stem from it being very old, almost decrepid. I remeber the old stair case that went downstairs to what I believe was a bathroom, and the old crusty curtains that seperated the seats and a spooky empty room? Needless to say, I have a lot of fond memories there with my twin brother Aaron. Being nordeast boys, who were also sad to see the Apache theater leave, I just don’t see how this theater can’t be revitalized. If there is any work to be done, my brother and I would lend a hand happily. From two nordeast filmmakers, we’ll be the first in line with a shovel, and hopefully a ticket in the future. JASON & AARON AHLSTROM