Heights Theater
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The Heights Theater is a historic theater in Columbia Heights, MN. The Theater touts itself as "the Twin Cities longest continuously running show house."
[edit] Location
It is located approximately three blocks from Columbia Heights' border with Minneapolis on Central Avenue. The Heights Theater celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2006 with a limited run of historic films. It often runs Oscar-nominated and winning films in the weeks near the Academy Awards.
[edit] History
The theater was built in the Beaux Arts style in 1926. According to the theater’s website, "The Heights has survived at least three fires, one bombing and "The Big Blow of 1949" when a Fridley tornado twisted the tower sign[1]. " The Heights Theater originally ran vaudeville acts as well as first-run movies.
During the 1980s and early 1990s the theater was left in disarray though it remained open. It ran late run movies at a discount price. The City of Columbia Heights supposedly recommended the theater to be condemned. The theater was saved when Todd Letness and Dave Holmgren purchased it in 1998. The two men, who also own the neighboring Dairy Queen, started a series of renovations at The Heights.
They reintroduced a Wurlitzer Pipe Organ courtesy of local radio station WCCO-AM[2]. The renovation also included the addition of "antique chandeliers are suspended from the ceiling restored with 2600 Egyptian lead crystals"[1], as well as new carpet, remodeled bathrooms and a new lobby. The outside of the theater was renovated thanks to the theater's original blueprints that were discovered by the University of Minnesota.
Today the theater runs first-run films as well as special events. The Heights Theater also adorns the street light banners that welcome people to Columbia Heights.
