Unique Theater

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A plat showing the Unique's location. (Center)
A plat showing the Unique's location. (Center)

The Unique Theater was an 830-seat vaudeville theater built in 1904 on Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was situated between the Hennepin Center for the Arts and the West Hotel, built in the Renaissance Revival style, and catered to a family audience with daily performances costing $0.10 or $0.20.[1] A then-unknown Charlie Chaplin performed at the Unique very early in his career.[2] However, when vaudeville declined in the 1920s, the theater became a single-screen movie theater, which was demolished in the 1930s.[2] The lot where it once stood is now a parking lot,[3] but will eventually be part of the Minnesota Shubert Performing Arts and Education Center.[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Balcom, Thomas (1989). The History of Hennepin Center for the Arts. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Mill City History Associates, 5. 
  2. ^ a b Krefft, Bryan. Unique Theater. Cinema Treasures. Retrieved on 2007-12-22.
  3. ^ Map & Directions. Minnesota Dance Theatre & The Dance Institute. Retrieved on 2007-12-22.
  4. ^ Minnesota Shubert Center receives $11 million from Legislature. Minnesota Schubert Performing Arts and Education Center (2007-5-22). Retrieved on 2007-12-23.