NorShor Theatre

The NorShor Theatre is an entertainment venue in downtown Duluth, Minnesota, and was formerly a movie palace and Opera House. It occupies a prominent place along Superior Street, and is currently undergoing a massive renovation effort by the City of Duluth.[1] The NorShor played a significant role in the artistic history of Duluth, and is generally considered a landmark.[2]

History

The Norshor Theatre at left, in 1964

The NorShor traces its history back to 1910, when it began as the Orpheum Theatre.[3] It was a Classical Revival-style theatre, and was a premier venue for Vaudeville performances in Duluth. In addition to Vaudeville acts and other performances, the Orpheum was one of Duluth's earliest movie theatres.

During the age of silent films, many movie theatres were equipped with a theatre organ, to accompany the silent films with music and sound effects.[4] In 1925, an ornate looking organ made by the Smith-Geneva Organ Company was installed in the auditorium. The organ had 2 manuals and 8 ranks of pipes.

But by the 1940s, the Vaudeville era was over, and the Orpheum needed to be reinvented to stay in business and remain relevant. It was renamed the NorShor, and was remodeled in a fabulous Art Deco style.[5] The new NorShor featured a 125-foot tall exterior tower made of porcelain. The tower contained 3,000 lights, making it visible for a long distance, as a notable feature of Duluth's skyline.[3] The tower was subsequently removed in later years, but plans to replace it are included in the renovation plans.[6]

By the mid 2000s, the building had lost most of its former glory. As the condition of the building was deteriorating, the theatre's local reputation was also in decline. While being operated as a Strip club, along with reports of other unsavory activities taking place at the NorShor, the once-fine theatre was now devoid of its former luxury.[3] But luckily a new chapter would unfold, when the property was acquired by the city.

2010 acquisition and redevelopment by the city

In June 2010, the Duluth Economic Development Authority purchased the NorShor,[2] along with the adjacent Temple Opera buildings for a combined total of $2.6 million.[3] Although the city has sometimes been criticized for this move, the decision has been defended by Duluth's Mayor, Don Ness, who cites an improvement in the building's neighborhood, with the elimination of the strip club.[3] Ness has said the NorShor is "key to the revitalization of the entire downtown district."[7]

In 2014, the city landed $6.95 million from a state bonding bill from the Minnesota Legislature, for use in renovating the NorShor.[3] Although this was only a part of the $22.3 million needed for the complete overall renovation, it was a critical first step that would help ensure future funding sources come through. In a June 8, 2014 article in the Duluth News Tribune, Ness was quoted as saying, "If we hadn't taken ownership of the building ... we would have continued to have a strip club there with gang activity and prostitution and drug dealing. And that's in a prominent place on Superior Street. It would have been a continual black eye on that part of downtown. And the building would have eventually fallen apart."[3]

In addition to the bonding funds, other fundraising efforts have been ongoing. And helping to ensure the successful future of the NorShore, the city has identified the Duluth Playhouse as the facility's manager and operator, once the reconstruction is complete. And developer George Sherman has been named as the developer for the restoration project.[2]

The new NorShor, with a 700-seat, stadium-style, balconied, live-performance theatre, is expected to generate an estimated $5 million to $6 million of annual economic benefit. Restorations include extending the stage, making the building handicap accessible, and adding modern state-of-the-art theatre equipment. Also included in the renovation plans are a new bar and lounge.[2][3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Theatre Historical Society of America". Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "NorShor Website". NorShore Website. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Duluth News Tribune". Ken Browall. June 8, 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  4. ↑ "Atos.org". Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  5. ↑ "Zenith City Archive". Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  6. ↑ Renalls, Candace (13 March 2013). "Developer: NorShor Theatre's tower marquee will rise again". Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  7. ↑ "Minneapolis Star Tribune". Retrieved 20 June 2014.

Coordinates: 46°47′21″N 92°05′43″W / 46.78929°N 92.0954°W / 46.78929; -92.0954

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