Cinemasota

The tradition of arts & film in the Twin Cities slowly fades with every new multiplex that is built. The pictures that fill seats at movie theaters today are saturated with CGI, elaborate costumes and famous ‘Hollywood’ actors, of whom maybe a few dozen could actually perform on Broadway if asked. This combination of mega-theater and mega-movie has resulted in a fabricated experience for filmgoers; clearly demonstrating that the evolution of cinema has gone the way most creative art forms do; falling victim to money & greed.

Small glimmers of the heyday film era still remain and remind us of the magic of storytelling through moving images. For me, a viewing experience is as much about the atmosphere around you as it is the movie itself. Maybe my nearly five years of experience working at a theatre in my hometown makes me partial to this; or maybe theaters still matter as much to others as they do me.

Here in Minneapolis an institution resides within a quiet neighborhood just a few blocks from the Hiawatha light rail line in the south eastern corridor of the city. As the most modern of trains glides along its tracks, few passengers that get off near 38^th street bother to venture toward the subtle glow that the marquee of the historic Riverview Theater creates. Across from a small garden center and kiddie-corner to the charming Riverview Wine Bar, the venue sits as it has sat for 60 years; with 700+ seats and a glorious screen.

Popcorn is available for $2.50 and tickets at peak times are a mere $3. While the Riverview shows only second-run films, they typically choose only the best releases and those that have cinematic integrity. On a recent visit, I saw Charlie Wilson’s War amongst a hundred or so others speckled throughout the enormous complex. New seats were installed almost a decade ago and are more comfortable than most modern chains offer. The sound quality is impeccable thanks to an acoustical design that seemingly mirrors an orchestra hall. The entire ambiance comes together to transport you back to the 50’s when old classics were new and life was much more simple; a time when movies could be appreciated in a setting rarely available today.

The Riverview isn’t the only institution offering a nostalgic rewind to film’s best days. In fact, the Twin Cities metro has several long-running venues for movie indulgence. The Heights, in Columbia Heights, has stood over two decades longer than the Riverview. To link film & brewing history together, an heir to the Gluek’s brewing empire started the Heights Theater in 1926. Perhaps my love for both beer and movies isn’t as coincidental as I thought. I’m starting to believe I should have been born decades earlier; although that would have posed problems for my blogging ambitions.

Back on topic, the Heights is still operating today with some first-run and other second-run films along with classic screenings and organ concerts using their incredible Wurlitzer Theater Organ. The projection, sound and screen technology has been updated. Offering roughly 400 seats, it is slightly smaller than the Riverview, but equally captivating.

Another noteworthy aspect at these establishments is the willingness of both theater owners to open their screens for live broadcasts of major events, such as the World Cup, and frequent showings of cult-classic marathons. Below is a clip of the final goal of the 2006 World Cup Final that I recorded while catching the game at the Riverview.

Including the recent revival of the Suburban World Theatre (1927), the Uptown Theater (1930) and the on-going tradition of the Vali-Hi Drive-in (1966), the golden age of film still has a life in at least this region of the country. For anyone that understands the raw power of movie watching escapism, I can attest to the fact that these Twin Cities screen houses offer a realm to do just that.

For more on classic theaters, consider the book Cinema Treasures: A New Look at Classic Movie Theaters available online through local vendor Magers & Quinn Booksellers or used on Amazon.com.

Update: I happened to stop at Magers & Quinn the day after this post and found a book that should have been mentioned: Twin Cities Picture Show: A Century of Moviegoing by Dave Kenny. This new release is hard to find outside of the local market, but can be picked up at local booksellers. It is a 255 page glance at movie theaters and film in the area and was published by the Minnesota Historical Society. 'Twin Cities Picture Show' has officially been added to my list of must-read books for this year.