Fitzgerald Theater
Corporate brand
UnclaimedThe Fitzgerald Theater is the oldest active theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and a historic live-performance venue associated with public radio and touring entertainment.
Last updated August 24, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile yet.
Overview
The Fitzgerald Theater is a historic performance venue in downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota, and the oldest active theater in the city. The building was developed by the Shubert Theatre Corporation and originally opened under the name Sam S. Shubert Theater. It was designed by the Chicago architectural firm Marshall and Fox, whose portfolio included several Shubert theaters. The venue reflects the period when theater chains developed purpose-built halls for touring stage productions and popular entertainment across the United States. In 1933, the building was converted into a cinema and operated as the World Theater. This phase gave the venue a different role in Saint Paul's cultural landscape, but it retained its importance as a substantial downtown entertainment facility. Minnesota Public Radio purchased the property in 1980, beginning a new chapter in which the theater became closely linked to public media and live broadcasting. The building was restored and fitted with a stage in 1986 to support broadcasts of A Prairie Home Companion, the influential radio variety program hosted by Garrison Keillor. The theater became one of the program's best-known homes and helped establish its identity as a venue for a carefully produced combination of music, comedy, storytelling, and regional culture. The venue was renamed the Fitzgerald Theater in 1994 in honor of F. Scott Fitzgerald, the celebrated author who was born in Saint Paul. The new name connected the building to the city's literary heritage while preserving its role as an operating theater. Its association with A Prairie Home Companion later extended to Live from Here, the American Public Media program that succeeded the earlier show. The Fitzgerald therefore became recognizable not only as a physical venue but also as a nationally heard setting for live radio performance. The theater has hosted events beyond regular concerts and broadcasts. On November 4, 2002, it was the site of a nationally consequential election-eve debate between U.S. Senate candidates Norm Coleman and Walter Mondale. The debate was moderated by Gary Eichten of Minnesota Public Radio and Paul Magers of KARE. The event attracted particular attention because Mondale had entered the race after the death of incumbent candidate Paul Wellstone, leaving only a short period before the election. In 2005, the Fitzgerald was used as the principal venue for filming Robert Altman's film A Prairie Home Companion. The production used the theater because of its close relationship to the radio program, although the film crew employed specially designed sets rather than the venue's ordinary broadcast equipment. Other regional theaters were considered in case the Fitzgerald proved too small, but the building was ultimately judged suitable for the production. Minnesota Public Radio sold the theater to Twin Cities venue operator First Avenue in March 2019. Under First Avenue's ownership, the Fitzgerald remains a live-events venue serving concerts, comedy, spoken-word programs, broadcasts, and other performances. Its brand combines historic architecture, Saint Paul cultural identity, public-radio heritage, and the practical role of a modern independently operated theater. A Wurlitzer theater organ is among the building's notable physical features.
History
The Fitzgerald Theater is a historic theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota, with a history spanning stage entertainment, cinema, public radio, film production, and contemporary live events. It was one of numerous theaters developed by the Shubert Theatre Corporation and was initially named the Sam S. Shubert Theater. The building was designed by Marshall and Fox, a Chicago architectural firm known for designing theaters for the Shubert organization. Its architecture and downtown location reflected the role of large urban theaters as important venues for touring productions and public entertainment. The building changed function in 1933, when it became a movie theater known as the World Theater. This conversion placed the venue within the era's expanding commercial cinema industry. It continued operating as a prominent entertainment site in Saint Paul until Minnesota Public Radio acquired the property in 1980. The purchase created the basis for the theater's later association with broadcasting and radio performance. Minnesota Public Radio restored the space and added a stage in 1986 so that it could serve as a home for broadcasts of A Prairie Home Companion. The program's mix of live music, comedy, storytelling, and variety performance made the theater an important production setting as well as a public venue. Regular broadcasts gave the building visibility beyond Minnesota and made its stage familiar to national radio audiences. The venue subsequently became connected with Live from Here, the American Public Media program that followed A Prairie Home Companion. In 1994, the theater was renamed for F. Scott Fitzgerald, the Saint Paul-born author. The name reinforced the venue's local cultural identity and linked its public profile to one of the city's most prominent literary figures. The theater retained its historic function while developing a broader identity encompassing music, comedy, radio, civic events, and other performances. The Fitzgerald's event history includes an election-eve debate held on November 4, 2002, between U.S. Senate candidates Norm Coleman and Walter Mondale. Gary Eichten of Minnesota Public Radio and Paul Magers of KARE moderated the event. Its timing made it especially notable: Mondale had entered the race after the death of Paul Wellstone, who had been seeking reelection. The theater also became a film location in 2005 for A Prairie Home Companion, directed by Robert Altman. The production considered other theaters in the region in case the Fitzgerald could not accommodate the shoot, but ultimately used the building. Although the venue supplied the authentic setting associated with the radio program, the filmmakers used purpose-built sets instead of the theater's regular equipment. In March 2019, First Avenue purchased the Fitzgerald from Minnesota Public Radio. The transaction placed the theater within the operating portfolio of a major Twin Cities live-music and events company. The Fitzgerald continues to function as an active venue rather than solely as a heritage property. Its current identity is built on the combination of a historic theater environment, a strong Saint Paul connection, national public-radio associations, and programming for concerts, comedy, broadcasts, and special events. The building also contains a Wurlitzer theater organ, an important surviving feature of its entertainment history.
- 2019
Acquisition by First Avenue
[1]First Avenue purchased the theater from Minnesota Public Radio in March 2019.
- 2005
Filming of A Prairie Home Companion
[1]Robert Altman's A Prairie Home Companion was filmed at the theater.
- 2002
Election-eve Senate debate
[1]The Fitzgerald hosted a debate between Norm Coleman and Walter Mondale during a closely watched Minnesota Senate election.
- 1994
Renamed the Fitzgerald Theater
[1]The venue adopted its current name in honor of Saint Paul native and author F. Scott Fitzgerald.
- 1986
Restoration and stage installation
[1]The space was restored and fitted with a stage for A Prairie Home Companion broadcasts.
- 1980
Minnesota Public Radio acquires the building
[1]Minnesota Public Radio purchased the theater, beginning its modern association with public-radio production and live broadcasting.
- 1933
Conversion into the World Theater
[1]The venue became a movie theater known as the World Theater.
Opening as the Sam S. Shubert Theater
[1]The building was developed by the Shubert Theatre Corporation and originally operated under the name Sam S. Shubert Theater. It was designed by Marshall and Fox.
Products and positioning
A historic Saint Paul theater positioned as an intimate, character-rich venue for live music, comedy, broadcast events, and civic or cultural programming. Its differentiation comes from its age, connection to F. Scott Fitzgerald, long association with American public radio, and operation within the First Avenue Twin Cities venue network.
Theater and events
Live performance venue
The Fitzgerald Theater operates as a historic indoor venue for concerts, comedy, variety shows, spoken-word events, broadcasts, debates, and other special programs. Its relatively intimate scale and historic interior distinguish it from larger modern arenas, while its downtown Saint Paul location supports regional touring and cultural programming.
Radio and media production · 1986
Broadcast and recording venue
The theater has a long-standing role as a setting for live radio and public-media production. Its best-known association is with A Prairie Home Companion and later Live from Here, programs that used the venue's stage and audience environment as part of their broadcast identity.
Historic venue feature
Wurlitzer theater organ
A Wurlitzer theater organ is housed in the building. The instrument is a notable surviving feature from the theater's earlier entertainment history and contributes to the venue's historic character.
Brand decisions
2019
Sale to First AvenueM&ABackground
Minnesota Public Radio transferred ownership of the venue after decades of association with public-media programming.
Action taken
First Avenue purchased the Fitzgerald Theater in March 2019.
Aftermath
The theater became part of First Avenue's Twin Cities live-events operations while remaining an active historic venue.
1994
Name change honoring F. Scott FitzgeraldStrategyBackground
The venue sought a name connected to Saint Paul's local cultural and literary heritage.
Action taken
The theater was renamed the Fitzgerald Theater after Saint Paul native F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Aftermath
The new name became the theater's enduring public identity while its live-radio and event functions continued.
1986
Restoration for radio performanceStrategyBackground
The theater needed to support live radio production while retaining its function as a public performance space.
Action taken
The space was restored and a stage was added for A Prairie Home Companion.
Aftermath
The theater became strongly identified with nationally distributed public-radio entertainment.
1980
Minnesota Public Radio purchaseM&ABackground
Minnesota Public Radio acquired the historic building and created the basis for its later public-media role.
Action taken
Minnesota Public Radio purchased the theater.
Aftermath
The property was restored and later equipped with a stage for A Prairie Home Companion broadcasts.
1933
Conversion from stage theater to cinemaStrategyBackground
The venue was adapted to reflect the growing importance of motion pictures in American entertainment.
Action taken
The building began operating as the World Theater, a movie outlet.
Aftermath
The conversion gave the building a long period of use as a cinema before its later restoration as a live-performance venue.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/fitzgerald-theater · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled