Hollywood Theater

Hollywood Theater is a historic theater building in the Audubon Park neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Although it began as a neighborhood movie theater, its lasting identity is closely tied to its architecture, preservation history, and later adaptive reuse. The building opened on October 26, 1935, during the Great Depression, when locally owned cinemas located along streetcar routes served as important neighborhood entertainment venues. Its marquee presented it as the “Incomparable Showcase of the Northwest,” reflecting the ambition attached to a substantial new cinema in the Twin Cities. The theater was designed by Minneapolis architects Jack Liebenberg and Seeman Kaplan, whose later work included the Riverview Theatre in Minneapolis and the Terrace Theatre in Robbinsdale. Hollywood Theater was designed in an elaborate Streamline Deco manner. Its smooth Kasota limestone exterior uses vertical lines that shift into horizontal elements, while the facade is organized around a prominent entrance, exits, and three small projection-booth windows. Interior features included a tall vertical sign, patterned terrazzo flooring, gilded pillars, and acoustical tiles arranged in geometric designs. The building combined Streamline Moderne and Zig-Zag Moderne influences and originally seated just under 1,000 people. Despite its architectural quality and favorable reputation as one of the Twin Cities’ most modern and attractive neighborhood theaters, the cinema was not financially successful. It changed ownership several times and eventually closed in 1987. The closure reflected broader changes in movie exhibition, including the rise of video rental stores and multiplexes, which weakened the position of older neighborhood cinemas. After closing, the property became the subject of several redevelopment and reuse proposals. Ideas discussed in 1989 included converting the building into fourteen apartments or adapting it as a photography and film-production studio. Preservation efforts continued as the building deteriorated. Minneapolis designated the theater a local landmark in 1990. The Minneapolis Community Development Agency acquired it in 1993, and in 1998 the agency examined alternatives ranging from complete restoration to partial rehabilitation focused on the lobby, as well as demolition. Deteriorating brick walls and water in the basement were among the concerns recorded during that period. In 2009, the city acquired and cleared an adjacent property, creating additional space for parking or related development. The theater gained federal recognition when it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 5, 2014. Its significance was based principally on its Streamline Moderne design, the work of the prominent Liebenberg and Kaplan architectural partnership, and its connection to the growth of locally owned, streetcar-accessible neighborhood cinemas during the Depression era. In 2015, the property was sold to Minneapolis real-estate developer and entrepreneur Andrew Volna. Plans called for renovation into an event venue while preserving the building’s historic character. Renovation was completed in early 2023, and the building reopened shortly afterward. The Hollywood Theater therefore moved from conventional film exhibition to heritage-oriented event use while retaining its architectural identity as one of Minneapolis’s notable historic theater buildings.

Hollywood Theater was built in Minneapolis’s Audubon Park neighborhood as a large neighborhood movie theater during the Great Depression. It opened on October 26, 1935, at a time when locally owned cinemas located near streetcar lines served as important social and entertainment destinations. The building’s promotional marquee called it the “Incomparable Showcase of the Northwest,” emphasizing both its modernity and its regional aspirations. Architects Jack Liebenberg and Seeman Kaplan designed the theater. Their work used the Streamline Deco vocabulary associated with the period, combining strong geometric massing with restrained but elaborate decorative details. The exterior is faced with smooth Kasota limestone. Vertical lines rise from the facade and transition into horizontal elements, while the principal composition is punctuated by the entrance, emergency exits, and three small windows serving the projection booth. The building originally included a prominent vertical sign and accommodated just under 1,000 patrons. Inside, the theater featured a patterned terrazzo floor, gilded pillars, and acoustical tiles with geometric designs. Elements of both Streamline Moderne and Zig-Zag Moderne influenced the interior. The design helped the building gain a reputation as one of the Twin Cities’ most beautiful and modern neighborhood theaters. Liebenberg and Kaplan later designed other notable regional cinemas, including Minneapolis’s Riverview Theatre and the Terrace Theatre in Robbinsdale. The theater’s commercial performance did not match its architectural ambitions. It experienced multiple ownership changes and ultimately closed in 1987. Its decline occurred amid structural changes in entertainment and movie exhibition. Video rental stores and the growth of multiplexes made it increasingly difficult for older neighborhood theaters to compete. Once closed, Hollywood Theater became a preservation and redevelopment challenge rather than a conventional cinema operation. Several reuse proposals were considered. In 1989, one plan suggested conversion into fourteen apartments, while another proposed a photography and film-production studio. Minneapolis designated the building a local landmark in 1990. The Minneapolis Community Development Agency acquired it in 1993 and reviewed possible futures in 1998, including full restoration, partial rehabilitation centered on the lobby, or demolition. The building’s deteriorating brick walls and water in the basement complicated preservation planning. The city acquired and cleared an adjacent property in 2009, creating additional land that could support parking or related development. Federal recognition followed on February 5, 2014, when Hollywood Theater was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The designation recognized the building’s Streamline Moderne design, its connection to the prominent Liebenberg and Kaplan partnership, and its historical association with locally owned, streetcar-accessible neighborhood theaters during the Depression. In 2015, the property was sold to Minneapolis real-estate developer and entrepreneur Andrew Volna. His plans called for converting the historic building into an event venue while preserving its architectural character. Renovation was completed in early 2023, and the building reopened soon afterward. The Hollywood Theater’s history thus spans neighborhood cinema, prolonged vacancy and redevelopment debate, formal historic preservation, and adaptive reuse as a restored venue.

• 2023

  Renovated venue reopens

  [1]Hollywood Theater (Minneapolis)en.wikipedia.org

  Renovation is completed early in the year, and the building reopens shortly afterward.

• 2015

  Sale and adaptive-reuse plan

  [1]Hollywood Theater (Minneapolis)en.wikipedia.org

  The property is sold to Andrew Volna with plans to renovate it into an event venue.

• 2014

  National Register listing

  [1]Hollywood Theater (Minneapolis)en.wikipedia.org

  The building is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on February 5.

• 2009

  Adjacent property cleared

  [1]Hollywood Theater (Minneapolis)en.wikipedia.org

  The city acquires and clears a neighboring property for possible parking or related redevelopment.

• 1993

  Public acquisition

  [1]Hollywood Theater (Minneapolis)en.wikipedia.org

  The Minneapolis Community Development Agency acquires the property.

• 1990

  Local landmark designation

  [1]Hollywood Theater (Minneapolis)en.wikipedia.org

  The Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission designates the building a local landmark.

• 1987

  Cinema closes

  [1]Hollywood Theater (Minneapolis)en.wikipedia.org

  After ownership changes and financial difficulties, the theater ends its original movie-exhibition operation.

• 1935

  The theater opens

  [1]Hollywood Theater (Minneapolis)en.wikipedia.org

  Hollywood Theater opens on October 26 in Minneapolis’s Audubon Park neighborhood as a nearly 1,000-seat Streamline Deco movie theater.

A historically significant Minneapolis neighborhood theater and restored architectural venue, positioned around preservation, distinctive Art Deco-era design, and adaptive reuse rather than contemporary multiplex film exhibition.

• Cinema · 1935

  Neighborhood movie theater

  The original Hollywood Theater operated as a locally oriented movie theater serving Minneapolis residents. It opened with seating for just under 1,000 people and represented the neighborhood-cinema model associated with streetcar-accessible entertainment venues of the Depression era. The cinema eventually closed in 1987 after facing competition from video stores and multiplexes.

• Event venue · 2023

  Hollywood Theater event venue

  Following a major renovation completed in early 2023, the historic building reopened for event-oriented use. The adaptive-reuse approach sought to retain the theater’s defining historic character while moving beyond its former role as a conventional movie house.

• 2015

  Adaptive reuse as an event venueStrategy

  Background

  After years of unsuccessful or unrealized redevelopment proposals, the property was sold to developer Andrew Volna.

  Action taken

  The new ownership planned a renovation that would convert the building into an event venue while retaining its historic character.

  Aftermath

  Renovation was completed in early 2023, followed by the building’s reopening.

  Source

• 1998

  Reuse alternatives reviewedStrategy

  Background

  The Minneapolis Community Development Agency owned the property, which faced deterioration including problems with brick walls and water in the basement.

  Action taken

  Officials considered full restoration, partial rehabilitation focused on the lobby, and complete demolition.

  Aftermath

  The property remained preserved while additional proposals and ownership changes developed over subsequent years.

  Source

• 1987

  End of movie-theater operationsStrategy

  Background

  The theater was not financially successful and faced growing competition from video stores and multiplexes.

  Action taken

  The Hollywood Theater closed after a period of ownership changes and commercial difficulty.

  Aftermath

  The building entered a long period of vacancy, preservation debate, and proposed redevelopment.

  Source

1. 1Hollywood Theater (Minneapolis)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Development: Hollywood Theaterminneapolismn.gov