Sheldon Aubut's Duluth History
Norshor Theatre
(207-213) 211 East Superior Street
Presently: Norshor Theatre
Previously: Orpheum Theatre & Garage
Built: 1910 as a “legitimate” theater and redesigned as an Art Deco movie house in 1940.
Architect: 1940 Liebenberg and Kaplan, Minneapolis
Style: Present: Art Deco
When
this theatre reopened as a movie house in 1940 the theater had been turned 180
degrees. The old stage was where
the popcorn stand is now. Also when
it opened it contained the world’s only “Milk Bar” in a theater.
There also was a 64 foot high lighted tower which was demolished in 1967.
The tower had 3,000 lights and was visible from 60 miles.
In
the mid 1970’s there was a screening of the movie The
Dove which was directed by Gregory Peck.
Mr. Peck was scheduled to attend the screening but was held up at a local
television station. After frantic
calls to his assistant he did come by and gave a short speech.
A while after he had left the manager, Don Hanson, heard a knock on the
side entrance. It was Mr. Peck
coming back just to tell the manager how much he appreciated the opportunity to
be there.
Stone
first floor and multi-geometric detailed brick second and third floors it also
has a three-story stone shield marquee with a glass doored entrance.
As of 2000 it is now owned by a private party, and the space is rented to a group that has re-opened the upper theatre, the mezzanine bar, and the main theater is now used for dances and music events.
| 1930 - Orpheum Garage
1935 - Orpheum Theatre |
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Last modified:
April 05, 2010
copyright © 1986-2010
, Sheldon T. Aubut, all rights reserved