The Heights Theater is located at 3951 Central Ave NE.
History
The Heights Theatre is located in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, a Northeast Minneapolis suburb. The theatre was originally constructed in 1926 by Gluek Brewery heir Arthur Gluek as a prohibition real estate venture. Built in the Beaux Arts style of the last century, the Heights Theatre building was a simple neighborhood movie house showcasing local talent in stage plays and “High Class Amateur Vaudeville Acts.”
Tom Letness and Dave Holmgren bought the Heights Theatre in November of 1998 when it had an entirely different look. The exterior was covered in 1960 turquoise metal panels, and the auditorium stripped of ornamental decoration and painted turquoise as well. The original blueprints from the University of Minnesota’s archives revealed that the ornamental plaster of polychrome woodwork and the front windows had been walled-up during World War II.
Today the theater has been restored to its original glory. A scarlet motorized Grande drape covers the proscenium stage and gilded grills conceal the organ’s pipework. Antique chandeliers are suspended from the ceiling restored with 2600 Egyptian lead crystals. Hand-painted reproduction Edison Mazda bulbs in four colors on separate circuits allow a multitude of effects from 152 lights above four hundred seats. An orchestra pit was discovered under the floor where the mighty Wurlitzer Theater Organ now rises for Friday and Saturday night concerts.
Tom Letness, who became sole owner of The Heights in 2003, specializes in upscale first run films, classic film series and events
Projection & Presentation Information
The Heights Theatre is one of the best equipped venues for film and Digital presentation in the Twin Cities. In 2012 installation of a D cinema system was completed using a Dolby Digital cinema package combined with a brand new BARCO 2K digital projector. Unlike most theaters through out the US, the Heights kept their full 35mm-70mm Norelco AAII legacy film projectors in place and operational. All film prints are projected reel to reel and not from an automated platter system. The Heights also has one of the best cinema sound systems supporting full Dolby Digital surround sound, DTS Digital as well as excellent mono and stereo optical and magnetic systems