Impressive as the building was, it spent most of its life losing money. It closed in 1932, then opened again in '33. It closed in '34 and opened in '35. (The animated sign page is a still from the Nov. '35 premier of "The Crusades." ) It closed again in '38 - but reopened in 1939! And closed again, bankrupt, in August 1940. Ah, but it opened again on Dec. 31, 1940 - and closed in March of '41. Then Walt Disney came to the rescue, opening the theater for "Fantasia" in April of 41 . . .but after the run of the movie, the theater closed. Again.

In 1944 the MINNESOTA sign was removed, and the theater rechristened Radio City, after the theater's new tenant, KSTP AM 1500. (Minneapolitans could see a gigantic picture of the premier of this event at the Hollywood Video store, S. Lyndale & 53rd.) The theater stayed open until 1958, when it was knocked down in October for . . . a television studio. The symbolism couldn't be tidier.

As for the big structure on the right, click on.