The Capri Theater: A Bright Future Awaits

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

The Capri Theater was once a key fixture along West Broadway, housing many businesses and a popular motion picture house. After years of planning and fundraising, its long-awaited renovation and expansion will be complete this October and it will once again be a catalyst of success for the communities it serves. Let’s take a look at what makes the Capri Theater such a special place.

In 1925, the St. Paul-based architectural firm Buechner & Orth started creating sketches of the soon-to-be Logan Theatre. The firm previously created the Lagoon, Shubert, and Palace theaters, so expectations and excitement were high. In 1927, The Logan Theatre opened on the corner of West Broadway Avenue and Oliver Avenue, across the street from Logan Avenue, and three years later in June of 1930 it would be renamed as the Paradise Theater. The Logan Sweet Shoppe occupied the storefront and medical offices were located upstairs.

Capri Theater, 1930

Capri Theater, 1938

Two years later in 1932, the theater was updated and remolded by famous movie theater designer Jack Liebenberg who helped with the designs of the Hollywood, Varsity, Riverview, and Uptown theaters. Using Art Deco elements, Liebenberg added prestige to the Paradise Theater. The theater now housed 500 seats and had a wonderfully bright and flashy marquee that had over 800 lightbulbs. During this time, the candy store moved out of the storefront and the New Logan Drug Store moved in. On the other side of the theater’s lobby entrance was a barber shop.

The next major renovation came in 1965, again by Liebenberg. The storefronts were removed, the lobby and marquee were moved to the corner of the building and expanded, and the orchestra pit was filled in. The moving of the marquee also saw the changing of the theaters name, this time to Capri. The newly updated Capri Theatre was now on its way to becoming a top venue in Minneapolis.

Prince performing at the Capri Theater in 1979The most notable show to have taken place at the theater was Prince’s very first solo performance. His new album “For You” had recently released and rumors spread around that his first concert would take place at Madison Square Garden. Instead, he put his hometown first, like he did so many times throughout his career. On Friday, January 5th, 1979 at 8pm, Prince took the stage for his first of two concerts with all proceeds going to the Capri Theatre. Tickets were $4 in advance and $4.75 at the door. Even though the sound system wasn’t the best, Prince powered through, unfazed, and performed his heart out for two shows making sure everyone had the time of their life.

In 1993, the Plymouth Christian Youth Center (PCYC) renovated the old theater and transformed it into the Capri Arts & Learning Center. The second floor and balcony were turned into classrooms and the main floor was refurbished to accommodate a dance floor. The PCYC started a “Capri Theater Renaissance” campaign in 2007 in order to further renovate the building so it could better serve the artistic needs of the community. In April of 2009, the $700,000 first phase was complete. Theatrical lighting and a new sound system were installed in the auditorium, the lobby was expanded, and the marquee was updated with modern technology.

From the Capri Theater Facebook page, July 9th photo of the expansion construction

Over ten years after the start of the Capri Renaissance, the project is on the cusp of completion. The $12.5 million second phase will elevate the Capri Theater and usher in a new era of creative arts in North Minneapolis. This round of renovations features a 20,000 square foot expansion that includes the Best Buy Teen Tech Center where community children can learn about the latest technologies, a wood shop and fabric shop, multi-purpose classrooms for community use, the Paradise Community Hall for events and performances, updated seating in the original auditorium, and a plaza that connects the new expansion to the West Broadway communities.

Creative minds can be found all throughout Minneapolis, and with the PCYC’s new Capri Theater opening this coming Fall, it’s only a matter of time before their commitment to the community pays off. Is the next “Prince” going to be a product of the Capri Theater? I wouldn’t be surprised.

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About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs. Michael is also a historic interpreter and guide at Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 7+ years. Contact: mrainvillejr@comcast.net. Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.