The Mounds Theatre 1925 to 1950 1029 Hudson Road Saint Paul, Minnesota Last Update: January 12, 2003

The Mounds Theatre in April 1925.   Photo: Minnesota Historical Society The Mounds Theatre was built in 1922. It was used for live shows as well as movies at least into the 1930s.  It had a stage and small orchestra pit in addition to a movie screen. The signs read "Reopens Sunday April 12th Under the New Management of Finkelstein and Ruben with the Biggest and Best Pictures."  The posters are advertising  a silent cowboy movie, "North of 36".  The man in the photo is Bert Nix, manager of the theater. See detailed images of selected areas of the above photo.

The Mounds Theatre in early 1950.  The Mounds Theater has gone through some changes since 1925. The center door has been replaced with a ticket office and the marquee has been substantially modified. Two of the three windows above the marquee have been covered with sheet metal.

The Mounds Theatre in early 1950.  Here is a better view of the lights on the marquee. Also note the M and T in the shield-like emblems near the top of the theater on either side of the main sign.

The Mounds Theatre in early 1950.  The ticket office had a marble front.  The movie being shown is the 1950 film "House of Strangers" starring Edward G. Robinson.

The Mounds Theatre in mid-summer 1950.   Photo: Minnesota Historical Society The theater is being remodeled. There is scaffolding on the right side.  Most of the windows have been filled in. The large vertical "Mounds" sign and marquee are gone.  The front top of the building has been flattened and the ornamental brick cornice that was protruding has been removed.  This photo was taken from the other side of Highway 12 (now I-94).