A two-foot wide hole. That’s what a pipe bomb did to the Ritz Theater’s lobby back in 1981. But let’s rewind to the beginning. The Ritz Theater, a cornerstone of Northeast Minneapolis, opened in 1926. It cost a mere $45,000 to build.
For decades, the Ritz Theater served the Sheridan neighborhood. It showcased Polish films and local theater. Concerts and movies filled its schedule. The Ritz became a true entertainment hub.
In 1935, the Ritz Theater got a modern makeover. Dahlstrom and Weinberger handled the $15,000 remodeling. Architect Perry Crosier added Art Deco flourishes.
The late 1940s brought more changes to the Ritz Theater. It expanded to update heating and air conditioning. Newspapers reported a near-full reconstruction. Only parts of the four walls and the roof remained. The front canopy extended. Five hundred feet of neon lighting lit up 13th Avenue. The Ritz Theater reopened on February 22, 1949.
The 1950s saw “First-Suburban showings” at the Ritz Theater. These movies premiered in larger Twin Cities theaters. They then came to local neighborhood theaters a month later.
Polish language films returned to the Ritz Theater in 1960. Before World War II, it was known for Polish movies. This marked their return after the war. The Ritz Theater continued as a movie house.
In 1971, the Cricket Theatre leased the Ritz Theater. Bill Semans, a Minneapolis actor, founded the Cricket Theatre. It became the theater company’s permanent home. However, the Cricket Theatre moved in 1978 after a rent dispute.
Now, back to that bombing. In 1980, Sy Soo bought the Ritz Theater. It began showing Asian movies. It attracted Asian patrons and University of Minnesota students. Then, in August 1981, a pipe bomb exploded in the lobby. “White Power” was scrawled on the sidewalk. The Ritz Theater sustained heavy damage. But it reopened just days later.
From 1982 to 2000, the Ritz Theater went dark. It sat empty. Disagreements arose over its future. Some wanted it torn down for parking. In 1994, the Minneapolis Community Development Agency purchased it.
In 2000, the Minneapolis City Council approved selling the Ritz Theater. The buyer was the Ballet of the Dolls dance company. After renovations, the Ritz Theater reopened on May 16, 2006.
The Ballet of the Dolls remained the primary tenant until 2014. Funding shortages created problems. A new business model emerged. The Ritz Theater rented its space to other arts organizations.
Theater Latté Da purchased the historic Ritz Theater in 2016. The company had been producing shows there since 2015. This purchase gave Latté Da its first permanent home.
Today, the Ritz Theater thrives. It’s a beautifully renovated space. It hosts diverse performances. It stands as a testament to resilience and the arts. The Ritz Theater continues to enrich Northeast Minneapolis. It has been a cultural hub for nearly a century.