Hollywood Theater Walking Tour

Step inside one of Minneapolis’s most intact Art Deco movie houses on the Hollywood Theater Walking Tour, a guided look at a 1935 cinema that has sat dark since 1987. Located at 2815 Johnson St NE in Northeast Minneapolis, this 90-minute tour explores the theater’s coordinated interior palette, original detailing, and the challenges of turning a single-purpose auditorium into a modern community venue. Designed by Liebenberg and Kaplan and opened in 1935, the Hollywood Theater operated as a neighborhood movie house until it closed in 1987.

Its compact footprint, lack of windows, and auditorium geometry make reuse difficult—problems that preservationists and designers often face on Main Streets across America. Between 2018 and 2023, a phased rehabilitation was developed to stabilize the exterior and reimagine the auditorium as a multi-purpose event space. The project team worked to introduce sensitive interventions that retain historic fabric while meeting contemporary codes.

The tour is led by preservation experts; among them Quentin Collette, PhD, a Director at New History who contributed to the building’s rehabilitation strategy. Expect close readings of the proscenium, plaster ornament, original color scheme, and metalwork—features rarely accessible to the public. Guides explain the technical retrofit choices: seismic bracing, HVAC strategies that preserve finish materials, and reversible interventions that allow for future repair.

For architecture fans, the Hollywood is an unusually intact example of regional Art Deco detailing in a neighborhood context rather than a grand downtown palace. Practical details matter: the tour meets on the west sidewalk along the Northeast Market Garden across the street from 2815 Johnson St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418; groups are limited to about 25 people and the walk-through lasts roughly 1.5 hours. The experience is largely indoors but includes exterior stops to study the marquee, façade stabilization, and streetscape relationships.

Why book this trip? It’s rare to get a focused, technical look at a single building’s rehabilitation—this walk stitches together architectural history, conservation methods, and community-led redevelopment. It’s a must for photographers chasing period interiors, students of preservation, and travelers who prefer urban exploration to conventional sightseeing. Whether you’re a local curious about Northeast Minneapolis or a visitor mapping the city’s built heritage, this tour illuminates how an aging theater can be both a conservation challenge and a catalyst for neighborhood renewal.

Before you go, wear comfortable shoes and bring a camera—lighting in the auditorium favors low-light shots, and details like original painted signage, tile work, and the lobby’s plaster moldings reward slow inspection. Restrooms and café options nearby are limited, so plan to arrive with water and time to stroll Johnson Street’s storefronts afterward. Reserve in advance through the booking page to secure one of the limited 25 spots.

Tours run year-round when scheduled locally.