CHRISTMAS REVIEW

I love this picture of Jim and I, we just got back from church down in Naples, we look so warm. There is so much to tell about Christmas - I really wanted to say more about Thursday night, how it started out as such a mixed up day. I was rushing around all day, I think this was the day I awoke early and made sugar cookies. We left at 2:15pm from our Food Shelf duties, we work there from 1-3 but the last hour is always slower. We left out home by 2:30pm so we were right on track.i am sure we got to Skye's by 5:30pm Ansley helped us unload the car, the problem was when we got downtown about 6pm and got out of the car we discovered that Jim's sports coat wasn't in the car, between Skye and I we removed it from the car and Jim just didn't notice. What a nightmare for him. His leather jacket was also at Skye's. He had on a black long sleeve cotton turtleneck. No warmth there. We had to forge on. That is one of the reason's we ate at "Fogo de Chao" (Fogo.com) it is a Brazilian Steak House. They offered the meal up two ways, $26.50 for Salad Bar or $49.50 for steak and salad bar. We only had time for the salad bar. I can't believe all I had was a Caesar salad and a few other sides and our bill was $72.00. I wish we would have had time for the whole experience. It would have been fun. We were out of there in plenty of time for a quick dash across the street to see "All is Calm", the Christmas Truce of 1914. The PantGus was right across the street and it is right on the corner of 7th and Hennepin, it's on the West side. It used to be a 7 story bldg. I have no idea why they tor down 5 floors but the structure is only 2 stories now. LOOKING BACK 1916–1965 The Pantages, which now seats 1014, opened in 1916 as a vaudeville house and part of Greek immigrant and impresario Alexander Pantages’ renowned consortia of theatres. It was designed by the Minneapolis firm of Kees and Colburn in an Art Moderne/Beaux Arts style. The Pantages’ first show was a vaudeville lineup that included singers, comedians and a banjo player. In 1922, the Pantages was remodeled by renowned theatre architect Marcus Priteca/RKO and a new stained glass dome was added, which remains among the Pantages' most lovely features. In 1945, Edmond Ruben purchased the Pantages and renovated it by adding bird’s-eye maple. The grand reopening was on April 14, 1946 with a screening of "Gilda." In 1961, Ruben sold the Pantages to Ted Mann, who owned five other downtown Minneapolis theatres including the Orpheum Theatre. Mann renovated the Pantages yet again, and reopened it as a top-notch movie house the Mann Theatre on March 15, 1961 with the movie "Spartacus." That same year, United Artists previewed "West Side Story" at the Mann; and the film went on to win ten Academy Awards. In 1965 director Robert Wise, recalling his success with "West Side Story," decided to preview his new movie, "The Sound of Music," at the Mann. The showing at the Pantages was a terrific success and went on to become the longest running film in Twin Cities history – just under two years. The theatre operated sporadically from 1965 through 1984, continuing to show movies including the Mann’s last Twin Cities premiere of "Annie" in 1982. RENOVATION 1984-PRESENT In 1984, the Mann Theatre closed and remained shuttered until 1996, when current Hennepin Theatre Trust President/CEO Tom Hoch and former Historic Theatre Group President Fred Krohn initiated a five-year effort to save and restore the Pantages Theatre. During the renovation, architectural drawings were found and used to restore much of the theatre’s decorative plasterwork and character. The stained-glass “monitor,” a false skylight in the center of the auditorium’s ceiling, was revealed after layers of paint were removed. In cooperation with the City of Minneapolis, on November 7, 2002 the completely renovated Pantages re-opened at a cost of $9.5 million. Since then, the intimate Pantages has presented music, theatre and dance artists including Mikhail Baryshnikov, Vince Gill, Feist, Todd Rundgren, The Blenders and collaborative productions with Twin Cities’ organizations including the Jungle Theater, the History Theatre, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Cantus and Theater Latté Da. Hennepin Theatre Trust is now the owner and operator of this magnificent structure. Here is what is really funny. The gal sitting in front of us walked down to view the ceiling because we were sitting under the balcony and from our spot couldn't see it. I forgot to go look at it. It gives me a good excuse to go back. Jim did go and buy me a $4.00 salted nut roll in the lobby. Kill me. Wore my old fur coat for the last time. I did wear it the next day when we went shopping but just to get rid of it. I wish we could have taken a picture of it. I will have to see if I can find one.