The Historic Bessesen Building, formerly called the B.B. Theater and Conservatory of Music and later the Rivoli Theater, is located at 224 South Broadway in

Albert Lea Albert Lea may refer to: *Albert Lea, Minnesota, U.S. *Albert Lea Township, Freeborn County, Minnesota, U.S. *Albert Miller Lea Albert Miller Lea (July 23, 1808 – January 16, 1891) was an American engineer, soldier, and topographer with the ...

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

, United States. It has been used for both commercial and residential purposes. The Bessesen Opera House was built in 1916, designed by St. Paul architects Cederberg and Van Kirk. The façade is

French Renaissance The French Renaissance was the cultural and artistic movement in France between the 15th and early 17th centuries. The period is associated with the pan-European Renaissance, a word first used by the French historian Jules Michelet to define th ...

. The interiors of the second and third floor apartments possess both

Arts and Crafts A handicraft, sometimes more precisely expressed as artisanal handicraft or handmade, is any of a wide variety of types of work where useful and decorative objects are made completely by one’s hand or by using only simple, non-automated re ...

style and

Art Nouveau Art Nouveau (; ) is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts. The style is known by different names in different languages: in German, in Italian, in Catalan, and also known as the Modern ...

elements including terra cotta fireplaces, art glass skylight, and stained glass windows. The building was designed as a 740-seat opera palace to showcase the talents of internationally acclaimed opera

prima donna In opera or commedia dell'arte, a prima donna (; Italian for "first lady"; plural: ''prime donne'') is the leading female singer in the company, the person to whom the prime roles would be given. ''Prime donne'' often had grand off-stage pers ...

Beatrice Gjertsen Bessesen Beatrice Gjertsen Bessesen (1886 – September 7, 1935) was an American operatic soprano. She was the president of the Twin City Music and Dramatic Club. Bessesen sang with the St. Olaf Choir and toured with it in Norway. She made successful conce ...

. After its debut as an opera palace, it became The Rivoli motion picture theater from 1922 to 1975 and the Rivoli Mini-Mall in 1977. It is currently being converted into a regional arts and wellness center and is the home of the Freeborn County Arts Initiative. Historical aspects of the first level have been compromised. The building is currently in need of major

restoration Restoration is the act of restoring something to its original state and may refer to: * Conservation and restoration of cultural heritage ** Audio restoration ** Film restoration ** Image restoration ** Textile restoration * Restoration ecology ...

. The "Restore the Building Foundation" has been created for that purpose.

References

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External links

Restore the Building Foundation
Art Nouveau architecture in Minnesota Art Nouveau theatres Buildings and structures in Freeborn County, Minnesota Former theatres in the United States Historic district contributing properties in Minnesota National Register of Historic Places in Freeborn County, Minnesota Theatres completed in 1916 Theatres in Minnesota Theatres on the National Register of Historic Places in Minnesota