The Fitzgerald Theater is the oldest active theatre in

Saint Paul Paul; grc, Παῦλος, translit=Paulos; cop, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ; hbo, פאולוס השליח (previously called Saul of Tarsus;; ar, بولس الطرسوسي; grc, Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς, Saũlos Tarseús; tr, Tarsuslu Pavlus; ...

, Minnesota, and the home of American Public Media's '' Live from Here'' (formerly ''

A Prairie Home Companion ''A Prairie Home Companion'' is a weekly radio variety show created and hosted by Garrison Keillor that aired live from 1974 to 2016. In 2016, musician Chris Thile took over as host, and the successor show was eventually renamed ''Live from He ...

''). It was one of many theaters built by the

Shubert Theatre Corporation The Shubert Organization is a theatrical producing organization and a major owner of theatres based in Manhattan, New York City. It was founded by the three Shubert brothers in the late 19th century. They steadily expanded, owning many theaters ...

, and was initially named the Sam S. Shubert Theater. It was designed by the noted Chicago architectural firm of Marshall and Fox, architects of several theaters for the Shuberts. In 1933, it became a movie outlet known as the World Theater. The space was purchased by Minnesota Public Radio in 1980, restored with a stage in 1986 as a site for ''Prairie Home'', and renamed in 1994 after St. Paul native F. Scott Fitzgerald. On November 4, 2002, the theater was the site of a memorable election-eve debate between United States Senate candidates Norm Coleman (previously mayor of St. Paul) and Walter Mondale (formerly a

U.S. Vice President The vice president of the United States (VPOTUS) is the second-highest officer in the executive branch of the U.S. federal government, after the president of the United States, and ranks first in the presidential line of succession. The vice pr ...

) and moderated by

Gary Eichten Gary may refer to: *Gary (given name), a common masculine given name, including a list of people and fictional characters with the name *Gary, Indiana, the largest city named Gary Places ;Iran *Gary, Iran, Sistan and Baluchestan Province ;Unit ...

of MPR and Paul Magers of local television station

KARE Kare or KARE may refer to: * Kare (Žitorađa), a village in Serbia * Kare language, several languages with the name * Kare (surname), a surname (including a list of people with the name) * Kare Kauks (born 1961), Estonian singer * Kåre or Kaare, ...

. Tension was heightened at the time because Mondale stepped in as a candidate at the last minute after the death of Paul Wellstone, who had been running for re-election. In 2005, the theater was used for filming the ''Prairie Home Companion'' movie directed by

Robert Altman Robert Bernard Altman ( ; February 20, 1925 – November 20, 2006) was an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He was a five-time nominee of the Academy Award for Best Director and is considered an enduring figure from the New H ...

. While a certain level of realism is added by using the normal venue for the show, the regular equipment was eschewed in favor of sets designed for the movie. Because the theater is a small building, other theaters in the region were also scouted prior to filming, just in case the Fitzgerald was not big enough, but eventually it was determined to be adequate for the film's needs. In March 2019 Twin Cities venue operator, First Avenue, purchased The Fitzgerald Theater from MPR. The theater has a theatre organ, made by Wurlitzer. Image:Fitzgerald Theater-20061216.jpg, Interior of Minnesota Public Radio's Fitzgerald Theater File:Downtown Saint Paul roof with Fitzgerald Theater mural in background.jpg, Mural on building exterior depicting F. Scott Fitzgerald

References

External links

*
Shubert Theater photos
at the

Minnesota Historical Society The Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) is a nonprofit educational and cultural institution dedicated to preserving the history of the U.S. state of Minnesota. It was founded by the territorial legislature in 1849, almost a decade before statehoo ...

World Theater photos
at the

The Fitzgerald Theater
{{Authority control Arts organizations based in Saint Paul, Minnesota Minnesota Public Radio National Register of Historic Places in Saint Paul, Minnesota Theatres in Minnesota Theatres completed in 1910 Theatres on the National Register of Historic Places in Minnesota Beaux-Arts architecture in Minnesota Public venues with a theatre organ 1910 establishments in Minnesota