Heights Renovation/Restoration (1998-2005):
Exterior | Lobby | Auditorium | Projection Booth
Historic Photos | The Heights - DQ Family | Dairy Queen Remodel
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How it looked when Dave Holmgren and Tom Letness purchased the Heights in 1998. At that time the Heights was on it’s last legs as a discount theatre showing late run films at $1.75 a ticket. |
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2005. This is what the exterior of the Heights looks like today. The discount movies are now gone, being replaced with a first run film policy in 1999. Here we are celebrating the 75th anniversary of sound pictures at the Heights (RCA Photophone was installed January 30, 1930). Underneath that metal façade was the original brick front from 1926. As you will see though, it didn’t look quite this nice when it came off. |
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December 1998. Removing the metal facade that had been put on circa 1960. |
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January 1999. The metal is now completely off... Hmmm, maybe this wasn’t such a bright idea after all. Well, where do we start, tile roof gone, poster cases gone, box office in the wrong place from yet another re model and the list went on and on and on. |
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October 1999. Among the many things that had too be addressed once the metal came off were the 11 windows on the second floor facing Central Av. The original wood framed windows were severely rotted and deteriorating, and it was essential to replace them with modern windows. Here Heights owner Tom Letness is in the process of putting in the new windows. |
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December 1999. Another not so pleasant surprise was this bricking over what used to be the south storefront. This was done in 1951 when the restrooms were moved to this area of the building. |
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Spring 2000. Putting the new tile roof on the front of the Theatre. Notice the DQ next door is boarded up; we were in the process of remodeling that at the same time, but more on that in another part of this gallery. |
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 February 2002. Getting ready to hang the brand new sign built by Kaufman Sign Co. This was a replica of the original 1926 sign. |
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March 2002. One of the first pictures taken of the sign lit up at night. The sign dedication and lighting ceremony took place the same weekend that Con Agra foods was holding the ACT II popcorn “pop fest” at the Heights, which broke the (then) worlds record of continuous movie watching. The first movie started on Friday Morning at. 9:30AM, and the last movie did not end until 7:00PM on Sunday night. |
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