Moviegoers of a certain age (*cough wrinkly cough*) go all misty-eyed at memories of the Cooper Theater. From 1962 until it was demolished in 1991 the Cooper was the venue to see spectacles in Cinerama or 70-mm. According to the Boxoffice magazine article that announced its opening, "The screen is the largest ever installed-35 feet high with a 105-foot-wide side curve." Ideal for big, big pictures like "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World," "Khartoum," "The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm" and later lolapaloozas like "The Mission," "The Abyss" and the last film screened there, "Dances With Wolves."
The old Cooper site just south of Hwy. 394 in St. Louis Park is now a scattering of big box stores, but the old movie palace is not forgotten. The nearby Showplace Icon theater complex is honoring its predecessor's memory with a series of "Cooper Classics," reprising films shown there. The first film in the series, "How the West Was Won," screens Tuesday, March 8 at 7 p.m.
The movie is the sort of widescreen extravaganza that Hollywood churned out when moviemakers were terrified that TV was going to eat their lunch. It's a saga filmed by three topnotch directors, John Ford, Henry Hathaway and George Marshall, with a roster of stars including Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Gregory Peck, Debbie Reynolds and Karl Malden. It's got Indian attacks, dance hall numbers, wicked railroad robbers, whitewater rafting, stunts galore and Andy Devine. Eight Oscar nominations (including best picture), three wins (screenplay, sound and editing).
Admission is $10; bring the ticket stub for the screening to the Cooper Pub Tuesday night for a free dessert.
