History of the Olde Pine Theatre
A fire on Main Street in the winter of 1949 burned down what was called the Pine Theatre, located where Band Shell Park currently sits. The fire consumed the three
buildings on the corner of Main and 2nd Street, formerly known as White Street.
From an excerpt of the August 10, 1950, Pine Island Record, “Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Olson of Grantsburg, Wisconsin, who will operate the new theatre, have purchased land
across the street from Pine Island Telephone Office and work was begun Tuesday in preparation of a building which will be 40 x 108 with a seating capacity of 435. Stiller Brothers have contracted the
erection of the building and material will be furnished by Hess Lumber Company.” The new theatre, called the Metro was operated through the 1950’s and 1960’s.
Arvid Olson sold the Metro theatre in 1965 to a businessperson from Ogden, Utah.
Grant Friese with Cornerstone Baptist Church bought the building in 1972. The church operated from this building until 2007, at which point the congregation transitioned
to the newly constructed building off Highway 52 by Elk Run.
Tony Love bought the Theatre in the spring of 2008 and re-branded it the Olde Pine Theatre. Tony with the help of Jerry Vettel renovated the building from a church back
into a theatre. Small aesthetic changes were made inside, including murals on the lobby walls painted by Helen Distad, 188 re-purposed seats from the Rochester Civic Theatre, an addition of a dance
floor, construction of a thrust stage, and repurposed stage lighting from the Masque Youth Theatre. Sadly, in 2014 Tony passed away. There was no immediate desire to purchase the building, and it was
at risk of getting torn down. In the summer of 2016, Ted and Tricia Galaty bought the Olde Pine Theatre with the vision of bringing live performances, the arts, and medical benefits to the
community.
Olde Pine Theatre is committed to working with community partners (PAPA, Pine Area People for the Arts) to bring inclusive art opportunities to the area. Theatre for the
people where we aspire to inspire.
We are here to serve the entertainment needs of Pine Island, MN and the surrounding area. If you need a community space to rent please contact us. The space is available
for wedding receptions, graduation parties, birthday parties, family reunions, fellowship meetings, theatre and recital practice. Please call 507-491-2639 for more information or a tour of the space.
113 2nd St. SW, Pine Island, MN 55963 email: galatyt@yahoo.com
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