Entertainment

The Historic Palace Theatre was built in 1915 as a legitimate stage theater by Herman Jochims. Vaudeville and touring repertoire filled the stage. When motion pictures were introduced, 1 1926 Geneva console pipe organ was installed and Herman’s wife, Maude, accompanied silent movies until talkies arrived. In 1945, the theater was closed for a major renovation to an Art Deco style. Starting in 2006, the theatre began a renovation, renewal & remodeling process to bring it up to modern standards. In 2007, the Historic Palace Theatre hosted the world-wide premiere of Ken Burns’ epic documentary, “The War.”
The theatre is owned by the City of Luverne and run by the non-profit Blue Mound Area Theatre. A part-time Executive Director and part-time box office associate are the only paid employees. Volunteers staff the theatre.
Today, the theatre screens recently released movies Friday through Sunday and monthly Free Bank Nite Movie and Afternoon Escape features when live theater and musical/dance performances don’t fill the stage.