The Superior Express -

The Ute Theater in Mankato has quite the history. Prior to 1915, the theater was located across the street from its current location. Around 1915, Sam Blair of Belleville bought the theater and moved it to its present location. At that time, the theater was named the Blair Theatre.

Until 1928, there were only silent movies. These movies were accompanied by the piano. Opal Lamb served as the piano player while she was in high school. Other piano players during the silent movie times were Kathryn Kramer and Margaret Countryman.

In 1927, Jesse DeLong took over management of the Blair Theatre. His niece, Edie Howard, enjoyed seeing the movies for free. The popularity of the theater grew as the first talking movies came to the screen in 1928.

DeLong purchased the theater in 1934 and held a naming contest for it. The name "Ute" was chosen. The name Ute came from the name of an Indian tribe. DeLong visited another theatre out west named the Ute. The decorations, etc. worked out nicely in the theater, so DeLong decided to use that decor in his theater.

DeLong owned and operated the theater until his death. His widow continued it until 1959. Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Waugh began managing the theater in 1959. When Mrs. DeLong was not able to keep the theater open, approximately 70 community members assembled in the community building in June of 1959. They decided to raise funds rather than see the theater closed.

In 1966, the cost of admission was 35 cents.

In the early 1970s, the upholstered theater seats were added along with other renovations. Ute Theater Inc. was formed.

On Nov. 30, 1976, at about 9 p.m. the Ute Theatre was extensively damaged in a fire that began in the rear of the theater. It was reported the occupants of the apartment above the First National Bank threw out a smoldering mattress. The mattress landed under a large wooden duct that drew air to the theater's water-cooling system. The screen, sound system and other equipment were a total loss. Even the projection room suffered water damage.

The president of the non-profit theater corporation at the time was Rod Weltmer. He said the insurance on the equipment would not be enough to purchase new equipment because of the age of the damaged items. At the time, Weltmer believed the theater had operated on a "shoestring" for years. The theater had been kept alive by the community's help in giving donations, volunteer work and a stringent budget. It was feared without money and volunteers, the Ute would close.

In 1998, Edie Howard from Beloit purchased the theater and the bank buildings and was turning the now 120 year old former First National Bank building into a residence. The building that houses the theater was being refurbished and the upstairs apartments were redecorated.

The theater building was up for sale or rent and Howard had been approached by many people. The people in the community desired to see the building used as a theater. "So do I," Howard had said. "but something needs to be worked out."

With a new roof on the building, the theater ceiling was textured and the unique tin ceiling in the lobby was painted. The snack bar received new wall paper and paint and the buildings were rewired.

In 2009, the community banded together to get donations and volunteers to help with the "Beaut the Ute" campaign which allowed many renovations to be done.

Today, the Ute theater is operated by a staff of community volunteers who depend on the generousness of the community which helps them continue running the movies.

Volunteers and donations for the theater are always welcome, when they are able to reopen. Though closed now because of COVID-19, the volunteers are looking forward to the day when they theater can be safely reopened.