Entry No. 33 — the Minneapolis file — filed under: midnight movies
Late Night @ the Heights
This historic 1926 cinema hosts 'Late Night @ the Heights' on Friday and Saturday nights, screening cult classics, bizarre B-movies, and nostalgic favorites. Before the film starts, guests are treated to trivia, obscure shorts, and sometimes a performance on the theater's grand Mighty Wurlitzer organ.
The story
On Friday and Saturday nights around 10:00 PM, while standard multiplexes lock their doors, this 1926 cinema on Central Avenue flips the switch on something much stranger. 'Late Night @ the Heights' trades mainstream blockbusters for bizarre B-movies, forgotten cult classics, and unhinged cinematic relics like 'Society' or 'Killer Condom'.
What makes it weird is the jarring contrast between the screen and the room: you are taking in body-horror and midnight oddities beneath gold-leaf decor and antique neon. Before the main reel rolls, you're treated to pre-show trivia, obscure vintage shorts, and on select nights, the deep rumble of a live performance on the auditorium's grand Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ.
What it's like
Arrive at 3951 Central Ave NE shortly before showtime—typically around 9:45 PM or 10:00 PM on Friday or Saturday. Grab your popcorn at the counter and sink into the historic auditorium under the antique neon light. Do not skip the preshow: the trivia and obscure shorts set the stage, and catching a 1920s pipe organ performance right before a bizarre B-movie feature is a ritual you won't find at a suburban megaplex. Showtimes vary slightly, so double-check the schedule before heading out.
The move: Grab some popcorn, settle into the vintage auditorium around 10:00 PM to watch a bizarre cult classic like 'Society' or 'Killer Condom', and marvel at the antique neon and gold-leaf decor.
- 📍 Columbia Heights
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 3951 Central Ave NE, Columbia Heights, MN 55421
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Rogue Buddha Gallery — Match the cinema's dark cult aesthetic with a daytime visit to this moody pop-surrealism gallery located less than three miles south on Central Avenue.
- Twelve Vultures — Double down on local oddities before your movie by browsing the taxidermy and mammal skeletons at this curiosity shop three miles away.
- Billy After Dark (B.A.D.) — Keep your late-night trip going after the credits roll by heading four miles south to this subterranean lounge built under a fake fiber-optic night sky.
Good to know
When do the late-night screenings take place?
Screenings run on Friday and Saturday nights, with showtimes usually starting around 9:45 PM or 10:00 PM.
What kind of movies do they screen?
Expect cult classics, obscure B-movies, and nostalgic favorites, including cult titles like 'Society' and 'Killer Condom'.
What is the pre-show entertainment?
Before the main movie starts, guests get pre-show trivia, obscure shorts, and occasionally a live performance on the theater's grand Mighty Wurlitzer organ.
Where is the theater located?
It is located at 3951 Central Ave NE in Columbia Heights, MN.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site
last checked: 2026-07-21