| Rochester, Minnesota offers events and activities to | | | | features to Chateau, but only contains 12 screens. |
| its residents and visitors throughout the year. From | | | | With the closing of Carmike Cinemas' theaters, these |
| parks and hiking to shopping, to catching a concert at | | | | two enjoined dominance over the theater business in |
| the Mayo Civic Center, there is always a possibility to | | | | Rochester for three years until 2007 when |
| stay active. During the cold winter months, or hot, | | | | Wehrenberg Theaters opened the Galaxy 14 Cine. |
| humid summer days when it can be hard to stay | | | | When news of the new theater came to Rochester, |
| active, Rochester can also offer relaxing alternatives, | | | | the two existing theaters started talking and formed |
| such as going to a movie at one of its three movie | | | | an agreement that placed both under the |
| theaters. The current locations are spread out around | | | | management of CineMagic. The two had enjoyed |
| the city, offering residents and visitors a close option | | | | cooperating over the years and felt it unnecessary |
| no matter where they are staying. | | | | to compete when the third theater opened. With |
| Although three state-of-the art theaters operate in | | | | CineMagic's experience, that company took over. |
| Rochester today, the current set up is fairly recent. | | | | The Galaxy 14 Cine is part of the 100+-year-old |
| At one time, a national theater chain, Carmike | | | | company, Wehrenberg Theaters. Wehrenberg is |
| Cinemas, owned and operated four movie theaters in | | | | currently the oldest family-owned and operated |
| Rochester, including Apache, Galleria, Barclay Square, | | | | theater circuit in the country. The Galaxy 14 came to |
| and Cinema theaters. Cinema became known as the | | | | Rochester offering stadium style seating, digital sound |
| "cheap seats," as towards the end of its career, it | | | | with the latest technology, and wall-to-wall screens, |
| offered older movies at a very reduced price. It was | | | | including the new "Mega-Screen," which is 65 feet |
| the first of the four to close. Gradually, the other | | | | wide and 25 feet tall. This will be the largest screen in |
| three disappeared until in 2004 Carmike Cinemas' era | | | | the region. Another feature that the Galaxy offers is |
| in Rochester came to a close with the screens going | | | | Fred's Drive-In, a food court in the lobby resembling a |
| dark at Barclay Square 6. During this decline other | | | | drive-in theater with seating made from classic 50's |
| new theaters started making their mark. Chateau | | | | cars. The building also contains party rooms for |
| Theater and CineMagic Stadium entered the scene. | | | | birthday parties, and allows the auditoriums to be |
| The Chateau was Rochester first "modern" theater, | | | | rented for group or corporate events. |
| opening in December of 2001 and offering 14 | | | | These theaters now offer Rochester with three |
| wall-to-wall screens, stadium style rocker seating, a | | | | unique movie-going experiences. From the medival |
| large themed lobby, and digital sound. The lobby of | | | | theme of Chateau, to the 50's Driving-In at |
| Chateau is a replica of the medieval village | | | | Wehrenberg, residents and visitors can enjoy films at |
| décor of the original Chateau Theater that | | | | anytime throughout the year. Besides the movies |
| was opened in downtown Rochester in 1927. It | | | | found in most theaters across the country, |
| provided operas, plays, concerts, vaudeville, and silent | | | | Rochester also offers a yearly Film Festival in the |
| and talking movies until 1983 when it was closed. The | | | | early summer, showcasing independent and foreign |
| building has since been renovated and converted into | | | | films from around the world. Escaping the winter cold, |
| a bookstore. | | | | summer rains, or simply catching the latest |
| CineMagic Hollywood Luxury Stadium, or Hollywood | | | | blockbuster has turned into a one of a kind |
| 12, opened about six months later with similar | | | | experience for Rochester Minnesota. |