West Bank Firehouse

The “West Bank” of Minneapolis is arguably the most dramatic site of change in the Twin Cities. It began as a neighborhood of European immigrants with schools, churches, trolley service, banks, and yes, a firehouse (No.5).. By the 1950s, the University of Minnesota sought to expand its campus across the Mississippi River, and Interstate 94 was planned to meet Interstate 35W nearby—by 1969, much of the area’s residential stock disappeared.

The University’s new campus produced an unintended complimentary population of radical leftists and hippies—these communities settled in the remaining fragments of housing stock. Another radical change occurred in 1973, when the City of Minneapolis funded the enormous Cedar-Riverside public housing complex. The West Bank Firehouse physically survived these changes, but its purpose changed dramatically. In the early 1970s, the avant-garde art scene of Minneapolis used the space for cutting-edge performances. Among these, in 1977, was an interpretive performance of “Pride” by renowned dance artist and choreographer Patrick Scully.(1) This dance was Scully’s first to receive media attention—the Minnesota Daily became the first to review one of his performances a year later.(2) The Minneapolis Star-Tribune and other local newspapers published announcements and critiques of Scully’s work in the 1970s and 1980s. Scully’s topics ranged from religious “Mass,” to pregnancy, to “Block E”—a notoriously wild block on Hennepin Avenue, halfway between the Gay 90s Complex and The Saloon.(3)

Patrick Scully Performs his interpretation of "Pride in 1977. Courtesy of the Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection.

Flyer from Patrick Scully's first cabaret in 1986.

In 1986, Scully gave his first cabaret performance in the basement of St. Stephen’s church at 2211 Clinton Avenue—“Patrick’s Cabaret” moved to its present space, another old fire station (No.21), in 1998.(4) The theater is a mainstay of the Twin Cities GLBT art scene—its supportive atmosphere and affordable price has helped to launch countless local artists. The old West Bank Firehouse remains, but it is now the Mixed Blood Theater, and part of a growing neighborhood of East African immigrants.

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(1)Twin Cities Pride Guide, 1977.

(2)Robertson, Allen. "Contact Workgroup" The Minnesota Daily, 4/21/1978. Page 9AE.

(3)Patrick Scully Collection, "Press" Box (Box 37), Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in GLBT Studies.

(4)Gold, Rachel. "Anonymous Donor Gives Patrick's Cabaret a Performance Home." Focuspoint, 11/25-12/1/1998. Front Page.

Part of Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN: 100 Queer Places in Minnesota History, (1860-1969), (1969-2010)