Kenwood 1 & 2, a twin movie complex in Duluth, opened 50 years ago. The June 17, 1971 Duluth Herald reported work was being rushed for the formal opening on June 18. The two theaters, situated in the Kenwood Shopping Center, had seating capacities of 520 and 280. The opening films were the science-fiction thriller The Andromeda Strain and a reissue of Lawrence of Arabia.
In other news …
- Because Duluth’s population dropped from more than 106,000 to barely over the 100,000 mark in the 1970 Census, five Duluth liquor establishments may be forced out of business when their licenses expire at the end of August. State liquor statues at the time permitted one on-sale permit for every 1,500 people in the city and one off-sale for every 5,000. The number of on-sale licenses was expected to drop from 71 to 67; the number of off-sale from 21 to 20.
- The Beacon Theatre in Superior pulled the X-rated film Ginger at the request of Police Chief Charles Barnard, who said there had been “upwards of a dozen complaints.” The film was next scheduled to run at the Duluth Theater in West Duluth.
- WDSM-TV channel 6 was set to revamp its Eyewitness News program starting June 27, with Dick Wallack heading the news team, Ray Paulson handling weather, and Duane Larson covering sports. New features planned were “Contact 6” with John Digman and editorials by Lew Martin.
- A new Proctor pumping station is alleviating the problem of inadequate water pressure in the Maple Grove area. The station has been in operation since October of 1970.
Caption: New Pumping Equipment Boosts Pressures … Douglas Carlson, plant superintendent, checks operations.
Caption: New Tank Holds 100,000 Gallons … Carol Beardsley, office manager, checks 118-foot tank.
Caption: Junior Champ Relay Race … Double winners churn out the yardage in the 40-yard relay for junior and senior girls in the Jaycee Junior Champ track meet at UMD’s Griggs Field Wednesday night. The juniors and seniors competed together in the event and both were declared winners. From left, the Esko senior winners, Melanie Stolen and Cindy Parpala, and the junior winners of Duluth, Terri Zelenikar and Peggy McDuffie — (Herald Sportsphoto by Charles Curtis.)
