The Falls Cinema before the storm.
Storm Causes Roof To Collapse At Movie Theater
Associated Press
Monday June 23, 2003
The Falls Cinema before the storm.
The roof of a downtown movie theater collapsed Sunday night after heavy rain pounded the Little Falls area of central Minnesota.
About 20 people were watching "The Hulk" when a 10-by-40-foot section of the Falls Cinema roof collapsed about 9:40 p.m. Concrete, insulation and rain water pushed the movie screen toward the audience. Nobody was hurt.
The force of the collapse also blew the front doors open.
"It was pretty unexpected, the extra special effects,"
said Peter Schoell, the theater's owner.
Rain began falling about 45 minutes before the accident. The storm total was six
to seven inches, according to the National Weather Service. Schoell suspected
the rain water pooled in the center of the 100-foot-long roof, causing it to
collapse.
Schoell did not have a damage estimate, but said the screen, valued at $1,000,
five speakers worth about $5,000 and supplies were destroyed.
Copyright © 2003 The Associated Press.