‘Harold and Maude’ at the Westgate Theater: A Flop, A Triumph and A Queer Cult Classic

There’s definitely no shortage of queer cult classic films. These beloved, campy, often over-the-top films have helped define modern queer culture, from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” to “But I’m A Cheerleader” to “Fried Green Tomatoes.” Queer cult classics, with their focus on self-love, found family and profound connection, run the gamut of settings and genres, but there is one particularly beloved film that stands out to the LGBTQ+ community in Minneapolis: “Harold and Maude,” made famous by its uniquely long run at the Westgate Theater in Edina, Minn., just outside Minneapolis.

John Gaspard, a Minneapolis-based author, filmmaker, podcaster and archival researcher, set out to tell the fantastical, nearly unbelievable and 100% true story of the legendary run of “Harold and Maude” at the Westgate, which transformed it into the cult classic it is today, in his new book: “Held Over: Harold and Maude at the Westgate Theater.”

“If you love Minneapolis history, cult films or stories about passionate communities rallying around art, this book scratches all those itches,” Gaspard says. “And honestly, it’s just a great yarn: a quirky movie and a stubborn theater, a unique combination that wouldn’t let either one fade away.”

When “Harold and Maude” first came out (no pun intended), it was a total box-office flop. But an initial flop didn’t stop this story of chosen family and unconditional love. Instead, the Westgate Theater in Edina decided to do something rather unconventional: screen the film for over two years straight.

And that’s where the history gets even more interesting. The Westgate ran “Harold and Maude” for so long that locals actually protested its constant spot on the neighborhood theater’s marquee, angry and desperate to see anything else up there.

“The protests are a quirky, very Minnesota way of saying, ‘This is not normal.’ And they’re part of what cemented the film’s legend,” Gaspard says.

Gaspard’s book details the wacky, unexpected history of two local legends that refused to give up, and that wouldn’t have the niche fame they’ve created without each other.

“Held Over: Harold and Maude at the Westgate Theater” includes tons of amazing history, from never-before-published photos of the Westgate Theater, including its early Art Deco design, the Club Room and the 1950s remodeling, to the cool local reports that show how Minneapolis — not Hollywood — crafted a cult classic out of “Harold and Maude.”

Gaspard’s book is also full of amazing interviews with ushers, managers and moviegoers who remember seeing this film back in the theater’s heyday — including the local icon who saw the movie over 160 times during its crazy years-long run.

“Held Over: Harold and Maude at the Westgate Theater” is a love letter to the Westgate, to “Harold and Maude,” and to the queer community of Minneapolis.

“I grew up going to the Westgate, but once I started digging into its history — Carl Fust building it in 1935, the Club Room, the art gallery, the angry neighbors — I fell more in love with the place,” Gaspard says. “And the more I learned about the film’s improbable second life in Minneapolis, the more I realized this wasn’t just a movie story. It was a community story.”

As a film that celebrates outsiders and rebellious acts of joy, champions reinvention and simply refuses to behave, it’s no wonder it means so much to the queer community.

“What I love about this story — and what I think resonates with queer readers — is that it’s about finding your people,” Gaspard explains. “The Westgate became a haven for folks who didn’t always see themselves reflected in mainstream culture. ‘Harold and Maude’ gave them permission to feel seen, to feel understood, to feel joyful … It’s tender, anarchic, funny, melancholy and defiantly life?affirming. It’s about choosing your own path — even if that path makes absolutely no sense to anyone else.”

If you’re sold on learning even more about this one-of-a-kind story about the movie theater that would not give up on a flop-film-turned-queer-classic, then you’ve got to check out “Held Over: Harold and Maude at the Westgate Theater” by local author John Gaspard.

You can purchase the book at Albert’s Bridge Books (albertsbridgebooks.com), which Gaspard runs with his wife, Amy, or by searching for it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Local bookstores will also be able to order it for you upon request, and SubText Books in St. Paul usually keeps a couple of copies in stock, too. You can also ask your local library if they carry it or request that they do!

Also, keep an eye out for John Gaspard’s next book, “Minnesota in the Movies,” which is slated to come out in 2027.