Prince (November 13, 1983) – Filming “Purple Rain” on Hennepin Ave.

A short entertainment brief noting that Prince was filming “Purple Rain” last week on Hennepin Ave. in Minneapolis, while also mentioning Andre Cymone’s recent chart success and production work (including a group positioned as a counterpart to Vanity 6).

Publication: 

Minneapolis Star and Tribune (Star Tribune)

Date: Sunday, November 13, 1983 Country: United States Section: Entertainment / In the wings column

THE STORY T

he item reports that Prince was actively shooting scenes for Purple Rain the previous week on Hennepin Avenue — one of the key locations used in the film. It appears alongside news about Andre Cymone (a former Prince bandmate and collaborator) producing Evelyn “Champagne” King’s new album and launching a girl group called The Girls, described as “Cymone’s answer to Prince’s Vanity 6.”

CONTEXT AND NOTES

This clipping confirms that principal photography for Purple Rain was underway by early-to-mid November 1983. Hennepin Avenue (particularly the First Avenue area) was central to the movie’s club scenes. The article shows how Prince’s film project was already generating local buzz just days into shooting.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

Event: On-location filming of Purple Rain Location: Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis Era: Early Purple Rain production (1983) Tone: Casual local news update Photography: None in this clipping

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

• Concrete evidence that Purple Rain filming had begun the week of November 6–12, 1983

• Continued local media interest in Prince’s activities

• Mention of the competitive/parallel music scene (Andre Cymone’s projects)

  
  

RELATED MATERIAL

Follows the previous November 6 clipping that announced upcoming filming “later this month.”

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