The shopping center that the theatre was in was developed in the mid 80’s. The Home Depot anchored the west side of the center and the East Towne 8 anchored the east end. Litchfield built the theatre which opened June 22, 1990. Shortly after the theatre opened, Regal Cinemas purchased the theatre from Litchfield.
When Regal bought out United Artists which operated the UA-7 located in the mall that was on the other side of the interstate, Regal switch the East Towne Crossing to a dollar theatre. After Regal enlarged the East Towne Mall theatre, they closed East Town Crossing on October 11, 2001. The building stood empty for several years before finally being torn down.
The Aug 6, 1937 issue of “The Film Daily” (pg 9), has a small article about Mrs. Fon Sexton who operates the Lyric in Ashland and the Grand in Ironton, buying the Stanly as a wedding present for her daughter.
In the Dec. 5, 1942 issue of “Showman’s Trade Review” there is mention a building permit had been obtained by Vine Properties Co. to rebuild the Gem Theatre which was heavily damaged by fire several months ago. Construction had already begun, and was expected to cost over $22,000.
In the Sept. 27, 1941 issue of “Showman’s Trade Review” there is mention that W.E. Drumbar and Walter Morris are building a 600 seat theatre in the Lonsdale section of the city. Drumbar has worked in Knoxville the past 24 years for Publix. Morris spent the last six years working for the Fox West Coast Circuit.
In the June 24, 1939 issue of “Showman’s Trade Review” there is mention of a contract being let to build a new 600 seat theatre at 1301 Western Ave. The owners were Denton Theatres which Mr. George L. Denton was president.
Yes Will, this was owned by a gentleman named Booth. He owned several theatres in Middle and East Tennessee. I have found some articles in the “Motion Picture News” archives about him filing for bankruptcy in late 1929. I will see if I can find them and post.
It was built by United Artist and opened when the mall did in July of 1984. At that time the name of the theatre was UA 7. When Regal Entertainment Group purchased the UA chain it became a Regal Cinema. In the mid 90’s Regal added 3 more screens and converted the original 7 auditoriums to stadium seating.
The world premiere of “A Walk in The Spring Rain” was held at the Capri-70 on April 9, 1970. I have posted pictures of the event in the photos section.
The first handprints were from Ingrid Bergman from the premiere of “A Walk in The Spring Rain” in April 1970. I have posted a picture of the event in the photos section. I have also posted additional photos on the Capri Cinema III & IV thread since technically that was the former Capri-70 before it was twined.
Thanks for the correction. I have always called that section Maynardville Hwy, but it doesn’t become “Highway” until it crosses the Knox/Union County line.
The Autism Center is in the building that used to house Rush’s Music Store. There was also another building next door that had a boating and marine store. The drive-in was behind these buildings with the marquee and entrance just north of the current Hardee’s. The Mini-Storage units are now located where the north side of the drive-in was.
If you look at the photos of this theatre in Charleston,http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/27447/photos , you are looking at the Westown Theatre. Both were Identical in appearance.
The building that once housed the Dawn Theatre was demolished this week along with adjacent buildings. No announcement has been made for the future of the property.
I have positioned streetview to the location of the main entrance on Callahan Road. The street sign/marquee was approximately where the Taco Bell sign is now, on Clinton Hwy at Callahan.
My dad helped with the installation of the projection equipment and brought me along for the ride. I was only twelve at the time, and wish now that I paid more attention and had taken some pictures. It’s funny how you think that something that is new will be around forever.
On Streetview, the Broadway Theatre was in the space between the alley and the building on the left. Broadway was renumbered sometime in the past, so the current address is 3411 North Broadway.
The gentleman that is mentioned is Walter Morris. He built both the Pike and the Tower theatres. C.H. Simpson leased both theatres from Mr. Morris in 1963 and remodeled both theatres and changed their names. The Pike became the Capri Cinema and the Tower became the Lenox. In cir.1965 the state bought the Lenox for the I-640/ Broadway interchange and in 1967 Mr. Morris used the money from the sale of the Lenox to built the Capri-70 adjoining the west side of the Capri Cinema which Mr. Simpson operated. The Capri Cinema and the Capri-70 were two separate buildings that shared a common wall. They should not be considered similar to today’s multiplexes as they each had their own lobby, boxoffice, projection booth, and heat and air systems.
After Mr. Morris’s death, Simpson Operating Company bought both theatres from Mr. Morris’s estate. In the mid seventies Simpson twined the Capri Cinema and it became the Capri Cinema I & II. In the late eighties, they also twined the Capri-70 and that became the Capri III & IV.
Regal Cinemas leased the Capri theatres form Simpson Operating Company in the early nineties and ran them for three years. Regal was unable to re-negotiate a new lease and the Capri’s were closed. In the mid nineties the Capri theatres were sold to Bennett Art Gallery. They demolished three quarters of the old Capri Cinema and completely gutted the old Capri-70 which they turned into their art gallery.
The Ace Hardware store is actually in the old Shoney’s Restaurant which was on the east side of the Capri Cinema.
Will,
The lattice showed up in the second round of photos that Jim Thompson shot in 1929
Don Pedro and his band only lasted until spring of 1929. Paramount discovered that the public accepted the shorts with sound instead of live acts. So there was no need to pay for a live band. My guess is they put up the lattice fence to hide the empty orchestra pit.
The shopping center that the theatre was in was developed in the mid 80’s. The Home Depot anchored the west side of the center and the East Towne 8 anchored the east end. Litchfield built the theatre which opened June 22, 1990. Shortly after the theatre opened, Regal Cinemas purchased the theatre from Litchfield.
When Regal bought out United Artists which operated the UA-7 located in the mall that was on the other side of the interstate, Regal switch the East Towne Crossing to a dollar theatre. After Regal enlarged the East Towne Mall theatre, they closed East Town Crossing on October 11, 2001. The building stood empty for several years before finally being torn down.
The Aug 6, 1937 issue of “The Film Daily” (pg 9), has a small article about Mrs. Fon Sexton who operates the Lyric in Ashland and the Grand in Ironton, buying the Stanly as a wedding present for her daughter.
In the Dec. 5, 1942 issue of “Showman’s Trade Review” there is mention a building permit had been obtained by Vine Properties Co. to rebuild the Gem Theatre which was heavily damaged by fire several months ago. Construction had already begun, and was expected to cost over $22,000.
In the Sept. 27, 1941 issue of “Showman’s Trade Review” there is mention that W.E. Drumbar and Walter Morris are building a 600 seat theatre in the Lonsdale section of the city. Drumbar has worked in Knoxville the past 24 years for Publix. Morris spent the last six years working for the Fox West Coast Circuit.
In the June 24, 1939 issue of “Showman’s Trade Review” there is mention of a contract being let to build a new 600 seat theatre at 1301 Western Ave. The owners were Denton Theatres which Mr. George L. Denton was president.
Yes Will, this was owned by a gentleman named Booth. He owned several theatres in Middle and East Tennessee. I have found some articles in the “Motion Picture News” archives about him filing for bankruptcy in late 1929. I will see if I can find them and post.
Memilr, the drive-in that was on the river was the Solway Drive-In.
Will, This picture must have been taken after October 1928. The Queen Theatre is not across the street from the Riviera.
JW, the Sunset Drive-in was in the 5000 block of Clinton Hwy. The Twin-Aire was in the 6600 block where Wal-Mart is now located.
I have posted a picture of the Tillery after it became Clayton Motors back in the 60’s.
It was built by United Artist and opened when the mall did in July of 1984. At that time the name of the theatre was UA 7. When Regal Entertainment Group purchased the UA chain it became a Regal Cinema. In the mid 90’s Regal added 3 more screens and converted the original 7 auditoriums to stadium seating.
The world premiere of “A Walk in The Spring Rain” was held at the Capri-70 on April 9, 1970. I have posted pictures of the event in the photos section.
The first handprints were from Ingrid Bergman from the premiere of “A Walk in The Spring Rain” in April 1970. I have posted a picture of the event in the photos section. I have also posted additional photos on the Capri Cinema III & IV thread since technically that was the former Capri-70 before it was twined.
Thanks for the correction. I have always called that section Maynardville Hwy, but it doesn’t become “Highway” until it crosses the Knox/Union County line.
The Autism Center is in the building that used to house Rush’s Music Store. There was also another building next door that had a boating and marine store. The drive-in was behind these buildings with the marquee and entrance just north of the current Hardee’s. The Mini-Storage units are now located where the north side of the drive-in was.
If you look at the photos of this theatre in Charleston,http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/27447/photos , you are looking at the Westown Theatre. Both were Identical in appearance.
The building that once housed the Dawn Theatre was demolished this week along with adjacent buildings. No announcement has been made for the future of the property.
This is the opening night audience taken March 8, 1909.
I have positioned streetview to the location of the main entrance on Callahan Road. The street sign/marquee was approximately where the Taco Bell sign is now, on Clinton Hwy at Callahan. My dad helped with the installation of the projection equipment and brought me along for the ride. I was only twelve at the time, and wish now that I paid more attention and had taken some pictures. It’s funny how you think that something that is new will be around forever.
On Streetview, the Broadway Theatre was in the space between the alley and the building on the left. Broadway was renumbered sometime in the past, so the current address is 3411 North Broadway.
I have moved the Street View to the old East Vine address which is now E. Summit Hill Drive.
The theatre was built over First Creek.
The gentleman that is mentioned is Walter Morris. He built both the Pike and the Tower theatres. C.H. Simpson leased both theatres from Mr. Morris in 1963 and remodeled both theatres and changed their names. The Pike became the Capri Cinema and the Tower became the Lenox. In cir.1965 the state bought the Lenox for the I-640/ Broadway interchange and in 1967 Mr. Morris used the money from the sale of the Lenox to built the Capri-70 adjoining the west side of the Capri Cinema which Mr. Simpson operated. The Capri Cinema and the Capri-70 were two separate buildings that shared a common wall. They should not be considered similar to today’s multiplexes as they each had their own lobby, boxoffice, projection booth, and heat and air systems.
After Mr. Morris’s death, Simpson Operating Company bought both theatres from Mr. Morris’s estate. In the mid seventies Simpson twined the Capri Cinema and it became the Capri Cinema I & II. In the late eighties, they also twined the Capri-70 and that became the Capri III & IV.
Regal Cinemas leased the Capri theatres form Simpson Operating Company in the early nineties and ran them for three years. Regal was unable to re-negotiate a new lease and the Capri’s were closed. In the mid nineties the Capri theatres were sold to Bennett Art Gallery. They demolished three quarters of the old Capri Cinema and completely gutted the old Capri-70 which they turned into their art gallery.
The Ace Hardware store is actually in the old Shoney’s Restaurant which was on the east side of the Capri Cinema.
Here it is from the front.
View link
Will,
The lattice showed up in the second round of photos that Jim Thompson shot in 1929
Don Pedro and his band only lasted until spring of 1929. Paramount discovered that the public accepted the shorts with sound instead of live acts. So there was no need to pay for a live band. My guess is they put up the lattice fence to hide the empty orchestra pit.
I am not sure, but was the name of the indoor theatres the Clinton Twin or Clinton Cinemas?