This drive-in was the Sunset Drive-in. I believe that it closed sometime in the early to mid 60’s. You are correct about the location; it was located where the Clinton Shopping Center and the former K-mart is now. I remember being told that it was a large drive in accommodating over 1000 cars.
There was a Horne Drive-In that was located on Chapman Highway just north of where the Chapman Highway Drive-In used to be.
I have consulted with Wallace Baumann who is Knoxville’s foremost theatre historian. He told me that the Lee was on the north side of Tennessee Ave not far from I-275. He said that it opened in 1941 and closed in 1956 and seated 500. This was Walter Morris’s first theatre.
This theatre on Gay street opened in 1907 as the Edison Theatorium and renamed the Marvel in 1908,and the Ole Bull in 1909. It became the Grand in 1910 and lasted until 1917. The building was razed in 1965 for a parking lot.
The Capitol opened in 1946 and closed in 1950. It was a small theatre with only 350 seats. For a long time it was Turner Furniture Store. I think there is some sort of a furniture store in this building currently.
My father was the projectionist at the Lee when he first came to Knoxville in 1949. I remember him driving me past where the theatre was when I was a kid. It was definitely on the west side of I-275, so I wonder if the street number was 1141 instead of 141.
The theatre was built by Walter Lee Morris who also built the Pike Theatre later to become the Capri Cinema and the Tower Theatre. He also built the Capri-70 in 1967 which he leased to Charles Simpson who operated both Capri Theatres as part of the Simpson theatre chain.
Walter Morris was an independent theatre owner who successfully sued the studios in 1948 for violation of anti-trust laws.
The Powell Cinema was built as part of a strip shopping center around 1980. It was a twin that each seated 175. It was closed in the late nineties and the space was converted to retail.
Mr. C.B. Atkins sold the Bijou to a Mr. Sherman in 1926 with the stipulation that the property would not be used for theatrical presentations for a period of five years. Mr. Atkins had an interest in Tennessee Enterprise which included all of the Publix’s theatres in Knoxville. They had plans to build a large movie palace at this time, and wanted to make sure to limit competition. Of course that movie palace was the Tennessee that opened in 1928.
Mr. Sherman leased the theatre to a local car sales company who removed the seats on the main floor and parked cars on both the stage and orchestra floor. The lobby was turned into a fruit stand. In 1932 after the restriction period, the theatre was leased to The Peruchi Players for their theatrical productions. During the mid 30’s Wilbey-Kincey who had taken control of all of the Publix theatres in Knoxville, took a lease on the Bijou and operated it as a second run theatre to the Tennessee.
Mr. C.B. Atkins sold the Bijou to a Mr. Sherman in 1926 with the stipulation that the property would not be used for theatrical presentations for a period of five years. Mr. Atkins had an interest in Tennessee Enterprise which included all of the Publix’s theatres in Knoxville. They had plans to build a large movie palace at this time, and wanted to make sure to limit competition. Of course that movie palace was the Tennessee that opened in 1928.
They did not completely shut down competition since Mr. Booth opened his Booth Theatre in mid September of 1928, just two weeks before the Tennessee opened.
Unless you want to be close enough to feel the spray off the entertainer, you do not want these seats. Theatres are not designed for audiences to sit in the pit. The sound and sightlines from this location is the pits (ha ha). Will is correct; the best sound in the Tennessee is in the balcony.
Go to this link: http://local.live.com and type the address of the Pitkin which is: 1501 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
It will give a bird’s eye view of what the condition of the roof was at one time. I do not know when these pictures were taken, but I hope Warren is correct and these large holes have been repaired.
The cable network GAC with broadcast “Christmas at the Tennessee†on December 16th at 9PM EST. There will be some awesome shots of the theatre both in the auditorium and interviews in the grand lobby. This show will be worth watching for all historic theatre lovers weather you like country music or not. For more information go to gac.com
The Gem theatre that I am aware of was on the southeast corner of Vine and Central which would be 102-106 E. Vine. The building was actually built over First Creek. The theatre as well as all of the buildings in the block was torn down in the mid sixties for the construction of the Business Loop which later became James White Parkway.
I do remember reading somewhere about an earlier Gem Theatre on West Vine, but I can’t remember where I read it.
Will: Charlie Champ later became a member of the projectionist’s union which the local in Knoxville was formed in 1920. At that time a theatre owner or manager could not be a union member. So I would guess that he closed or sold off his theatre interests before 1920.
The Carolina will not show up on the CT architect list until the editors change this page from “unknown†to R.E. Hall.
Vestal Press did a reprint of both volumes of “American Theatres of Today†several years ago. This is when I bought my copy. The Carolina Theatre is on pages 110 and 111 of volume 1.
I also noticed that Ken Roe also posted this information on this thread on Dec. 4, 2004. I also dug though my “Marquee†file and found Vol 18 #3, and yes there was the information on the Carolina Theatre just as Ken had posted. So the evidence is pretty conclusive that R.E. Hall did design the Carolina Theatre in Charlotte.
The Carolina Theatre was actually designed by R.E. Hall, not Graven and Mayger. The drawings and picture can be found in the book “American Theatres of Todayâ€.
Life’s too short, the question that you posed on July 23 about the house lighting in movie palaces is right down my alley. As a student for the past thirty-one years, of how the designers of these great theatres designed the lighting, I can assure you that the stars, clouds, and accent lighting was left on during the show. In most all movie palaces all of the coves in the auditorium were wired with at least three circuits for three different colors of lights. Up to one third of the control board backstage was for house light control. All of this was so the lighting could be part of the show.
So what happened? Jim Rankin hit the nail on the head as to why they were not used in the later years. Although there were exceptions because of stagehands or maintenance people that cared enough to keep the stars lit. I was at the Fox in Atlanta in January of 1975 for what was to be the last movie ever as the theatre was to be destroyed six weeks later. This was the first time I had seen an atmospheric theatre, and all of the stars and clouds were working during the movie. This was the beginning of my love for movie palaces.
So what about the restored palaces of today? There are a couple of reasons why the decorative lighting is not used. For the theatres that went through major restoration in the eighties and nineties, the multiple circuits of cove lighting were reduced to one circuit of white light for budget reasons. In many cases the house light control is a four button station with the choice of full on, two-thirds, half, or off. Some theatres that have been restored in the past few years have used the new LED technology in the former lighting coves. This gives a lighting designer an unlimited choice of colors that make the auditoriums come alive in ways that the original designers could only dream about. But unless the stage electrician is instructed to use decorative lighting as “running lightsâ€, when the show starts most of the time they just turn them off.
Another reason why you do not see any stars or accent lighting during a live show is because the show artistic directors will not allow it. In today’s academic theatre, directors do not want anything to take attention away from the stage. This is the same thinking that has destroyed the auditoriums of some palaces in the misguided notion of making them more suitable for live theatre.
Fortunately things are starting to change. Theatres that have invested in the LEDs hire technicians who know how to creatively use them. The Tennessee Theatre where I am the Technical Director, installed the LED lighting during our past restoration and the house lighting IS part of the show. House lights do not just go out, they transition from amber, to red, to blue, to a low level of accent lighting just like they did in the “Golden Daysâ€. And for those directors who want all the lights out, I point out that if some dim lighting can draw attention away from their show, then they have bigger problems then the lights. Case Closed!
The Park theatre opened October 1, 1938 with the movie “Vivacious Ladyâ€. The $30,000 theatre was built and operated by the Wilby-Kincy chain. It was a white cinder block building set back from the street with a small lawn in front. The two aisles auditorium was in the art moderne style with 26 rows of seats and 23 seats in each row for a capacity of 584.
Through the sixties and early seventies ABC Southeastern Theatres operated the theatre playing hold overs from the Tennessee, or as a road show house for big Disney films. I remember going there to see “Mary Poppens†and “The Sound of Music†for the first time.
In 1975 ABC remodeled the theatre and changed the name to The Studio One in an attempt to try to make the theatre more upscale. They repainted the entire building and took out 3 rows of seats to enlarge the lobby and concession area. Although they played some first run films, the neighborhood fell into a sharp decline and Plitt Theatres (which had bought out ABC) closed the theatre on June 10, 1982 after the final showing of “Some Kind of a Heroâ€.
As a side note, from the mid sixties to the mid seventies Knoxville was mostly a two theatre chain city. ABC operated the Tennessee and Park Theatres also the Family, Knoxville, and Cinema Drive-Ins. They later opened the Westown Theatre in 1972. The local based Simpson Theaters Chain operated the Riviera, Capri Cinema, Capri-70 and the Capri Terrace theatres, also the Twin-Aire, River Breeze, and Chapman Highway Drive-Ins.
I was told by the older projectionist about how the Queen was reversed and you entered the auditorium from behind the screen. I wish there were pictures of the interior.
Publix closed the Queen on September 29, 1928 only two days before they opened the Tennessee Theatre across the street in the next block.
This theatre was opened in the late 70’s by ABC Southeastern Theatres. It had two auditoriums each seating 375. Ownership changed to Cineplex Odeon, to Plitt, and then to Carmike. After Carmike build the Commons Six Theatre less than half a mile away in the late 80’s, they closed the Cedar Bluff Theatre.
This drive-in was the Sunset Drive-in. I believe that it closed sometime in the early to mid 60’s. You are correct about the location; it was located where the Clinton Shopping Center and the former K-mart is now. I remember being told that it was a large drive in accommodating over 1000 cars.
There was a Horne Drive-In that was located on Chapman Highway just north of where the Chapman Highway Drive-In used to be.
I have consulted with Wallace Baumann who is Knoxville’s foremost theatre historian. He told me that the Lee was on the north side of Tennessee Ave not far from I-275. He said that it opened in 1941 and closed in 1956 and seated 500. This was Walter Morris’s first theatre.
This theatre on Gay street opened in 1907 as the Edison Theatorium and renamed the Marvel in 1908,and the Ole Bull in 1909. It became the Grand in 1910 and lasted until 1917. The building was razed in 1965 for a parking lot.
The Capitol opened in 1946 and closed in 1950. It was a small theatre with only 350 seats. For a long time it was Turner Furniture Store. I think there is some sort of a furniture store in this building currently.
My father was the projectionist at the Lee when he first came to Knoxville in 1949. I remember him driving me past where the theatre was when I was a kid. It was definitely on the west side of I-275, so I wonder if the street number was 1141 instead of 141.
The theatre was built by Walter Lee Morris who also built the Pike Theatre later to become the Capri Cinema and the Tower Theatre. He also built the Capri-70 in 1967 which he leased to Charles Simpson who operated both Capri Theatres as part of the Simpson theatre chain.
Walter Morris was an independent theatre owner who successfully sued the studios in 1948 for violation of anti-trust laws.
The Powell Cinema was built as part of a strip shopping center around 1980. It was a twin that each seated 175. It was closed in the late nineties and the space was converted to retail.
Mr. C.B. Atkins sold the Bijou to a Mr. Sherman in 1926 with the stipulation that the property would not be used for theatrical presentations for a period of five years. Mr. Atkins had an interest in Tennessee Enterprise which included all of the Publix’s theatres in Knoxville. They had plans to build a large movie palace at this time, and wanted to make sure to limit competition. Of course that movie palace was the Tennessee that opened in 1928.
Mr. Sherman leased the theatre to a local car sales company who removed the seats on the main floor and parked cars on both the stage and orchestra floor. The lobby was turned into a fruit stand. In 1932 after the restriction period, the theatre was leased to The Peruchi Players for their theatrical productions. During the mid 30’s Wilbey-Kincey who had taken control of all of the Publix theatres in Knoxville, took a lease on the Bijou and operated it as a second run theatre to the Tennessee.
Mr. C.B. Atkins sold the Bijou to a Mr. Sherman in 1926 with the stipulation that the property would not be used for theatrical presentations for a period of five years. Mr. Atkins had an interest in Tennessee Enterprise which included all of the Publix’s theatres in Knoxville. They had plans to build a large movie palace at this time, and wanted to make sure to limit competition. Of course that movie palace was the Tennessee that opened in 1928.
They did not completely shut down competition since Mr. Booth opened his Booth Theatre in mid September of 1928, just two weeks before the Tennessee opened.
Unless you want to be close enough to feel the spray off the entertainer, you do not want these seats. Theatres are not designed for audiences to sit in the pit. The sound and sightlines from this location is the pits (ha ha). Will is correct; the best sound in the Tennessee is in the balcony.
Go to this link: http://local.live.com and type the address of the Pitkin which is: 1501 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
It will give a bird’s eye view of what the condition of the roof was at one time. I do not know when these pictures were taken, but I hope Warren is correct and these large holes have been repaired.
The cable network GAC with broadcast “Christmas at the Tennessee†on December 16th at 9PM EST. There will be some awesome shots of the theatre both in the auditorium and interviews in the grand lobby. This show will be worth watching for all historic theatre lovers weather you like country music or not. For more information go to gac.com
Go to View link then type in 2023-348 under search, and you will see a film clip of the last marquee in action.
Thanks Scott for the link.
There was also a Crystal Theatre on the west side of Market Square in the 30’s and 40’s
The Gem theatre that I am aware of was on the southeast corner of Vine and Central which would be 102-106 E. Vine. The building was actually built over First Creek. The theatre as well as all of the buildings in the block was torn down in the mid sixties for the construction of the Business Loop which later became James White Parkway.
I do remember reading somewhere about an earlier Gem Theatre on West Vine, but I can’t remember where I read it.
Will: Charlie Champ later became a member of the projectionist’s union which the local in Knoxville was formed in 1920. At that time a theatre owner or manager could not be a union member. So I would guess that he closed or sold off his theatre interests before 1920.
Patsy,
The Carolina will not show up on the CT architect list until the editors change this page from “unknown†to R.E. Hall.
Vestal Press did a reprint of both volumes of “American Theatres of Today†several years ago. This is when I bought my copy. The Carolina Theatre is on pages 110 and 111 of volume 1.
I also noticed that Ken Roe also posted this information on this thread on Dec. 4, 2004. I also dug though my “Marquee†file and found Vol 18 #3, and yes there was the information on the Carolina Theatre just as Ken had posted. So the evidence is pretty conclusive that R.E. Hall did design the Carolina Theatre in Charlotte.
The Carolina Theatre was actually designed by R.E. Hall, not Graven and Mayger. The drawings and picture can be found in the book “American Theatres of Todayâ€.
Life’s too short, the question that you posed on July 23 about the house lighting in movie palaces is right down my alley. As a student for the past thirty-one years, of how the designers of these great theatres designed the lighting, I can assure you that the stars, clouds, and accent lighting was left on during the show. In most all movie palaces all of the coves in the auditorium were wired with at least three circuits for three different colors of lights. Up to one third of the control board backstage was for house light control. All of this was so the lighting could be part of the show.
So what happened? Jim Rankin hit the nail on the head as to why they were not used in the later years. Although there were exceptions because of stagehands or maintenance people that cared enough to keep the stars lit. I was at the Fox in Atlanta in January of 1975 for what was to be the last movie ever as the theatre was to be destroyed six weeks later. This was the first time I had seen an atmospheric theatre, and all of the stars and clouds were working during the movie. This was the beginning of my love for movie palaces.
So what about the restored palaces of today? There are a couple of reasons why the decorative lighting is not used. For the theatres that went through major restoration in the eighties and nineties, the multiple circuits of cove lighting were reduced to one circuit of white light for budget reasons. In many cases the house light control is a four button station with the choice of full on, two-thirds, half, or off. Some theatres that have been restored in the past few years have used the new LED technology in the former lighting coves. This gives a lighting designer an unlimited choice of colors that make the auditoriums come alive in ways that the original designers could only dream about. But unless the stage electrician is instructed to use decorative lighting as “running lightsâ€, when the show starts most of the time they just turn them off.
Another reason why you do not see any stars or accent lighting during a live show is because the show artistic directors will not allow it. In today’s academic theatre, directors do not want anything to take attention away from the stage. This is the same thinking that has destroyed the auditoriums of some palaces in the misguided notion of making them more suitable for live theatre.
Fortunately things are starting to change. Theatres that have invested in the LEDs hire technicians who know how to creatively use them. The Tennessee Theatre where I am the Technical Director, installed the LED lighting during our past restoration and the house lighting IS part of the show. House lights do not just go out, they transition from amber, to red, to blue, to a low level of accent lighting just like they did in the “Golden Daysâ€. And for those directors who want all the lights out, I point out that if some dim lighting can draw attention away from their show, then they have bigger problems then the lights. Case Closed!
The Park theatre opened October 1, 1938 with the movie “Vivacious Ladyâ€. The $30,000 theatre was built and operated by the Wilby-Kincy chain. It was a white cinder block building set back from the street with a small lawn in front. The two aisles auditorium was in the art moderne style with 26 rows of seats and 23 seats in each row for a capacity of 584.
Through the sixties and early seventies ABC Southeastern Theatres operated the theatre playing hold overs from the Tennessee, or as a road show house for big Disney films. I remember going there to see “Mary Poppens†and “The Sound of Music†for the first time.
In 1975 ABC remodeled the theatre and changed the name to The Studio One in an attempt to try to make the theatre more upscale. They repainted the entire building and took out 3 rows of seats to enlarge the lobby and concession area. Although they played some first run films, the neighborhood fell into a sharp decline and Plitt Theatres (which had bought out ABC) closed the theatre on June 10, 1982 after the final showing of “Some Kind of a Heroâ€.
As a side note, from the mid sixties to the mid seventies Knoxville was mostly a two theatre chain city. ABC operated the Tennessee and Park Theatres also the Family, Knoxville, and Cinema Drive-Ins. They later opened the Westown Theatre in 1972. The local based Simpson Theaters Chain operated the Riviera, Capri Cinema, Capri-70 and the Capri Terrace theatres, also the Twin-Aire, River Breeze, and Chapman Highway Drive-Ins.
The Gay theatre that was on McCalla Ave originally opened as the Rivoli Theatre. It later was renamed the Burlington and then the Gay.
The Gay Theatre on this page was at 415 S. Gay Street. In 1917 it was remodeled and became the Strand.
I was told by the older projectionist about how the Queen was reversed and you entered the auditorium from behind the screen. I wish there were pictures of the interior.
Publix closed the Queen on September 29, 1928 only two days before they opened the Tennessee Theatre across the street in the next block.
A great artical with pictures can be found here View link
Here is an update on the Orpheum and other New Orleans theatres.
I bet that the DuPage Theatre thread will have more posts than Radio City Music Hall’s by the end of the year. Any takers?
This theatre was opened in the late 70’s by ABC Southeastern Theatres. It had two auditoriums each seating 375. Ownership changed to Cineplex Odeon, to Plitt, and then to Carmike. After Carmike build the Commons Six Theatre less than half a mile away in the late 80’s, they closed the Cedar Bluff Theatre.