Carolina Theatre

I have watched many a parade from this same location and was not awar until several years ago that this is all that is left of this grand theatre.

You honestly cannot tell that it once was a grand movie house. As of today 12/14/01 there have been _no_ more plans proposed about this historic Charlotte landmark.

There will be a fund raiser for the Carolina Theatre on June 8th, 2002.

Please follow this link for ticket details.

http://www.independenttribune.com/news/MGBPO6BUW1D.html

The fund raiser was a huge success. Thanks to everyone that came out.

I have taken a photograph of the marquee displaying the last movie to appear at the Carolina Theater.It was taken in the evening Title "Across 110th Street"

The Charlotte Theatre is located at 226N. Tryon and it seated 1405 people when it was a movie theatre.

Here is an excellent pictorial history of the theatre:

http://theatreorgans.com/nc/metrolina/carolina/photographs.html

Please note the organization that did the fundraiser is the Carolina Theatre Preservation Society.(501 c3 non-profit) We operate the web site mentioned above and we would like to hear from all the people who been posting comments on this page. Its important we work together to get the Carolina Theatre back to its orginal grandeaur.Contact Charlie Clayton at cclayton@carolina.rr.com if you want to see this happen. We are getting much closer than you might think to making this happen. We need your help!!!!

The architect of the Carolina Theatre was R.E. Hall & Co Inc., Architects & Engineers.

I was a theatre usher at the Carolina while the Sound of Music was showing in the early 60's. All seats were reserved and it was a sell out every Friday and Saturday night. Being only sixteen I only knew the theatre was old but knew little of its history. I recall an old chaulkboard that listed the order of acts when there was live productions behind the stage. It was a Wilbur-Kincy theatre at the time and was nicknamed the "Queen of the Chain". I worked for Kermit High who was a quiet but nice man. I didnt realized the area under the stage was the orchestra pit but if I recall the custodian lived there. His name was Charlie and he had been there forever. He got hit by a bus checking the marquee lights one afternoon. The lights were still individual bulbs in the sixties, there were hundreds of them.

We stole popcorn from the huge popper behind the stage between afternoon and evening performances. That was our dinner as we only made 85 cents an hour. Our blazers were burgundy and we wore bowties. I loved the balcony and usually seated the patrons there. I remember seating one older woman there in the very last row under the projection booth. She said "If there is a fire will you come and get me?" The other 499 people laughed loud and long.

Its a tragedy that this theatre is in such shape. A city with Charlotte's resources should preserve it. If Nations can buy Bank of America and completely change the face of downtown why can't they save this theatre. They owe it to the people of Charlotte.

Norman Hayes, Murphys Ca.

This theatre needs to be given back to the citizens of Charlotte!!

Falonia: "If Nations can buy Bank of America and completely change the face of downtown why can't they save this theatre? They owe it to the people of Charlotte? Well written and my thoughts completely. And I repeat.....this theatre needs to be given back to the citizens of Charlotte!!

If they had a fundraiser in 2002, why not another one since it was so successful then. The interest is out there and should be 'tapped'! On the following site: http://theatreorgans.com/nc/metrolina/carolina/photographs.html there is a story about the event that was held in the ruined auditorium in 1996 that is well worth reading and seeing!! I would love to see the inside of the auditorium though the website photos really help to give you a glimpse of what it really looks like today! The ability to see the past and present photos as a comparison really helps see what was and what isn't anymore. I truly feel this theatre should be a community effort and the restoration of this once beautiful theatre become a beautiful reality! There are many theatres on this site, but none as worthy as this one to be restored and enjoyed once again by the citizens of Charlotte, North Carolina! If anyone reading this is in the Charotte area, please let me know what one voice can do and in the end if many voices speak out it will and can make a difference!

Patsy,
If you want to see inside of the theatre, send me an e-mail at cclayton@carolina.rr.com Our non-profit's sole purpose is to save and restore this theatre. If you are not already a member, you need to join with us to make this happen. I'm looking forward to hearing from you!!!

Thanks Charlie for your call and hopefully others will join the Carolina Theatre bandwagon! I've learned through more research tonight that the next door, Mint Museum has been allowed to use the theatre for STORAGE!?!

Falonia: Are you a local Charlotte resident? If so, you might be interested in joining the Carolina Theatre Preservation Society founded by Charlie Clayton (charlie c).

KenRoe: Thanks for providing us with the Carolina Theatre architect information, but was wondering what you source was as I see you are in the UK?

I now have found on this site that R.E. Hall was the engineer for 2 theatres, Eastman Theatre in Rochester NY and Florida Theatre in Jacksonville FL, and was not the architect so the mystery still remains as to who was the architect for the Carolina Theatre?

Patsy:

My source of information is "American Theatres of Today" Vol 1 by R.W. Sexton & B.F. Betts Published 1927.

Pages 110 and 111 have architect plans and a photo of the auditorium side wall & balcony front looking back from the front of the orchestra level. Credited are R.E. Hall & Co Inc Architects and Engineers.

In the same publication R.E. Hall & Co Inc are credited as Architects and Engineers of the Florida Theater, Jacksonville, FL but in the case of the Eastman Theater, Rochester. NY other architects and associate architects take the credit and R.E. Hall & Co Inc are listed as being consulting engineers.

In an article published in the Theatre Historical Society of America quarterly magaizine 'Marquee' Vol 18 No 3 Third Quarter 1986>>>>>>> I quote;

'Designed by R.E. Hall of New York and C.C. Hook of Charlotte, architects and engineers, the Carolina had 900 seats in the orchestra and 550 in the balcony. The design was generally Spanish Renaissance. The first note of this Spanish design came with the box office of wrought iron (In its press releases of the day Paramount-Publix heralded the Spanish design as one of most appropriate for Southern theatres.) the fixtures throughout the auditorium were also constructed from wrought iron as well as wood and leather. Spanish (and Italian) pottery, terra cotta jars, wrought iron lantern top torches old brass and copper jugs, reproductions of old paintings, mirrors and seemingly endless drapes made all parts of Charlotte's Carolina a feast for the eyes.

Opened on 7th March 1927, this house became the centerpiece of the North Carolina operations of the Paramount-Publix chain. It served as such until the late 1960's. It closed in 1978.'

From
'Chronicling the Carolinas' Theatres by Jim Lewallen and Douglas Gomery

Additional information;
The Carolina Theatre was equipped with a Barton theatre pipe organ which was opened by Faye Wilcox. In the 1950's the organ was played by Clarence Etters who was musical director at radio station WBT & WBT-TV. After that the organ went silent.

Thanks KenRoe for the information you have on the Carolina. I read it through and what came back at me when describing the interior were......."made all parts of Charlotte's Carolina a feast for the eyes". That interior is either gone or ruined beyond belief. I will have the rare opportunity to see inside the Carolina in the coming days thanks to Charlie Clayton, Carolina Theater Preservation Society so will see for myself then, but I'm sure a tear will form as I stand and gaze at what is before me. This theater MUST be saved and restored!

C.C. Hook is a prominent name in the history of Charlotte. I first came upon this name in connection with a beautiful fire station on S. Laurel Avenue. I went to the address and took a photo of this station and saw the brass plate on the wall with his name along with the year of construction. After speaking with the commander he told me that it had been one of the featured Dept. 56 stations and for good reason! While there they rec'd a call and the fire trucks rolled even though no men came down the brass poles that are still intact at the station! I know this isn't theatre chat, so forgive me for getting off the main topic for a brief moment.

I was recently in Raleigh for the annual State Tree Lighting Ceremony and visited the Museum of History's gift shop. I found a book on Charlotte with mention of the Carolina Theatre, but no photos. I'm hoping that Santa will bring this book on Christmas morning! HO HO HO!

Thomas: I can't bring up the site you mentioned on June 2002 about the article that appeared in the Independent Tribune concerning the fund raiser for the Carolina. Perhaps you or Charlie C. can enlighten me about this and why there hasn't been other fund raisers since then.....it's time! I suppose the site isn't available now because that fundraiser is old news, but a new fundraiser needs to be present news!

The photo on this page unfortunately doesn't show the portion of the theatre with it's wonderful green Spanish tile slanted roof as trees are in the way so if you are in the Charlotte area and haven't really looked at the original front roof facade of the Carolina that still exists, I urge you to stop and take a good long look. Thanks to Charlie C. he has shared with me some of the important Carolina history and now I know, in part, why the lobby section is gone......when City Fair was involved and going to go proceed with their plans for the theatre they needed to bring in some steel beams and in the process realized they couldn't get them inside so they removed the lobby section! I can't find the exact quote, but that comes close to what I read.

The exact quote from the Carolina Theatre Timeline (Oct 1988) is "City Fair opens but work is halted due to escalating cost. City Fair has already gutted the building removing almost all the decorative and ornate objects from the theatre. The stage area is rebuilt to accommodate the planned seating area for the restaurant. Carly Capital Co. who owns City Fair talks city into de-listing theatre from local historic register. The steel beams that were needed for the restaurant would not fit through the old lobby so it had to be torn down." Now this is truly unbelieveable and almost made me faint when I read it! In Sept 1982 the Carolina was placed on the local Historic Register only to be "de-listed" in 1988 so it was on the list for a short 6 years!

Ross: I would like to see the complete Carolina Theatre information included at the top of this page rather than the word 'unknown' as most or all of the background information is included in several posts particularly the ones from KenRoe and Charlie C.

This theater is listed as being closed in 1978 and in 1980 the building burned down.

The Carolina did not burn down. The lobby area doesn't exist, but the reason isn't due to fire. "Although the corner retail section of the property was demolished many years ago, the original entry facade is intact and the theatre itself, known as an "atmospheric theatre" is intact. The interior is reminiscent of the Spanish Renaissance style, with balconies and murals suggesting the illusion of an exotic, open-air Mediterranean garden patio." This quote is taken from the first Carolina Theatre Palace newsletter Volume 1, Issue 1 Feb. 2005. The Carolina Theatre Preservation Society (CTPS) founded in 1997 is a non-profit organization that has fought passionately for the preservation of the Carolina Theatre. An interesting fact is that the only premiere of "Gone With the Wind" was held at the Carolina in addition to the Atlanta premiere.

The Carolina theater was on fire? When did this happen? Why wasn't I told about it?
Seriously, everything that I have read about this theater either said that it burned down or was on fire in 1980. One reason this site is so great is that you are given a chance to correct false info about a theater. Thanks for setting the record straight Patsy.

Go to www.mtos.org to take a photo tour of the Carolina Theatre to read an interesting article by Michaele Ballard entitled "The Carolina Theatre Awaits Her Fate".

"Today the theatre is a shell of its former self. Its lobby and retail area were torn down in the ’80s after a fire that was confined to the stage; however, smoke spread throughout the theatre." This quote taken from the above website.

Another worthwhile article by Michaele Ballard entitled A New Show at the Carolina can be found at this website

Those are great links Patsy, thanks for posting them. There is alot of info there. One of those sites lists the architect as Charles Christian Hook and the seating capacity is given as 1,450. It pays to read everything!

Yes, the name Charles Christian Hook is a prominent name in Charlotte architectural history. Oneof his most beautiful buildings is a fire station on S. Laurel near downtown Charlotte.

Anyone reading this link should read some of the Carolina Theatre articles as this theatre needs to be restored! If you want more information, please contact Charles Clayton, President Carolina Theatre Preservation Society (CTPS) via email at cclayton@carolina.rr.com

BTW, does everyone like the new CT format? I'm not sure as I have to 'maximize' the link to read the messages, etc. though the print is larger for us older members!

There seems to be a few CT members who have contributed to this theatre link that perhaps live in the Charlotte area. If this is the case and you want to see this theatre restored, please contact Charlie Clayton at cclayton@carolina.rr.com or call him at 704-534-1729. There will be a meeting Monday, March 21st at 7:00 PM Doubletree Hotel/Gateway Village 895 Trade Street. If interested, you are more than welcome to join us and meet others who want to see the Carolina Theatre restored. This theatre can be the "Jewel" in Charlotte's crown. Thanks.

I can't tell you how I sympathize and fully support the carolina theater preservation society's mission. As a North Carolina native who now resides in NY I have seen many landmark and first run theaters close without any type of community support or protest. The fact is is that people in NY feel they're fighting a losing battle when they wage a war against these corporations to keep these theaters open. What they fail to realize is that they're losing a piece of americana when they let these theaters fall to closure, abandonment, and deterioration. I stand behind CTPS and vow to support them in whatever way I can to see this theater restored to it's grandeur in my home state of NC. Be it fundraising events, donations, or whatever charity starts at home and then spreads abroad.

keionm: What a lovely Sunday a.m. surprise to find your CT Carolina Theatre message. I hope that you will give Charlie Clayton a call at the above # and tell him of your support and interest in CTPS and our efforts. I also included his email address to contact him in the above March 11th. He would be happy to speak with you, give you the current update and any other general information. I have only been a member of CTPS since last winter. I find the folks involved to be dedicated, knowledgeable in their field(s) and ready to roll their sleeves up, as it were! I was going to send you a personal email, but see that that information is not provided by you on your profile page so therefore this CT post. My email is wrlenzo@aol.com so feel free to contact me and/or Charlie anytime as I would forward any emails to him. Thanks again for your CTPS interest. Last winter Charlie gave me a tour of the Carolina and it was a memorable visit in many ways!

BTW, I just posted the above message at 11:15 a.m. and it reads 8:15 a.m. so the CT clock isn't matching real time....don't believe I've had this situation occur since becoming a CT member.

keionm: Please mention my name when you contact Charlie. Thanks again for your interest in Charlotte's Carolina Theatre. If you want to learn much more about the theatre and its interesting history, go to www.mtos.org MTOS stands for Metrolina Theatre Organ Society.

This is a September 2, 1978 article about the closing of the Carolina Theater.

lostmemory: Thanks for posting the article with photos from 1978. The CTPS (Carolina Theatre Preservation Society is presently trying to save this historical theatre in downtown Charlotte.

The beautiful facade of the Carolina has recently been dismantled and stored inside the shuttered auditorium by order of the City of Charlotte. Liability concerns apparently lead to this action. The local paper keeps hinting at a pending condo development on the site that would incorporate the theater and provide some amount of TIF money towards the restoration of the auditorium. No formal announcement has been released yet - nor have any renderings, budget or reuse strategy been disclosed. Meanwhile the local Arts & Science Council seems to have dropped any reuse of the Carolina off its radar but they continue with plans to build a new mid sized performance theater a few blocks away.

Mark in NC: Thanks for this update as I'm a member of CTPS and since I'm not in the Charlotte area at the moment and haven't been since April I haven't been able to keep track of the latest developments. I know a fund raiser was being planned for November 5th at PCC with a production of Love Letters. Please keep CT members posted on any upcoming Carolina Theatre news. Thanks.

"Meanwhile the local Arts & Science Council seems to have dropped any reuse of the Carolina off its radar but they continue with plans to build a new mid sized performance theater a few blocks away." This is disturbing news as I can't imagine why any council would want to take the historical Carolina Theatre off their radar and put their sights on building a new theatre a few blocks away? The Carolina Theatre is the cities rich and colorful past and should be preserved for future generations, imo.

GREAT NEWS! I just attended the Charlotte City Council meeting. The sale of the theatre to the Atlanta based development company for $1 million dollars was approved at tonight's meeting. This will allow CTPS (Carolina Theatre Preservation Society) to begin their work towards restoration of the Carolina. Updates will be given here as progress is made.

Well it looks as if there has been a final decision made as to the fate of our beloved theatre. Links are provided below with more information.

August 26th 2005 - 22-story tower proposed
http://losangeles.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2005/08/29/story1.html

January 10th 2006 - Historic Theatres Given New Life
http://www.news14charlotte.com/content/headlines/?SecID=41&ArID=110761

Kari: Thanks so much for these links. I would appreciate it if you would contact me via my email at wrlenzo@aol.com at your convenience in regards to the Carolina Theatre. I'm a member of CTPS (Carolina Theatre Preservation Society)with Charlie Clayton, President. He has worked for 10 years to see what was decided upon through the council vote at the recent City Council meeting and we are all very appreciative of their decision and of Charlie's time and dedication to Saving the Carolina!

Kari: I just printed out the links you posted and found it interesting to read and see the video that also mentioned the restoration of the old Paramount Theatre in Concord on Union Street. We have a good friend who lives on Union so the next time we visit him we shall check out the Paramount location!

Does anyone know of a theatre in the Charlotte area that was called the Starlight?

http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=7081

Might the Starlight be this one found on www.cinematour.com?

Does anyone know anything about our theatre being haunted? I stumbled on to a book at the library "Ghost Stories of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County" by Stephanie Burt Williams. The author has conducted interviews with some of the care takers and staff who witnessed paranormal activity while working in the theatre. Other than Charlie the janitor I don’t know of anyone else dieing in the theatre.

Kari: I have referred your comment/question to CTPS President, Charlie Clayton.

Kari: I've been doing a little research and if you go to the Barnes and Noble bookstore site and type in the author, Stephanie Burt Williams or the book title you will read about the Manor Theatre. Perhaps you have confused the Manor with the Carolina as it's the Manor that is mentioned and not the Carolina.

Ghost Stories of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County: Remnants of the Past in a New South

FROM THE PUBLISHER
The bustling metropolis of Charlotte, the second largest banking center in the country, is constantly growing and changing. Yet there are spirits from the past that refuse to give way to modern growth, or to be forgotten. The ghost of a Confederate officer, complete with his wooden leg, still appears at historic Cedar Grove. A long-dead fireman continues to hang around his old station, and even changes clothes there. At the venerable Manor Theater, the spirit of a former manager often materializes late at night; he sometimes helps with the sweeping. A deceased bootlegger still tries to produce alcohol for his customers. And one small Charlotte house is so haunted that a former resident describes the interior as "liquid black," which absorbs even light.
Despite the Queen City's long and rich history, until now there has been no published collection of ghost stories from the region. These 19 tales gathered by Stephanie Burt Williams, and enhanced by her superb photographs, were worth the wait.

Author Bio: Stephanie Burt Williams admits she is a rarity in her city of newcomers-she's a fourth-generation Charlottean. A professor of Southern Literature at Belmont Abbey College, Williams's interest in Charlotte's past has led her to serve as a docent for Rosedale Plantation, which dates from 1815, and to write a series of historical articles for Lake Norman Times.

Patsy,
Both theaters are in the book.

What is mentioned in the book about the Carolina and any ghost(s)?

From time to time I read the Lake Norman Times and will try to contact Ms. Williams.

There are supposedly three entities in the building, an old lady, a disgruntled musician and a former male employee. The old lady has appeared several times to different people. She is said to be wearing period clothing from the late 20's early 30's.
The disgruntled musician hangs out around the orchestra pit and the stage. He was not very happy when the pit was closed up and he lost his job. Several crew members have reported creepy vibes and the general feeling of unwelcome when in this area. Some people have clamed to have been choked by unseen hands.
The former employee is said to be a white male in his 40s wearing a white oxford shirt and black pants. He frequents the projection room and the balcony. He also has been heard sweeping the hall behind the projection room and one individual even felt his shoes being swept over by an invisible broom. This entity is more personable and his presence is welcomed. He took great pride in working for the theatre.

Your ghostly post is most interesting though I'm still confused as to what theatre these entities 'reside'....Carolina or Manor? If by chance, your recent post relates to the Manor, there is a Manor CT link where the old lady, the disgruntled musician and the former male employee can appear.

Well, it's been a month since I last posted on this site so thought it was time to let everyone know that tonight was the annual CTPS (Carolina Theatre Preservation Society) meeting. It was well attended and if you are interested in seeing the Carolina restored consider joining this group to preserve Charlotte's theatrical history.

Well, it's a month since I last posted here and thought it was time since CTPS (Carolina Theatre Preservation Society) had their annual meeting tonight. It was well attended and if you have interest in preserving an important part of Charlotte's theatrical history, consider joining our group as there are several fundraisers being planned and among them is a function to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the theatre! For more information contact Charlie Clayton @ cclayton@carolina.rr.com

Kari: You need to think about becoming an active member of CTPS since I see that the only theatre that is listed on your profile page is the CAROLINA! Come join us!

Thanks Kari and Patsy for the great info. I want to go take pictures of this theatre. I have a book in the works on haunted place like you mention.

Onas: I really don't know about the Carolina being haunted, but it is need of a complete restoration and if you are in the Charlotte area and are interested in helping CTPS with their restoration efforts, please contact them!

On Monday, April 10, 2006 the Charlotte City Council approved the contract to sell the Carolina Theatre to the Atlanta developer Camden Management Partners. They will buy the theater from the city for $1 million which is about $1.5 million below fair market value. Camden will get annual grants from the city and county for arts programs at the theater that will equal 90% of the local property taxes generated by the new condos to be develop in front of and above the theater. The grants could total up to $4.5 million which would help reopen the long shuttered theater.

Mark in NC: Thanks for the update and please consider joining the CTPS group especially now!

I've just been informed that the Carolina Theatre was designed by architects, Graven and Mayger, but it isn't listed on the CT Graven and Mayger CT link.

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 Today”.

I just went to the architect CT list and under R.E. Hall there is only one theatre listed under his name....Florida Theatre in Jacksonville FL. So there should be 2 theatres listed under his name now.

tntim: Are the drawings and pictures in "American Theatres of Today" of the Carolina Theatre? I found the book on a used book website and the price was around $200. It seems there was a Volume I and II.

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 film "The Story of Ruth" (1960) had its world premiere at the Carolina Theatre. That evening South Tryon Street was awash in klege lights and glamour as one of the films stars, Peggy Wood, made a personal appearence. Miss Wood is also known for her role as the "Mother Abbess" in "The Sound of Music". Miss Wood made her entance that evening cruising down South Tryon Street perched on the back of a brand new 1960 Chevrolet Impala convertible (provided by City Chevrolet). Pics of the event are avaliable on micro-film at the main library. Not sure of the exact date.

Can anybody lend information on Clarence Etters (former organ player at the theater) and/or Jane Bartlett (possible violinist at the theater)? Both were members of the first group of WBT Briarhoppers and we are writing a book on them. Heck, if you have info on Johnny McAllister, Thorpe Westerfield, Bill Davis, or others, let me know. You can email me at tomwarlick@hotmail.com Thanks

There seems to be alot of CT chatter about NC theatres, in general over the past few days so thought I'd check this link out, but nothing since Sept. 24th. If anyone knows anything in regards to the plans to restore this one, please post as locals aren't telling me much!

Briarhopper: Best wishes in your efforts to write a book on Clarene Etters and Jane Bartlett. BTW, what were (or are) the WBT Briarhoppers?

I don't know if this was posted before but this website has some information and photos.

Thanks again as I've visited this historical site though don't recall seeing the aerial view with storefronts and how that entire area looked with the still standing brick theatre behind though what is seen next to the street is gone except for the theatre facade that has been saved and numbered, to my understanding. Unfortunately, the marquee has been gone for a long time.

Added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1988

Carolina Theater (added 1988 - Building - #86001637)
Also known as Old Carolina Theater
224--232 N. Tryon St., Charlotte
Historic Significance: Person, Event, Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Et al., Hall,Robert E.
Architectural Style: Tudor Revival, Classical Revival, Other
Historic Person: Hook,Charles Christian
Significant Year: 1927, 1926
Area of Significance: Architecture, Social History, Entertainment/Recreation
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Vacant/Not In Use, Work In Progress

"Work In Progress" is an interesting choice of words as
"Vacant/Not In Use" is certainly accurate.

On February 10, 1956 Elvis did four shows at Charlotte's Carolina Theater on N. Tryon.........2:30 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Later that year, on June 26,he returned to Charlotte and did an 8:30 p.m. show at the old Charlotte Coliseum on Independence Blvd.

It's been well over a year since the condo project at the Carolina was announced and nothing has happened yet. I'm afraid this project is not going to happen and the Carolina will be lost. The next door neighbor, The Mint Museum of Craft + Design in the old Montaldo's department store, is vacating their space in 2009 and I predict both buildings will come down for some bigger project. That's just my gut feeling but it wouldn't surprise me for someone to assemble these two properties to create a footprint for some taller tower. The effort to save the Carolina has been too fractured over the years and hasn't raised any money to speak of. I don't think the restoration project has been taken seriously for some time. It's a shame because a restored Carolina is just what Charlotte needs. I just don't see enough local support to make this a reality though.

Yes, it's a shame because a restored Carollina is just what Charlotte needs!

Thanks for your recent Carolina Theatre post which I have cut and pasted to someone in the Charlotte area who has been involved with the idea of restoring this theatre for 20 years! This person has seen personality conflicts, ETC. that has kept this theatre from being restored!

IN THE 1960'S I RENTED ONE OF THE "STORES" SHOWN ON THE ARCHITECT RENDERINGS FOR THE THEATER.

I OPENED CHARLOTTE'S FIRST "HEAD SHOP" ON THE SITE FACING EIGHTH STREET, AND WAS ALSO A RADIO PERSONALITY.

I REMEMBER SNEAKING IN THE SIDE DOOR AND WATCHING "2001" DOZENS OF TIMES. I COULDN'T GET ENOUGH OF THE MOVIE!

I WALKED EVERY INCH OF THE OLD THEATER LATER WHEN I SOLD AD TIME FOR RADIO, AND WORKED WITH KERMIT HIGH AND RON HINES WO MANAGED THE THEATER. BACK STAGE WAS A DELIGHT. I FOUND LOTS OF DANCE SHOES AND THINGS USED FOR LIVE SHOWS AT THE THEATER. DUST COVERED EVERYTHING.

CCW

The Charlotte Observer reported on new plan with additional developers to once again attempt to save the Carolina. A new 20 story condo tower is planned for the vacant lot in front of the theater. The disassembled facade would be incorporated into the tower along with a new lobby. The tower would have three floors of office space and up to 20 condo units with prices starting at $1.7 million and going up to $5 million. A management company has been named to operate the Carolina and TIF money from the condos would go to operations too. The non profit preservation society still needs to raise millions for the restoration. I hope this effort works. The fundraising might prove difficult though with a for profit company running the theater. More info is at www.encorecharlotte.com

On October 16th from 6-8 at 6th and Tryon in Charlotte NC there will be a party put on by Encore to review their residental plan with tours of the Carolina Theatre along with cocktails and appetizers. For more information on this event please contact cbannigan@carolina.rr.com

Mark in NC: At one time were you ever involved with the Carolina Theatre Preservation Society? I won't be able to attend the Encore party event, but hope you do and post here afterwards. If you wish to contact me via email, the address is wrlenzo@aol.com

http://www.cmhpf.org/surveys&rcarolinatheater.htm

This site shows some wonderful b/w photos of the interior and exterior as they once were along with interesting historical information.

In the online Encore sales brochure it shows how the Carolina Theatre marquee would look which is very similar to the original design, imo.

Go to our new website: www.carolinatheatre.us The facade will be the original facade put back together that is now being stored in the theatre.

charlie c: Thanks for the website...very nice. Hope to see you this winter.

It has been over a year since the latest project to save the Carolina was announced and unfortunately nothing has been started. I suspect this project will be a victim of the troubled economy and that the Carolina will be lost.

November will mark the 30 year anniversary of the theater closing. This project has had so many potential renovation/ restoration plans dashed over the last 3 decades that I just don't see anything coming to its rescue.

Mark: This is difficult to read and I hope that somehow the Carolina Theatre has a future in Charlotte, but with the troubled economy one can only wonder what will happen to the Carolina.

The only World Premier movie event I have uncovered at the Carolina was on June 15, 1960 for the mostly forgotten film 'The Story of Ruth'.

The local media reported that the developer hoping to incorporate the Carolina into a high end condo project would still like to complete the new tower. They have pre-sold 7 of the 20 condos so far and hope to renew sales efforts after their previous development a few blocks away is sold out. They do not expect to break ground this year. Meanwhile I have not heard of any money raised by the group challenged with funding the actual theater restoration. I suppose it's possible the condo project could move forward while the theater portion is delayed. If the economy improves quickly this project might get back on track but a continued downturn could put it in jeopardy.

Here is a larger version of the circa 1928 photo linked to previously on this page.

Here is some background on the architect Charles Christian Hook.

1981 photo of the Carolina Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c33%2c3%2c-1&ProductID=31282

The local media has reported that the city council is again extending the time frame for the developer to purchase the Carolina. The hope is that the economy can recover enough to support this development and construction could begin by 2011.

Mark: I had been wondering about the status of the Carolina and then read your July 1 post. Thank you, but the key words are "the economy" so hopefully it will recover enough to support construction in 2011.

Thanks Chuck for the 1981 photo as I had never seen that one. Now on that corner there is nothing except the brick building that housed the auditorium.