Plaza Theater
3402 Poplar Avenue,
Memphis,
TN
38111
3402 Poplar Avenue,
Memphis,
TN
38111
4 people
favorited this theater
I am not sure of the complete name, but am certain it was once called Plaza Theater, which was located in Poplar Plaza shopping center at Poplar Avenue and Highland Street. I believe at one point it had a huge metal spire on top of the front of the building, which was later taken down and stored somewhere else in Memphis.
The theater was opened in 1953 and closed long ago, but during the early-1990’s Bookstar renovated and occupied the space, keeping the front entrance marquee.
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Recent comments (view all 36 comments)
Now Showing at GCC’s PLAZA I and II “IF EVER I SEE YOU AGAIN” rated PG. in CINEMA II you have “THE GREEK TYCOON” rated R which is also playing at GCC’s RALEIGH SPRINGS IN Memphis.
Cool shots of the 1952 Boxoffice Joe V.
Anyone know who has the original plans?
Bookstar is gone & the building is vacant. Here’s a photo from April 2011:
http://www.agilitynut.com/11/4/memth.jpg
I’d love to turn it back into a theatre, but a dinner theatre (supper club) and the cafe section of the old Bookstar could be the lounge!! All the retro stuff is still there, from what I hear, and there’s room for a stage. Look at the jobs we could create!!
Good news and bad news. The building is going to become a spa for Gould’s, a beauty parlor which has been at Poplar Plaza for many years. The bad news is that all the remaining decor has been gutted. Couldn’t see the restrooms but the curved lobby which Bookstar retained is gone. The interior was much handsomer after Bookstar moved in than it ever was before (it was pretty plain as were most neighborhood theatres) but all of that is also gone.
The 1952 Boxoffice Magazine item about the Plaza Theater cited in my earlier comment is now located at this link.
I was the Assistant Manager of the Plaza Cinema under Ken Goderre’s Manager-ship.About 1964-65.Used to lunch with Gus Cianciolo at Pete and Sam’s Any contacts out there? Photos or …
J Tom Miller
Arkansas.
Such a shame. My father worked across the street, and knew the manager of the Plaza Theater. There would be times when Elvis Presley rented out the whole theater so he could bring his people in to see a movie, and he’d ask the manager if he had some folks he trusted not to make a fuss, who could join them there. Dad saw a half dozen or so movies with Elvis that way.
Such a shame. My father worked across the street, and knew the manager of the Plaza Theater. There would be times when Elvis Presley rented out the whole theater so he could bring his people in to see a movie, and he’d ask the manager if he had some folks he trusted not to make a fuss, who could join them there. Dad saw a half dozen or so movies with Elvis that way.