Idlewild Theatre

1819 Madison Avenue,
Memphis, TN 38104

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GaryB
GaryB on July 24, 2011 at 12:29 pm

Just to explain the name in the 1960’s.

The performing company got it’s start as a semi-pro company and performed in the basement of the “King Cotton Hotel” on Front Street in Memphis, when it went outgrew the confines there, a new location was needed, first the Memphian was considered, would have been a wonderful choice, but the deal fell thru, and since a midtown location was prefered, the deal with the Idlewild was made, and they brought their name with them.

As performing theater it could seat 401.

I spent many happy and sometime hard hours there when I was in High School, I learned so very much, maybe sometime I will share some of my times.

For now just wanted to explain the name and give a few facts.

Chuck1231
Chuck1231 on April 15, 2009 at 9:39 am

1983 photo of the Idlewild Theatre.
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JackCoursey
JackCoursey on March 16, 2006 at 4:21 pm

Here are a couple of photos from January 2006 of the Idlewild.

Backseater
Backseater on October 24, 2005 at 11:58 pm

This theater is on the South side of Madison Avenue just West of McLean. When I arrived in Memphis in 1963 it was operating as a live venue known as Front Street Theater, even though it was a long way from Front Street. The bar/lounge upstairs under the balcony was a local talking point. By the early 1970s it had gone to porn—and not even very high-class porn, at that—and was limping along. I lost track of it in the late 70s, but believe it was closed for a while. Glad to hear the building was saved, at least.