Paris Adult Theatre
2434 Summer Avenue,
Memphis,
TN
38122
2434 Summer Avenue,
Memphis,
TN
38122
2 people
favorited this theater
Michael Cianciolo built the Luciann Theatre in 1939-1940, and his son Augustine ran the theatre. The Luciann is named after sisters Lucy Cianciolo and Ann Cianciolo Angelo. In 1958 it was closed and became a bowling alley.
Prior to the Luciann Theatre being built, in 1936 a Parkview Theatre was planned for the adjacent site, designed by architect R.B. Spencer for the Parkview Amuesment Co., but it was never built. The site became the parking lot for the Luciann Theatre. In later years a bank was built on that site.
In 1966, the Luciann Theatre became a nightclub named ‘The Party’, which was very popular with Memphis Sound artists and the public. The Luciann Theatre perhaps had the first lighted dance floor in the city.
In the early-1970’s it was sold to the Paris Adult Group, and for a number of years the concrete ‘Luciann’ name was covered by plywood. About one quarter of the auditorium was being used for adult films in 2011, with a few of the ‘venetian blind’ side lights still intact together with some architectural details. Therefore, technically, there is still one screen operating under the Paris Adult Group management.
The exterior is amazingly well preserved as opposed to many other former neighborhood theatres in Memphis. Another Cianciolo operation, the Rosemary Theatre, was named for the third daughter, Rosemary. It did not survive in the 1960’s.
Contributed by
Jack Coursey, Vincent Astor
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Recent comments (view all 15 comments)
Looks like several of us have been by there in 2006. Here’s a shot from October 18, 2006: Former Luciann Theatre in Memphis, Tennessee.
Here are a few more recent photos of the Luciann Theater. Click each photo to expand it.
A 2007 photo of the former Luciann Theater can be seen here.
Wasn’t this last known as the Paris Adult Entertainment Cetner, had viewing booths and also the big screen theatre.
1983 photo of the Luciann/Paris Theatre.
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I am the son of Augustine Cianciolo,he did not build the theatre my Grand father Michael Cianciolo built in in 1939-40,My dad ran it.The Luciann is named after my aunt Lucy Cianciolo and my aunt Ann Cianciolo Angelo.In the early 1960’s dan turnned it into a bowling alley ,not very suscessful so in about 1966 he turned it into a night club,Very popular with the Memphis Sound artests and very popular with the public.I believe that The Luciann had the first lighted dance floor in the city.In the early 70’s the neigaborhood changed and so did the busness so it was sold to the Paris Adult Group,we asked if the concret letters could be removed they said no.I have fond memories of that movie house when I was a kid dad would have my birthday party’s there we would have 4 hour showings of Tarzan movies and Flash Gordon movies.But alas the days are gone.There is something that my dad told me once he said that there was a time capusel in the east cornerstone of the building he did not say what was there but knowing my dad is is something special.Thanks Michael Augustine Cianciolo 3390 Central Ave Memphis Tn.38111
These are the correct links for the photos of the Luciann/Paris Theatre.
1983
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Another 1983 photo
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And anaother 1983 photo
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The June 2, 1958, issue of Boxoffice reported that Augustino Cianciolo had announced that the Luciann Theatre would be closed within the next 60 days and converted into a 16-lane bowling alley. Cianciolo also opened a new 20-lane bowling alley near his Plaza Theatre the same year.
Hello all,
I am doing a large-scale research project on adult theatres and would be very interested to hear from anything who either worked at or attended this theatre during its time showing adult films. If you would like to help me out, you can email me at .
Thanks!
New photo of Luciann marquee has been added.
I had a very dear friend who used to go to places like this, here in Los Angeles. He would tell me, in explicit detail, what went on in these “theaters.” They were semi-safe places for gay men to engage in unsafe sex. He said that they were filthy, they smelled horrible, and some of the people appeared to be high, drunk, or psychotic. What I remember most is when he told me that he saw a guy, completely naked and covered with KS scars, performing oral sex on one man and receiving anal sex from another man, at the same time, with no condoms.
One of the people posting below said that this theater was always busy. My friend said that the places he went to were sometimes full of people; the seats were full, people were having sex in the aisles, and the “back room” in back of the screen was full, also. It’s no wonder so many people died from AIDS. I’m a gay man, and there’s no “pride” in using theaters for dangerous behavior. In L.A., it still goes on, but there are only a few theaters left, thankfully.