Highland Quartet
3473 Poplar Avenue,
Memphis,
TN
38111
3473 Poplar Avenue,
Memphis,
TN
38111
1 person
favorited this theater
The Quartet is a vintage 1970’s cinema reeling art and foreign films at discount prices. The four cinemas are of equal size with side isles affording a great view from any seat.
The Highland Quartet closed in around 2006.
Contributed by
JackCoursey
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
It appears that the Quartet has gone dark. Here are a few parting shots of the cinema.
The Quartet opened while I was in the AF, 1967-72. I went there pretty regularly while at SW for post-BS courses (make of that what you will…) 73-74 and later at MSU which was only a few blocks down Highland Street. The building also held a huge liquor store, a Mexican restaurant, a video arcade, some other small retail stores, and on the second level some offices. The theater had no marquee, just a few poster cases beside the doors.
I’d list some of the movies I saw there but that would be tedious. I do remember that when “Young Frankenstein” played in 1974 or 75, the auditorium was literally packed to the walls. Sorry to hear it’s closed.
The first movie I saw there was “Patton” with George C. Scott.
No longer listed on the Malco website
The Quartet’s floor plan was pretty conventional except for one small oddity. Of the conventional parts the lobby was long, narrow and two stories tall. The four auditoria were on the right as you entered. Important as it is in any theatre, I don’t remember the candy counter at all. At the very end of the lobby was a small pair of restrooms. Here’s the odd part: there was public stairway at the far end of the lobby. Turns out there were additional public restrooms on the upper level – up there with the projection booths. There were no balconies in the Quartet. Of course, in many old movie palaces the restrooms were down a level, but I don’t think I ever saw another theater where they were up a level.
Was there also a single screen Highland Cinema in Memphis?
People who remember the Hollywood Stars collage at the Ridgeway Four do not remember its predecessor which was the focal point of the Quartet. It was removed many years ago the first time Malco tried to retire the cinema (U of M students kept it open for a while).
My buddy Jeremy and I went to the last show at the Quartet. We saw “Munich.” The manager let us snag the poster. Got Cybill Shepherd’s autograph at the concession stand when she was in town promoting “The Last Picture Show.” Used my fake ID to get into dozens of R-rated movies back in the 70s including “Magnum Force” and “The Summer of 42.” Went to a Billy Graham matinee movie with the 9th grade of Grace St. Lukes. A number of us snuck into “Deliverance.” Since “Deliverance” started about 20 minutes after “A Time to Run” we took turns peeking out into the lobby to see if the other movie was over. I had the bad luck to stick my head out just as the principle Mr. Scoggins was standing there. He told me to get whoever else was in the theater and get on the bus. He never said a word about it too us, or told our parents. I always liked him for that. I have fond memories of seeing dozens and dzens of movies at the Quartet.
Responding to Chuck, yes there was a Highland Cinema. It was a later name for the Studio Theatre. It had many names—Newman, Normal, Studio, Movie House (on Highland), Highland Cinema. The proof of this is in a photo at American Classic Images dating from the 1980s. It is now the concert hall for Newby’s bar next door. It still exists but isn’t lovely. It never was elaborate in my recollection but it had an interesting 1960s “art house” lobby when it was the Studio.
Thanks Vastor for the info.