Kingston 4

This was a midnight movie destination for years in the late 70’s-early 80’s, including at least one year, if not two years of consecutive Rocky Horror Picture Show runs.

I performed projection & sound equipment service here for several years. I remember receiving a call about a fire in one the auditoriums where they had been running “Rocky Horror Picture Show” for over a year. Several rows of seating toward the front of the room were burned, ceiling tiles above burned out,and screen melted. Smoke damage in projection room but all was restored and reopened. Don’t remember the outcome of the investigation.

@KingBiscuits = dat true, lol! I was stuck with that as one of my holiday flicks that Christmas. It was quickly dumped in the 200-seater!

This theatre was built and operated by Consolidated Theatres of Charlotte NC. This was the same design as the Cinema North and Cinema South in Nashville, and the Valley Cinemas in Salem VA. I worked for Consolidated in Nashville, and competed with sales at this theatre. Carmike bought most of Consolidated’s screens in 1989, and this was one of them.

@ Mike: Wow! The footprint is still there, that’s amazing!

I have fond memories of this theater. I remember seeing “Beetlejuice” here on my 16th birthday. I saw “Ishtar” here with my Mom the night that a huge storm blew through Knoxville and did a lot of damage to signs all along Kingston Pike. The storm was so bad people were leaving during the film to keep an eye on the situation through the lobby’s huge plate-glass windows.

Both films I just mentioned were shown in the big main auditorium whose footprint is on the right. How do I remember this sutff??