Tennessee Theatre

604 S. Gay Street,
Knoxville, TN 37902

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Showing 1 - 25 of 119 comments

RobynLovesHistory
RobynLovesHistory on March 31, 2024 at 3:54 pm

Original 1928 Graven And Mayger Photographic Prints Of The Tennessee Theater Photographed By Thompson Company Photographers.

https://www.urbanremainschicago.com/original-1928-graven-and-mayger-photographic-prints-of-the-tennessee-theater-photographed-by-thompson-company-photographers.html

tntim
tntim on August 28, 2022 at 3:45 pm

Fotomac, The movie playing on July 15, 1977 was “Smokey and the Bandit”.

Fotomac
Fotomac on February 17, 2021 at 9:11 pm

Can anyone remember what the feature was for the week of 15 July, when Star Wars came to town, if it was still open by then?

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on August 30, 2020 at 10:26 pm

Inside of Knoxville link with photos of the June 2016 removal and August 2016 replacement of the Tennessee blade sign.

https://insideofknoxville.com/2016/09/the-historic-tennessee-theatre-relights-its-marquee-and-signature-blade-sign/

rivest266
rivest266 on September 3, 2018 at 12:09 pm

September 30th, 1928 grand opening ad posted.

Trolleyguy
Trolleyguy on July 13, 2016 at 10:04 am

Functions should include: Movies (classic)

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on April 30, 2015 at 5:25 pm

An obscure 1934 artist depiction added featuring each of the downtown Knoxville movie theatres! Image and copy courtesy of the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound Facebook page.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on April 30, 2015 at 5:15 pm

1929 photo courtesy of the P.C. Dixon Collection and 1931 photo added courtesy of the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound Facebook page.

Patsy
Patsy on September 8, 2012 at 3:16 pm

This restored theatre is a must-see when in Knoxville! Hope to revisit this winter!

tntim
tntim on April 25, 2011 at 11:39 pm

Here it is from the front.
View link

tntim
tntim on April 25, 2011 at 11:38 pm

Will,
The lattice showed up in the second round of photos that Jim Thompson shot in 1929
Don Pedro and his band only lasted until spring of 1929. Paramount discovered that the public accepted the shorts with sound instead of live acts. So there was no need to pay for a live band. My guess is they put up the lattice fence to hide the empty orchestra pit.

Will Dunklin
Will Dunklin on April 6, 2011 at 10:30 am

Tim
In the photo “Auditorium 1929” what’s with the trellis-like railing at the orchestra pit? Never noticed that before.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on April 3, 2011 at 10:58 pm

thanks Guys. i have one of the booth,somewhere!

tntim
tntim on July 31, 2010 at 10:19 pm

Here are some vintage pictures of the Tennessee.
Exterior Feb.1929:
View link
Lobby Aug. 1929:
View link
Auditorium 1929:
View link

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on February 3, 2010 at 9:54 pm

Sept.18 1967 NOW SHOWING Sandy Dennis in “ UP THE DOWN STAIRCASE”

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on November 4, 2009 at 6:12 pm

yeah,I never knew what cue mark was until i worked in a theatre and i wasn’t even in the booth.I don’t think the public even notices them. I guess since no one hardy makes a change over who needs them today. I am going to Nashville right now.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on November 4, 2009 at 5:50 pm

Hey Mike I have tried to show my wife cue marks on old movies on T.V. I will point them out but she never sees them. Check out the Tennessee Theatre in Nashville site if you havent already.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on October 3, 2009 at 1:03 pm

I Saw in the Knoxville paper a write-up on the Tennessee Theatre. Saw those 35mm projectors. WOW, YOU GUYS must use real projectionists that know a cue mark from a splice!

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on September 26, 2009 at 7:43 pm

NOW PLAYING AT THE TENNESSEE THEATRE SUNDAY SEPT,24 1967 ROBERT REDFORD AND JANE FONDA IN BARE FOOT IN THE PARK, WITH A WOODY WOODPECKER CARTOON TICKETS WENT ON SALE AT 1;20 PM. LAST SHOW WAS AT 9;30. TWO FOR THE ROAD WAS THE NEXT FEATURE TO PLAY AT THAT SHOWPALACE.

shoeshoe14
shoeshoe14 on February 10, 2009 at 11:00 pm

In today’s Arts Section of the New York Times, this theatre as well as the nearby Bijou were mentioned as part of the Big Ears Festival.

“Mr. Capps’s company, AC Entertainment, manages and operates the Bijou, a 700-seat theater downtown on Gay Street, opened in 1909 and recently renovated into one of the best-sounding rooms I’ve experienced in this country. It also runs the Tennessee, a 1,500-seat theater with lavish, Moorish-style interiors a few blocks away.”

Will Dunklin
Will Dunklin on February 10, 2009 at 9:36 am

I can just hear Bill playing “The Time Warp” on the Wurlitzer.

hseiber
hseiber on February 9, 2009 at 6:24 pm

Oh and to Will:
You must have missed Dr. Snyder dressed as a female character from Rocky Horror Picture Show when we showed the film this past October! No dinner jackets in sight!

hseiber
hseiber on February 9, 2009 at 6:22 pm

Patsy, I have worked at the Tennessee Theatre since November 2004, and I assure that since that time the organ has always been RED with gold trim. Perhaps when you saw it Dr. Snyder was playing? Sometimes when he does the Mighty Musical Monday concerts he does use lighting which may reflect a different color?