Regal Downtown West Cinema 8
1640 Downtown West Boulevard,
Knoxville,
TN
37919
1640 Downtown West Boulevard,
Knoxville,
TN
37919
1 person
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Regal’s Cinema Art at Downtown West (which must certainly be a contender for longest theatre name) originally opened as AMC’s four-screen Downtown West Theatre. The original design was typical of the period, two screens on each side of a wide rectangular lobby and candy counter centered, offices and storage directly behind. It was expanded to eight screens by adding four small auditoria across the back of the facility. Regal bought the theatre during their early years and operated a policy of first run film. When Regal built the extravagant new West Town Mall 9 a couple of blocks away, they changed the policy on this hall to art films and smaller grossing first run fare. The name was changed – or rather expanded – to reflect the product shown here.
Admirably, Regal spent some money to clean up and redecorate the Downtown West lobby. While the auditoria are more or less unchanged (featureless curtains on the walls, regular sloped floors, recessed can lights in the black, lay-in tile ceilings) the lobby areas feature art by local artists and some interesting light fixtures.
There is neither a marquee on this building, nor a road sign. In fact, there is no name sign on the building. It only says “Regal” on the front. The front sidewalk is covered by a back-lit canvas awning.
Contributed by
Will Dunklin
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
A delightful boutique cinema! The venue staff is very affable, professional and diligent in keeping the place immaculate, inviting and comfortable. The original four auditoria are period pieces from the 1970s featuring large, wide screens. All of the auditoria feature excellent audio and video capabilities. Here andhere are 2009 photos of the Downtown West.
Thanks for the photos Jack.
my pleasure
Knoxville is lucky to have this excellent arthouse in operation.
thanks Jack. I have a couple of picture of the River Breeze once it was turned into a flea market.Screen facing I-40 gone.
I owe so much to this venue. And count myself extremely blessed that Knoxville had such an incredible art house.
Most of my “formative years” were spent here. I went every single day after school spanning from 1998 to 2004. Many days I skipped class, snuck off school grounds and attended an afternoon matinee.
I will never forget how many treasures I watched there.
Being John Malcovich, Mulholland Dr., La Vita E Bella, Magnolia, The Straight Story, Fight Club
Memento, Run Lola Run, O' Brother Where Art Thou, George Washington, Amores Perros
Blood Simple (re-release), In the Mood for Love, The Hours, Talk to Her, Spirited Away
Adaptation, Punch Drunk Love, Lost in Translation, 21 Grams, In America, Howl’s Moving Castle
Dogville, Closer, The Life Aquatic, Eternal Sunshine
I would not be who I am today if it weren’t for DTW.
I chuckle at the above. My formative years were spent often at this theater watching crap like Cannonball Run and The Wiz! LOL
Who remembers leaving this theater and easing across the street to TGI Fridays, Mr. Gatti’s or Swenson’s Ice Cream?
I can recall seeing Raiders of the Lost Ark here in 1981, when I was 5-years-old. It was the AMC four-screen at the time. I believe it became a Regal / eight-screen in 1989. I also worked at DTW from 1994-1998. Good times.
Unfortunately, the only ‘art’ house in Knoxville still doesn’t show films in 3D. I had to travel to Asheville to see Wim Wenders' beautiful “Pina” in 3D. Regal’s excuse was that it was “too expensive” to install 3D technology in this theater. That response from Regal, which has its world headquarters in this town.