Grand Theatre
336 Beale Street,
Memphis,
TN
38103
336 Beale Street,
Memphis,
TN
38103
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Built before 1920 the Venus Theatre was one of four significant theatres in the Beale Street area. The Daisy Theatre still stands on the south side of Beale Street and the other three faced it approximately on the north side of the same block.
The multi-story building housed the famous Beale Street Palace Theatre. The other two had several name changes, the larger one being the Venus Theatre and then the Grand Theatre. The photo posted is the parade in 1931 when Handy Park was dedicated. Three of the four theatres are visible.
The side by side theatres were demolished to make way for the New Daisy Theatre which opened after 1940. The photo of the parade was originally published in the Commercial Appeal and the current images are housed in the Memphis and Shelby County Room of the Memphis Public Library.
Contributed by
Vincent Astor
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
This webpage has photos and old advertisements as well comments on the history of the Grand/Venus/Metropolitan. It is a bit confusing as to which theater was named what and when.
Unusual how the smaller Metropolitan has the same roofline and tiles as the Daisy across the street.
The Metropolitan theatre on Beale will shortly be posted. One reason I’m posting it this way is to relieve the confusion on the other webpage. All the research is from the same sources but just not all stacked on one confusing page.
I appreciate your effort!
This image was used on the cover of an edition of Memphis Blues by W. C. Handy which commemorated the dedication of Handy Park on Beale in 1931.