Visulite Theatre

1615 Elizabeth Avenue,
Charlotte, NC 28294

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Visulite Theaters

Functions: Concerts

Nearby Theaters

Visulite Theatre - 1960s

Located on Elizabeth Avenue near Kings College and Anderson’s diner, the Visulite Theatre was opened on February 10, 1938 with Sonja Henie in “One In A Million”. It had rear projection, with the projection box located behind the screen. All seating was on a single floor. It is now a great concert venue. Several years ago it was open full time as an international market.

Contributed by UA Girl

Recent comments (view all 22 comments)

Patsy
Patsy on June 14, 2006 at 7:21 pm

Already Taken: Plans to restore the facade of this theatre would be a wonderful start and certainly help the Elizabeth Ave. Project.

bennyfolse
bennyfolse on December 11, 2006 at 3:14 pm

I so remember this place in the early'70s. I saw several pictures there that were considered ‘art’ films, like ‘Harold and Maude’. ;–) We used to go there late nights and then hit the Krispy Kreme on Independence Blvd. There was a Earth Shoes store across the street!

ncmark
ncmark on December 23, 2006 at 10:27 am

I have many fond memories of movie going at the Visulite in the 70’s and early 80’s. It was Charlotte’s art house venue at the time and they showed great films. I saw my first subtitled movies here and learned to love alternative cinema. Luckily the Manor Theater has taken up some of the slack now that the Visulite is a music venue. The art house programming at the Manor sure is tame in comparison to the good old days of the Visulite though.

aarfeld
aarfeld on September 5, 2009 at 8:57 pm

There is also a Visulite Theater in Staunton, Virginia, as well (I think it’s around the same size) which also featured back-of-the-screen projection. It sat empty for a number of years and then, I believe it was a playhouse. After an extensive restoration it is once again a movie theater, though I don’t think the films are projected from behind the screen anymore as I don’t believe the equipment exists today to support that technology.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on September 28, 2010 at 7:50 pm

Charlotte had a bad habit of tearing down all her downtown theatres during the 80’s building boom.At least,Atlanta had enough sense to save a couple of downtown theatres. Charlotte was a film bookers city .You would have thought someone there would have saved the old theatres.

raysson
raysson on January 22, 2012 at 3:56 pm

George Lucas science-fiction blockbuster STAR WARS played here from July 21,1978 until September 1,1978 as many of its exclusive re-releases. I have the original ads for this too.

PatriciaCarol
PatriciaCarol on February 17, 2012 at 7:26 pm

This was always the cool place to go in the ‘70s. Saw “Tunnel Vision” there and also The Who’s “Tommy”. I always liked the area — there was a neat-little sandwich place across the street (People’s Food?) in an old two-story house with an Earth Shoes store above it.

Carmichael
Carmichael on February 19, 2012 at 9:59 am

When I lived in the Queen City from 1957-197, the Visulite was Charlotte’s elite art theater. Owned by Jay Schrader and his son, Bob, the Visulite played a riveting schedule of amazing films. A few highlights that I saw there included, The Horse’s Mouth (Alec Guiness), The Mouse that Roared (Peter Sellers), Goldfinger, A Man & A Woman, Cabaret, and many more. The Visulite is a gem of Charlotte’s cultural heritage. My father was in the movie business and we visited the Schrader’s home on many occasions.

rivest266
rivest266 on January 19, 2020 at 10:02 am

Did Trans-Lux had a share in this theatre? it had the “The Modern Theatre” slogan that Trans-Lux used in their NYC theatres.

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