Queens Park 6

The Queen Park has been recently demolished. This theater was in terrible shape before it closed. It does have the distinction of being the original home of the Charlotte Film Society. That organization first rented a screen here for a monthly art fim series in the 80’s. The organization was formed in response to the Visulite Theater closing which left Charlotte without an art house cinema. The Film Society quickly moved to the Manor Theater where it stayed in residence for more than 20 years. The society is currently on hiatus though.

I worked there for a couple years beginning in the early fall of ‘83 at age 16, was an usher, concession, and even became a projectionist until I left to go into the military. It was only a couple years but at that age, it seemed like a big chunk of your life. I saw a lot of people come and go during that time. Back then, that was a big deal, six movies going at the same time. Everywhere else in town was two movies. It was of course, a second run theater and a $1 bill got you into any movie you wanted to see. That place really drew in the crowds and it could get a little wild, they even ran Midnight movies and we wouldn’t get out of there until well after 2 am, I can remember some very sleepy nights driving home. The projection booth was in the shape of a track, like a high school field/running track and it took a while to get from projector #1 back around to #6. It was kind of spooky being up there by yourself running those things, especially late at night. There were multiple stairways going up into the second level and a two-way mirror over-looking the concessions and the entrance doors on either side of the ticket booth. It was about the coolest job in the world for a teenager, and a big responsibility but once you got the hang of running and maintaining the projectors, and splicing the films together and taking them apart, it was a pretty easy job and I could wear pretty much whatever I wanted while everyone else down below had to dress in a dress shirt and slacks, and tie. I would also help count the money from the box office and concessions at the end of the night. Hard to believe that’s been 25 years ago now. I wanted some years ago to get access and take a tour of the place but I had thought it would make me sad. It would have been creepy going up into the second floor, it was always dark up there of course. Back then, everything was new and the place was state-of-the-art. Would have been sad going up there seeing it all covered in spider webs or whatever, I can only imagine. A lot of memories in that place. But, now its gone. It exists now, only in my memories.

thanks Ghost.pity you guys never took pictures.