Carolina Theatre
226 N. Tryon Street,
Charlotte,
NC
28202
226 N. Tryon Street,
Charlotte,
NC
28202
8 people
favorited this theater
Built in 1927, the Carolina Theatre is located in the heart of downtown Charlotte. Despite a successful multi-decade run, the theatre closed in the 1970’s and was torched by arsonists in 1980. Very little is left of the original interior, with its Spanish-Revival style murals, but the shell is viable and could be used to rebuild a new auditorium.
The city of Charlotte is still deciding whether to earmark $13.8 million for the restoration of the shuttered Carolina Theatre. Estimates are that the theater would need roughly $16 million to reopen as a performing arts and community center that would seat between 1,000 and 1,200 patrons.
Contributed by
Ross Melnick
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Recent comments (view all 120 comments)
Carmichael: Very nice post regarding your memories of the Carolina. I still hold out hope that someday the Carolina can be returned to the downtown area.
A glimmer of hope for the Carolina as reported in the Charlotte Observer. The Foundation for the Carolinas – a local non profit umbrella organization and the new next door neighbor of the Carolina -has asked the city to investigate possible reuses now that the developers option to purchase the theater has expired and will not be renewed.
www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/03/30/3137372/possible-rebirth-of…
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/03/30/3137372/possible-rebirth-of-uptowns-carolina.html#storylink=misearch
So nice to see “ncmark” post this information and link. I couldn’t bring up the link so found the complete link that all CT readers will find most interesting. I do hope that this Foundation can make a difference for this once remarkable theatre in downtown Charlotte! It is time for this theatre to be resurrected and brought into the uptown theatre district as a theatre destination among the other theatre venues.
GONE WITH THE WIND played at the Carolina Theater on January 29,1940 as a Reserved Seat Engagement. It was one of two theatres within the state that played it as a roadshow. The other was the Ambassador Theater in Raleigh.
A 40 foot wide CINEMASCOPE screen was installed in 1953 for the film’s showing of THE ROBE.
Patsy’s link
Thanks Chuck! Love the stage photo of when this theatre was in its heyday! If only…………….
HOW THE WEST WAS WON played here as a reserved seat engagement at the Carolina Theater on May 29,1963. It was a roadshow.
raysson: Keep us informed about future Foundation for the Carolinas news articles regarding the Carolina Theatre’s future in uptown Charlotte. Thanks.