The recent book ‘African American Theater Buildings’ -An Illustrated Historical Directory, 1900-1955 by Eric Ledell Smith (McFarland & Co 2003) lists;
Gem Theater, 102 E. Vine Avenue, Knoxville, TN a Vaudeville & picture house with 795 seats. Operated as a TOBA theatre, the manager in 1921 was M.C. Kennedy. References in Film Daily Yearbook’s 1931-1933 & 1940-1955, Motion picture Herald 24th April 1937, & 15th July 1939, Billboard August 6th 1921, Negro Yearbook 1921-1922 and others….
I have a copy of Film Daily Yearbook;1950 edition which lists the Gem Theater, 106 E. Vine Street with 795 seats. Earlier editions in 1941 & 1943 give a seating capacity of 800.
The Odeon Theatre opened on Monday 1st February 1937 with Roland Young in “The Man Who Could Work Miracles”.
When it was tripled, it re-opened on 20th August 1972 with “Carry On Matron” in Screen 1, “Cabaret” in Screen 2 and “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” in Screen 3.
I went inside the Rite Aid store and it uses all the former foyer space and could well extend a little into the rear orchestra area of the auditorium (but certainly not too far in). Unfortunately, the roller shutter was down on the stage end of the auditorium, as can be seen on the third photo, so I have no idea what that huge ‘hulk’ is being used for. Maybe storage?
One more photograph I took of the Oxford Theatre’s auditorium block, looking South from the Elevated platform of the 183rd Street Metro Station: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226573930/
Listed in the 1943 edition of Film Daily Yearbook as being operated by RKO Theaters. It has gone from listings by 1950. From February 1954 a C.O. was issued for use as a church.
Two photographs of Loew’s Burland Theatre I took in June 2005. I am not sure, but I believe the supermarket use has now closed and the foyer has been turned into a 24 hour laundry & cleaners, but this was also closed when I visited in the middle of the afternoon. Maybe it had yet to open? http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226244825/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226245563/
The recent book ‘African American Theater Buildings’ -An Illustrated Historical Directory, 1900-1955 by Eric Ledell Smith (McFarland & Co 2003) lists;
Gem Theater, 102 E. Vine Avenue, Knoxville, TN a Vaudeville & picture house with 795 seats. Operated as a TOBA theatre, the manager in 1921 was M.C. Kennedy. References in Film Daily Yearbook’s 1931-1933 & 1940-1955, Motion picture Herald 24th April 1937, & 15th July 1939, Billboard August 6th 1921, Negro Yearbook 1921-1922 and others….
I have a copy of Film Daily Yearbook;1950 edition which lists the Gem Theater, 106 E. Vine Street with 795 seats. Earlier editions in 1941 & 1943 give a seating capacity of 800.
The Odeon Theatre opened on Monday 1st February 1937 with Roland Young in “The Man Who Could Work Miracles”.
When it was tripled, it re-opened on 20th August 1972 with “Carry On Matron” in Screen 1, “Cabaret” in Screen 2 and “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” in Screen 3.
Listed in Film Daily Yearbook’s that I have from at least 1941 thru 1950 and beyond.
lilimouse….Many thanks for keeping us up-dated on this historic building.
Six photorgaphs of the Palace Theatre I took in June 2005:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/228541942/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/228542711/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/228543927/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/228546119/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/228546873/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/228547733/
The seating capacity for the Lyric Theatre in the 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook is given as 603.
A photographic tour around the exterior of the Montauk Theatre…..
Sadly the theatre had closed just a few days before my visit in June 2005:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/228362673/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/228363598/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/228364257/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/228365030/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/228365730/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/228366262/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/228367221/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/228368028/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/228368643/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/228369473/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/228370110/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/228371351/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/228372033/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/228373191/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/228373976/
Two photographs of the Tuxedo Theatre that I took in June 2005;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/227483442/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/227485033/
A 1986 photograph of the former Gaumont Cinema here:
View link
Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook;1950 edition with a seating capacity of 500.
I went inside the Rite Aid store and it uses all the former foyer space and could well extend a little into the rear orchestra area of the auditorium (but certainly not too far in). Unfortunately, the roller shutter was down on the stage end of the auditorium, as can be seen on the third photo, so I have no idea what that huge ‘hulk’ is being used for. Maybe storage?
Two photographs of the Kingsbridge Theatre that I took in June 2005 from the Elevated platform of the Metro at Kingsbridge Road Station:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226585773/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226586269/
One more photograph I took of the Oxford Theatre’s auditorium block, looking South from the Elevated platform of the 183rd Street Metro Station:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226573930/
Three photographs of the Oxford Theatre that I took in June 2005:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226554602/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226555027/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226555435/
Three photographs of the Burnside Theatre that I took in June 2005:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226531803/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226532395/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226533379/
Two Photographs of the Jerome Theatre I took in June 2005:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226507451/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226508132/
Thanks Warren…Well we all know that the F.D.Y. can be a little tardy and sloppy with its listings at times.
Three photographs of the Earl Theatre I took in June 2005;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226440319/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226440878/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226441477/
Listed in the 1943 edition of Film Daily Yearbook as being operated by RKO Theaters. It has gone from listings by 1950. From February 1954 a C.O. was issued for use as a church.
Here are four photographs of the Empire Theatre I took in June 2005:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226348242/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226349594/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226351259/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226352266/
Six photographs of the former Prospect Theatre that I took in June 2005:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226276891/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226277509/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226278151/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226278889/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226280422/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226281083/
Two photographs of Loew’s Burland Theatre I took in June 2005. I am not sure, but I believe the supermarket use has now closed and the foyer has been turned into a 24 hour laundry & cleaners, but this was also closed when I visited in the middle of the afternoon. Maybe it had yet to open?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226244825/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226245563/
Two photographs I took of the Melrose Theatre in June 2005:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226224030/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226224754/
Four photographs of the Bronx Theatre I took in June 2005:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226186895/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226187423/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226188287/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226188864/
Listed in Film Daily Yearbook’s in the 1940’s as having a seating capacity of 700 (650 in the 1950 edition).
Two photographs of the remains of the Metropolis Theatre I took in June 2005:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/225441324/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/225441808/