The Gay Street Cinema was a converted store front theater that seated 150. It opened in 1969 and closed in 1975 after a suspicious fire that was said to be started by a fire bomb. This is the first theatre in Knoxville to show “Deep Throat” in late 1972.
The street numbers on Broadway were changed in the late 40’s The correct address with today’s street numbers would be 5228 N. Broadway St. Knoxville, TN 37918.
The street address for the Capitol Theater should be 1628 Winchester Avenue. The postcard clearly shows the theater in the 1600 block of Winchester, not the 1100 block.
The building that housed the Capitol is still standing. It has been altered for use as a Christian Life Center.
The correct address for the Alfon Theater should be 1549 Winchester Ave. The picture that I posted in the Photo section shows the theater on the north side of the old Third National Bank, which was located on the NE corner of Winchester and 16th St.
This link is to the December 22, 1928 issue of the “Exhibitors Herald and Picture World” that has pictures and an article about the Plaza Theater. View Link
This link is to the October 27, 1928 issue of the “Exhibitors Herald and Picture World” that has pictures and an article about the Geneva Theater. View Link
This link is to the May 12, 1928 issue of the “Exhibitors Herald and Picture World” that has pictures and an article about the Des Plaines Theater. View Link
If you have not seen this episode of the Blueprint NYC series devoted to the Loew’s Wonder Theaters that was aired on April 7th, here is a direct link. It really is worth watching. Link
The photo may have been taken earlier than the 20’s. The large poster at the Rex has Kay-Bee on it. According to IMDB, Kay-Bee Productions only lasted until 1917.
I have failed to bring this up before, but technically the theater on this page should be listed as the Crystal with previous name Rialto.
The current Crystal page (#17232) should be listed as the Ritz with previous name Crystal. And the current Ritz (#20520) should be listed as the Booker T with previous names Sunset, Ritz, and Savoy.
I think my head is starting to hurt.
The old Rialto Theater moved around during its lifetime. The first Rialto was located at 313 N. Gay Street opening in 1927. The theater was then moved to 31 Market Square in 1929. In 1935 the Rialto moved down to 5 Market Square and the Crystal Theatre opened in the Rialto’s old location at 31 Market Square. In 1939 the Rialto moved one last time to 19 Market Square and remained in that location until it finally closed for good on March 1, 1946, the same day that its neighbor the Crystal Theatre also closed.
Joe, Booth Enterprises did open a Booth Theatre in Knoxville in September 1928. Link They evidently had trouble competing with Publix because there was a notice in the Sept. 12, 1929 addition of Motion Picture News that the equipment was sold in bankruptcy court for $6000.
The Gay Street Cinema was a converted store front theater that seated 150. It opened in 1969 and closed in 1975 after a suspicious fire that was said to be started by a fire bomb. This is the first theatre in Knoxville to show “Deep Throat” in late 1972.
According to this article in Billboard, daily stage shows were dropped in January 1948. The theater itself closed in 1959. Link
The street numbers on Broadway were changed in the late 40’s The correct address with today’s street numbers would be 5228 N. Broadway St. Knoxville, TN 37918.
Posted picture of the Terrace after it was twined in the photo section.
The street address for the Capitol Theater should be 1628 Winchester Avenue. The postcard clearly shows the theater in the 1600 block of Winchester, not the 1100 block.
The building that housed the Capitol is still standing. It has been altered for use as a Christian Life Center.
According to “Motion Picture World”, the opening date for the Orpheum was March 15, 1916.
The correct address for the Alfon Theater should be 1549 Winchester Ave. The picture that I posted in the Photo section shows the theater on the north side of the old Third National Bank, which was located on the NE corner of Winchester and 16th St.
I posted in the photo section a picture of the front of the theater when Elvis performed in 1956.
This link is to the December 22, 1928 issue of the “Exhibitors Herald and Picture World” that has pictures and an article about the Plaza Theater. View Link
This link is to the October 27, 1928 issue of the “Exhibitors Herald and Picture World” that has pictures of the Uptown Theater. View Link
This link is to the October 27, 1928 issue of the “Exhibitors Herald and Picture World” that has pictures and an article about the Geneva Theater. View Link
This link is to the May 12, 1928 issue of the “Exhibitors Herald and Picture World” that has pictures and an article about the Des Plaines Theater. View Link
This link is to the May 12, 1928 issue of the “Exhibitors Herald and Picture World” that has pictures of the Loew’s Yonkers Theater. View Link
This link is to the June 9, 1928 1ssue of the Exhibitors Herald and Picture World that reviews the National Theater. Link
If you have not seen this episode of the Blueprint NYC series devoted to the Loew’s Wonder Theaters that was aired on April 7th, here is a direct link. It really is worth watching. Link
This is the Tennessee Theatre in KNOXVILLE!!
The photo may have been taken earlier than the 20’s. The large poster at the Rex has Kay-Bee on it. According to IMDB, Kay-Bee Productions only lasted until 1917.
A small blurb in The Film Daily on June 25, 1937 lists the Majestic as “dismantled” along with the Palace in Greenville, TN.
I have failed to bring this up before, but technically the theater on this page should be listed as the Crystal with previous name Rialto.
The current Crystal page (#17232) should be listed as the Ritz with previous name Crystal. And the current Ritz (#20520) should be listed as the Booker T with previous names Sunset, Ritz, and Savoy. I think my head is starting to hurt.
A 1927 photo of the Rialto at its original location on Gay Street is on the photo page.
The old Rialto Theater moved around during its lifetime. The first Rialto was located at 313 N. Gay Street opening in 1927. The theater was then moved to 31 Market Square in 1929. In 1935 the Rialto moved down to 5 Market Square and the Crystal Theatre opened in the Rialto’s old location at 31 Market Square. In 1939 the Rialto moved one last time to 19 Market Square and remained in that location until it finally closed for good on March 1, 1946, the same day that its neighbor the Crystal Theatre also closed.
Update with pictures on the Arlee Theater can be seen here: Link
Joe, Booth Enterprises did open a Booth Theatre in Knoxville in September 1928. Link They evidently had trouble competing with Publix because there was a notice in the Sept. 12, 1929 addition of Motion Picture News that the equipment was sold in bankruptcy court for $6000.
The Millertown 10 opened on Dec. 17, 1993.
Here is an update on the renovation of the Rex Theatre by the Harvest Church. Link