During the days of segregation the theaters in Charlotte went to the extreme. The downtown theaters here didn’t have side entrances or upper balconies for blacks they just had completely separate theaters. The segregated theaters got a mix of race films and mainstream Hollywood movies but usually long after the film prints had played the ‘whites only’ theaters. One interesting programming note for the Grand was in 1955. The local premier for the Hollywood movie ‘Carmen Jones’ (which had an all black cast) took place on the same day in February at two theaters – an all white audience at the Carolina as well as an all black audience at the Grand.
The local media reported that the developer hoping to incorporate the Carolina into a high end condo project would still like to complete the new tower. They have pre-sold 7 of the 20 condos so far and hope to renew sales efforts after their previous development a few blocks away is sold out. They do not expect to break ground this year. Meanwhile I have not heard of any money raised by the group challenged with funding the actual theater restoration. I suppose it’s possible the condo project could move forward while the theater portion is delayed. If the economy improves quickly this project might get back on track but a continued downturn could put it in jeopardy.
This was a great 12 screen multiplex decorated in a wonderfully cheesy Egyptian motif. The outside was standard fake stucco but the inside was pretty interesting especially considering it was built in a time when most new theaters didn’t receive any ornamentation at all. A couple of the bigger theaters had what was billed as radius stadium seating which was simply curved rows but it made for great sight lines. Stadium seating is usually done with straight rows but the extra effort put into the radius effect here was a great touch. I was very sad to see this theater close after being open less than 5 years. I considered it the best new multiplex in the Charlotte area but I think the owners found it hard to complete with the big national chains that dominate movie going in Charlotte.
It has been over a year since the latest project to save the Carolina was announced and unfortunately nothing has been started. I suspect this project will be a victim of the troubled economy and that the Carolina will be lost.
November will mark the 30 year anniversary of the theater closing. This project has had so many potential renovation/ restoration plans dashed over the last 3 decades that I just don’t see anything coming to its rescue.
This theater has closed in the past week, one year after the Red Carpet chain tried to make a go of it. The mall that it’s located in is experiencing a steep decline and several of the anchor tenants are also closed.
This is probably my favorite movie theater anywhere. Always a great mix of art and classic films presented in one of the most charming small scale atmospheric theaters I’ve seen. I attend films here often and would be crushed if the Music Box were to ever go away.
I do usually find things that could be improved upon though. The beautiful light fixtures always have lots of burned out bulbs. The electric stars in the ceiling were down to about 5 until a recent relamping got most of them back in order. The cloud projection equipment is either gone or hasn’t worked in some time. The sound system isn’t always great but that’s probably due to the film prints rather than the house sound system. None the less, attending a film at the Music Box is always a treat and any theater architecture buff visiting Chicago should make a trip inside to enjoy a show.
Charlotte, NC has an OmniMax Dome theater that is also getting ready for a renovation in January ‘09. It has been a big attraction at Discovery Place Science Museum for years. Early on I saw every movie shown there and really enjoyed them. It always reminded me of an improved Cinerama process. The past few years they’ve added mainstream Hollywood movies to the mix as well. I think the distortion the dome gives to non OmniMax films makes them too distracting to enjoy though. The science documentaries fare better than the Hollywood movies but anything with people or buildings in the picture is very distorted when they are at the edges of the screen. I think the flat screen IMAX format is far superior for most movies.
The Charlotte Observer reported on new plan with additional developers to once again attempt to save the Carolina. A new 20 story condo tower is planned for the vacant lot in front of the theater. The disassembled facade would be incorporated into the tower along with a new lobby. The tower would have three floors of office space and up to 20 condo units with prices starting at $1.7 million and going up to $5 million. A management company has been named to operate the Carolina and TIF money from the condos would go to operations too. The non profit preservation society still needs to raise millions for the restoration. I hope this effort works. The fundraising might prove difficult though with a for profit company running the theater. More info is at www.encorecharlotte.com
It’s been well over a year since the condo project at the Carolina was announced and nothing has happened yet. I’m afraid this project is not going to happen and the Carolina will be lost. The next door neighbor, The Mint Museum of Craft + Design in the old Montaldo’s department store, is vacating their space in 2009 and I predict both buildings will come down for some bigger project. That’s just my gut feeling but it wouldn’t surprise me for someone to assemble these two properties to create a footprint for some taller tower. The effort to save the Carolina has been too fractured over the years and hasn’t raised any money to speak of. I don’t think the restoration project has been taken seriously for some time. It’s a shame because a restored Carolina is just what Charlotte needs. I just don’t see enough local support to make this a reality though.
After attending this theater it looks like they gutted the original auditorium and made 3 screens from that space. The other 4 screens and lobby are all new construction built adjacent to the old. Everything flows together pretty well though. The restaurant occupies the original lobby area only.
This theater is like a step back in time. It’s very modest inside but has a great small town vibe. It does have a small balcony with just 4 rows that you access from a very narrow and steep staircase.
The city has some great vintage photos of the the theater (interior and exterior) hanging in the former lobby of the building. One of the old projectors is also on display on the steps leading to the balcony.
This theater stood at the corner of Market and College. Although it has been demolished you can make out the outline of the balcony on the one remaining wall that touches the building that was next door.
Lumberton has a very large Native American population. When segregated theaters were still the norm this theater was segregated three ways. Downstairs was for Whites, and the balcony was split down the middle with a chain link fence with Blacks on one side and Native Americans on the other.
This was a great place to see a movie. In the 60’s & 70’s I visited the Rivoli during my families annual vacations and remember how big the place seemed. The theater is near the recently closed Pavilion – a local arcade/ dance hall that sits right on the ocean in the heart of Myrtle Beach.
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.
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.
This is a great theater that seems to be frozen in time. Inside and out everything seems original. I hope it can hang on as Kannapolis changes. Make a point to see a movie in this theater for an old time experience. I only wish the balcony was open for all shows. Usually it’s only open for larger crowds.
I have been attending movies at this theater for years and I’ve always enjoyed it. It started out in ‘64 as one big single screen auditorium. Years later another large auditorium was constructed along side the original making it a very nice twin. Later still the original auditorium was twinned into two narrow black boxes making it a triple. I always preferred to see movies in the remaining large auditorium with its 40’ screen rather than either of the two narrow halls. The construction of new stadium style multiplexes in the 90’s around town forced yet another remodeling. This time the footprint wasn’t enlarged but the original auditorium was carved up into 4 screens and the first addition was made into 2 screens. The resulting 6 screens are all nice. Two screens are very small but one screen still retains it’s 40' width although the seating area is only half as deep. All in all this remains a great place to see a movie in Charlotte. The lobby and exterior have remained basicly unchanged throughout all the renovations.
This appears to be the only atmospheric theater left in the Carolina’s. While not a full blown atmospheric it does have a large blue sky dome in the auditorium with electric stars and outdoor effects.
The programming remains true to its original art house intentions but attendance still seems sparse. The managment has added discounted matinee pricing which is a relief. Often times the programming mirrors the Manor Theater – the other long time art house in Charlotte – but with 5 screens the Ballantyne can offer a broader selection. I like the movie going experience at this theater but I don’t like its location way out in the suburbs. The ultra high end shops in this shopping center somehow seems at odds with the art house programming. I prefer a grittier setting for my alternative cinema.
The World Premier of the movie ‘The Vanishing American’ took place at the Imperial on September 21, 1925.
During the days of segregation the theaters in Charlotte went to the extreme. The downtown theaters here didn’t have side entrances or upper balconies for blacks they just had completely separate theaters. The segregated theaters got a mix of race films and mainstream Hollywood movies but usually long after the film prints had played the ‘whites only’ theaters. One interesting programming note for the Grand was in 1955. The local premier for the Hollywood movie ‘Carmen Jones’ (which had an all black cast) took place on the same day in February at two theaters – an all white audience at the Carolina as well as an all black audience at the Grand.
The local media reported that the developer hoping to incorporate the Carolina into a high end condo project would still like to complete the new tower. They have pre-sold 7 of the 20 condos so far and hope to renew sales efforts after their previous development a few blocks away is sold out. They do not expect to break ground this year. Meanwhile I have not heard of any money raised by the group challenged with funding the actual theater restoration. I suppose it’s possible the condo project could move forward while the theater portion is delayed. If the economy improves quickly this project might get back on track but a continued downturn could put it in jeopardy.
This was a great 12 screen multiplex decorated in a wonderfully cheesy Egyptian motif. The outside was standard fake stucco but the inside was pretty interesting especially considering it was built in a time when most new theaters didn’t receive any ornamentation at all. A couple of the bigger theaters had what was billed as radius stadium seating which was simply curved rows but it made for great sight lines. Stadium seating is usually done with straight rows but the extra effort put into the radius effect here was a great touch. I was very sad to see this theater close after being open less than 5 years. I considered it the best new multiplex in the Charlotte area but I think the owners found it hard to complete with the big national chains that dominate movie going in Charlotte.
The only World Premier movie event I have uncovered at the Carolina was on June 15, 1960 for the mostly forgotten film ‘The Story of Ruth’.
The local media reported that the Center will be demolished begining in January ‘09.
It has been over a year since the latest project to save the Carolina was announced and unfortunately nothing has been started. I suspect this project will be a victim of the troubled economy and that the Carolina will be lost.
November will mark the 30 year anniversary of the theater closing. This project has had so many potential renovation/ restoration plans dashed over the last 3 decades that I just don’t see anything coming to its rescue.
This theater has closed in the past week, one year after the Red Carpet chain tried to make a go of it. The mall that it’s located in is experiencing a steep decline and several of the anchor tenants are also closed.
This is probably my favorite movie theater anywhere. Always a great mix of art and classic films presented in one of the most charming small scale atmospheric theaters I’ve seen. I attend films here often and would be crushed if the Music Box were to ever go away.
I do usually find things that could be improved upon though. The beautiful light fixtures always have lots of burned out bulbs. The electric stars in the ceiling were down to about 5 until a recent relamping got most of them back in order. The cloud projection equipment is either gone or hasn’t worked in some time. The sound system isn’t always great but that’s probably due to the film prints rather than the house sound system. None the less, attending a film at the Music Box is always a treat and any theater architecture buff visiting Chicago should make a trip inside to enjoy a show.
Charlotte, NC has an OmniMax Dome theater that is also getting ready for a renovation in January ‘09. It has been a big attraction at Discovery Place Science Museum for years. Early on I saw every movie shown there and really enjoyed them. It always reminded me of an improved Cinerama process. The past few years they’ve added mainstream Hollywood movies to the mix as well. I think the distortion the dome gives to non OmniMax films makes them too distracting to enjoy though. The science documentaries fare better than the Hollywood movies but anything with people or buildings in the picture is very distorted when they are at the edges of the screen. I think the flat screen IMAX format is far superior for most movies.
The Charlotte Observer reported on new plan with additional developers to once again attempt to save the Carolina. A new 20 story condo tower is planned for the vacant lot in front of the theater. The disassembled facade would be incorporated into the tower along with a new lobby. The tower would have three floors of office space and up to 20 condo units with prices starting at $1.7 million and going up to $5 million. A management company has been named to operate the Carolina and TIF money from the condos would go to operations too. The non profit preservation society still needs to raise millions for the restoration. I hope this effort works. The fundraising might prove difficult though with a for profit company running the theater. More info is at www.encorecharlotte.com
It’s been well over a year since the condo project at the Carolina was announced and nothing has happened yet. I’m afraid this project is not going to happen and the Carolina will be lost. The next door neighbor, The Mint Museum of Craft + Design in the old Montaldo’s department store, is vacating their space in 2009 and I predict both buildings will come down for some bigger project. That’s just my gut feeling but it wouldn’t surprise me for someone to assemble these two properties to create a footprint for some taller tower. The effort to save the Carolina has been too fractured over the years and hasn’t raised any money to speak of. I don’t think the restoration project has been taken seriously for some time. It’s a shame because a restored Carolina is just what Charlotte needs. I just don’t see enough local support to make this a reality though.
After attending this theater it looks like they gutted the original auditorium and made 3 screens from that space. The other 4 screens and lobby are all new construction built adjacent to the old. Everything flows together pretty well though. The restaurant occupies the original lobby area only.
This theater is like a step back in time. It’s very modest inside but has a great small town vibe. It does have a small balcony with just 4 rows that you access from a very narrow and steep staircase.
The Paramount was know as the Majestic in its early years.
The city has some great vintage photos of the the theater (interior and exterior) hanging in the former lobby of the building. One of the old projectors is also on display on the steps leading to the balcony.
This theater stood at the corner of Market and College. Although it has been demolished you can make out the outline of the balcony on the one remaining wall that touches the building that was next door.
Lumberton has a very large Native American population. When segregated theaters were still the norm this theater was segregated three ways. Downstairs was for Whites, and the balcony was split down the middle with a chain link fence with Blacks on one side and Native Americans on the other.
This was a great place to see a movie. In the 60’s & 70’s I visited the Rivoli during my families annual vacations and remember how big the place seemed. The theater is near the recently closed Pavilion – a local arcade/ dance hall that sits right on the ocean in the heart of Myrtle Beach.
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.
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.
This is a great theater that seems to be frozen in time. Inside and out everything seems original. I hope it can hang on as Kannapolis changes. Make a point to see a movie in this theater for an old time experience. I only wish the balcony was open for all shows. Usually it’s only open for larger crowds.
I have been attending movies at this theater for years and I’ve always enjoyed it. It started out in ‘64 as one big single screen auditorium. Years later another large auditorium was constructed along side the original making it a very nice twin. Later still the original auditorium was twinned into two narrow black boxes making it a triple. I always preferred to see movies in the remaining large auditorium with its 40’ screen rather than either of the two narrow halls. The construction of new stadium style multiplexes in the 90’s around town forced yet another remodeling. This time the footprint wasn’t enlarged but the original auditorium was carved up into 4 screens and the first addition was made into 2 screens. The resulting 6 screens are all nice. Two screens are very small but one screen still retains it’s 40' width although the seating area is only half as deep. All in all this remains a great place to see a movie in Charlotte. The lobby and exterior have remained basicly unchanged throughout all the renovations.
This appears to be the only atmospheric theater left in the Carolina’s. While not a full blown atmospheric it does have a large blue sky dome in the auditorium with electric stars and outdoor effects.
The programming remains true to its original art house intentions but attendance still seems sparse. The managment has added discounted matinee pricing which is a relief. Often times the programming mirrors the Manor Theater – the other long time art house in Charlotte – but with 5 screens the Ballantyne can offer a broader selection. I like the movie going experience at this theater but I don’t like its location way out in the suburbs. The ultra high end shops in this shopping center somehow seems at odds with the art house programming. I prefer a grittier setting for my alternative cinema.