A new photo of the Majestic has been added. It shows the Majestic Theater’s complete “Majestic” sign. From the 1926 version “The Art of Memphis” in the collection of Hugh McVeigh. Used with permission.
The first Palace Theatre was actually owned and managed by Jack Amick, who was perhaps the first real “showman-manager” of Memphis. The Palace Theatre at 135 N. Main, premiered in 1907. It opened as a moving picture house, but later Jack added vaudeville acts with seven performances daily – 30 minutes each – three in the afternoon and four in the evening. This innovation met with immediate success and the Palace drew crowds each day. Jack had been an actor and after forming the Amick Vaudeville Exchange, he created a circuit of theaters in the South and operated theaters in Meridian, Hattiesburg, Biloxi, Mobile, Pensacola, New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport. The performers he hired spoke of him as being one of the best managers in the business. In 1908 Jack Amick also became the first manager of The Lyric Theater in Memphis. Jack never completely gave up performing and later moved to Chicago and New York where he continued managing theaters as well as performing. As an actor-manager, Jack Amick was one of the first to take advantage of major advertising – not only for his theaters, but for himself. A true showman! A photo of Jack Amick has been posted.
The Opening Night Souvenir Book is 40 pages. According to the inaugural program, the first film shown at the New Orpheum in 1928 was “The Outcast” with Corinne Griffith. Also featured in this souvenir book are excellent photos of all the theatres on the Keith-Albee-Orpheum circuit. Here’s the link to the souvenir book.
The cover of a 28 page Orpheum Theatre Program, dated January 5, 1914 has been posted. The program does verify that the Orpheum had begun showing “first run Motion Pictures” along with the Vaudeville acts.
A 1909 Plan View of the Jefferson auditorium has been posted. The plan view includes the orchestra, balcony, gallery, dressing rooms, prop rooms, offices, stairs, toilets, and exits. It’s from a Jefferson Theatre Program dated March 1909.
This might actually be the 4th SAVOY. This one is listed in the Memphis Directories from 1939-1958.
There was a SAVOY at 121 S. Main listed from 1910-1915. There was a SAVOY at 49 Main in 1920-1921. (This was previously a MAJESTIC Theatre from 1912-1919). There was a SAVOY listed at 1320 S. Lauderdale in 1928. (This is the address of the ROYAL Theatre.
A new photo of the Majestic has been added. It shows the Majestic Theater’s complete “Majestic” sign. From the 1926 version “The Art of Memphis” in the collection of Hugh McVeigh. Used with permission.
New Interior photos of Loew’s Palace have now been posted.
Another view of the Alamo Theatre has been posted.
The first Palace Theatre was actually owned and managed by Jack Amick, who was perhaps the first real “showman-manager” of Memphis. The Palace Theatre at 135 N. Main, premiered in 1907. It opened as a moving picture house, but later Jack added vaudeville acts with seven performances daily – 30 minutes each – three in the afternoon and four in the evening. This innovation met with immediate success and the Palace drew crowds each day. Jack had been an actor and after forming the Amick Vaudeville Exchange, he created a circuit of theaters in the South and operated theaters in Meridian, Hattiesburg, Biloxi, Mobile, Pensacola, New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport. The performers he hired spoke of him as being one of the best managers in the business. In 1908 Jack Amick also became the first manager of The Lyric Theater in Memphis. Jack never completely gave up performing and later moved to Chicago and New York where he continued managing theaters as well as performing. As an actor-manager, Jack Amick was one of the first to take advantage of major advertising – not only for his theaters, but for himself. A true showman! A photo of Jack Amick has been posted.
There is an excellent 1928 illustration of The Orpheum on the Historic-Memphis.com website’s Theatre page. Here’s a link to the page.
There is an excellent 1928 photo of the Palace on the Historic-Memphis.com website’s Theatre page. Here’s a link to the page.
There is an excellent 1928 photo of the Keith’s on the Historic-Memphis.com website’s Theatre page. Here’s a link to the page.
There is an excellent 1928 photo of the Orpheum on the Historic-Memphis.com website’s Theatre Page. Here’s a link to the page.
There’s a great 1928 photo of the Riverside on the Historic-Memphis.com website’s Theatre page. Here’s a link to the page.
There’s a great 1928 photo of the Seattle Orpheum on the Historic-Memphis.com website’s Theatre page. Here’s a link to the page.
There’s an excellent 1928 photo of The Palace on the Historic-Memphis.com website’s Theatre page. Here’s a link to the page.
There is an excellent 1928 photo of the Fox-Orpheum Theatre on the Historic-Memphis.com wesite’s Theatre page. Here’s a link to the page.
There is an excellent 1928 photo of The Palace Theatre on the Historic-Memphis.com Theatre’s page. Here’s a link to the page.
A 1928 photo of the National Theatre appears on the Historic-Memphis.com website’s Theatre page. Here’s a link to the page.
An excellent 1928 photo of the New Orleans Orpheum appears on the Historic-Memphis.com website theatre page. Here’s a link to the page.
A 1928 photo of a very different San Francisco Orpheum Theatre appears on the historic-memphis.com website. Here’s a link to the page.
The Opening Night Souvenir Book is 40 pages. According to the inaugural program, the first film shown at the New Orpheum in 1928 was “The Outcast” with Corinne Griffith. Also featured in this souvenir book are excellent photos of all the theatres on the Keith-Albee-Orpheum circuit. Here’s the link to the souvenir book.
The cover of a 28 page Orpheum Theatre Program, dated January 5, 1914 has been posted. The program does verify that the Orpheum had begun showing “first run Motion Pictures” along with the Vaudeville acts.
A 1909 Plan View of the Jefferson auditorium has been posted. The plan view includes the orchestra, balcony, gallery, dressing rooms, prop rooms, offices, stairs, toilets, and exits. It’s from a Jefferson Theatre Program dated March 1909.
Thanks NightHawk1.
You’re absolutely right-on about the inset photo being Marcus Loew.
This might actually be the 4th SAVOY. This one is listed in the Memphis Directories from 1939-1958.
There was a SAVOY at 121 S. Main listed from 1910-1915. There was a SAVOY at 49 Main in 1920-1921. (This was previously a MAJESTIC Theatre from 1912-1919). There was a SAVOY listed at 1320 S. Lauderdale in 1928. (This is the address of the ROYAL Theatre.
New directory research shows that THE BEAUTY THEATRE was listed at this location (98 N. Main) from 1915 to 1928.