If you lived in Highland Heights, you very likely went to this theatre often. It was cheap, close, showed more movies/cartoons/serials/etc than you could digest. They had the best popcorn (real popcorn), nickel and dime candies. That poor lady who was the manager in the 50s had her hands full on Saturday afternoon with a house full of wandering kids and fights and sneaks who didn’t pay to get in. What a fun time to be alive that was. I will never forget those simple, innocent days of my youth.
Vincent— My book is called CAPTURING THE REEL WORLD. It is not available except from me yet. I had a book signing at Davis Kidd (Laurelwood Booksellers) and did well but I am not much of a self-promoter. Maybe we could exchange books. I work at MHI and I know you are involved there as well. I’ll leave a copy with June for you.Charlie Lambert
PS My favorite movie from Bristol days was THEM! scared me out of my wits.
Vincent, you are the expert and I defer to you. Did you ever attend the old Bristol? My childhood would not have been the same without it. Attended your presentation at MHI. I have a book published last year about old Memphis memorabilia, including references to old theatres. One whold chapter is devoted to saturday Afternoons at the Bristol.
I spent many a happy hour at the Strand from 1949 hrough its closing in th 1960s. It was a pie saped auditorium with the biggest wedge toward the rear. The lobby was very small and red velvet curtains separated the lobby from the theatre. They showed a lot of “B' pictures and things lke MY FRIEND IRMA premiered in Memphis at that venue (Paramount, 1949). I recall it came up in status durng the 1950s and it was the theatre were such films as 1959s THE BEST OF
EVERYTHING(20th) with an all-star cast (Joan Crawford, Hope Lange, Brian Aherne, Stephen Boyd, Suzy Parker) played for several months. In the 30s they used to have door prizes and give away small appliances and dishes between shows. It was certainly not one of the grand venues like the Orpheum or the 2 Loews properties but it held its own for many years.
If Memphis had a Movie Club, the Evergreen would be a great venue. In many cities I have lived in, a club would meet on Sunday morning for coffee, snacks, and a movie followed by discussion and choosing upcoming films to be screened. Wish we could do that here.
I do not want to say anyone is wrong but the Bristol Theatre building is still standing. It is now a scooter shop. You can pick it out in middle of the block on Summer Avenue due to its height above the other buildings. I went there almost every saturday from 1950 to 1957. Fondest memories are seeing all 15-episodes of the serial JUNGLE RAIDERS and watching the lady/manager trying to control the kids on Saturday afternoons. It must have been like herding cats.10 cents to get in. Those were wonderful days.
If you lived in Highland Heights, you very likely went to this theatre often. It was cheap, close, showed more movies/cartoons/serials/etc than you could digest. They had the best popcorn (real popcorn), nickel and dime candies. That poor lady who was the manager in the 50s had her hands full on Saturday afternoon with a house full of wandering kids and fights and sneaks who didn’t pay to get in. What a fun time to be alive that was. I will never forget those simple, innocent days of my youth.
Vincent— My book is called CAPTURING THE REEL WORLD. It is not available except from me yet. I had a book signing at Davis Kidd (Laurelwood Booksellers) and did well but I am not much of a self-promoter. Maybe we could exchange books. I work at MHI and I know you are involved there as well. I’ll leave a copy with June for you.Charlie Lambert
PS My favorite movie from Bristol days was THEM! scared me out of my wits.
Vincent, you are the expert and I defer to you. Did you ever attend the old Bristol? My childhood would not have been the same without it. Attended your presentation at MHI. I have a book published last year about old Memphis memorabilia, including references to old theatres. One whold chapter is devoted to saturday Afternoons at the Bristol.
I spent many a happy hour at the Strand from 1949 hrough its closing in th 1960s. It was a pie saped auditorium with the biggest wedge toward the rear. The lobby was very small and red velvet curtains separated the lobby from the theatre. They showed a lot of “B' pictures and things lke MY FRIEND IRMA premiered in Memphis at that venue (Paramount, 1949). I recall it came up in status durng the 1950s and it was the theatre were such films as 1959s THE BEST OF EVERYTHING(20th) with an all-star cast (Joan Crawford, Hope Lange, Brian Aherne, Stephen Boyd, Suzy Parker) played for several months. In the 30s they used to have door prizes and give away small appliances and dishes between shows. It was certainly not one of the grand venues like the Orpheum or the 2 Loews properties but it held its own for many years.
If Memphis had a Movie Club, the Evergreen would be a great venue. In many cities I have lived in, a club would meet on Sunday morning for coffee, snacks, and a movie followed by discussion and choosing upcoming films to be screened. Wish we could do that here.
I do not want to say anyone is wrong but the Bristol Theatre building is still standing. It is now a scooter shop. You can pick it out in middle of the block on Summer Avenue due to its height above the other buildings. I went there almost every saturday from 1950 to 1957. Fondest memories are seeing all 15-episodes of the serial JUNGLE RAIDERS and watching the lady/manager trying to control the kids on Saturday afternoons. It must have been like herding cats.10 cents to get in. Those were wonderful days.