Strand Theatre
2 E. Washington Avenue,
Athens,
TN
37303
2 E. Washington Avenue,
Athens,
TN
37303
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The historical marker at the Strand Theatre says that it occupies the site of the Foree Hotel, which burned in 1925. Manning & Wink bought the site that year, so the Strand Theater the chain had been operating in 1916 must have been at a different location. The new Strand probably opened in 1926, as it makes its first appearance in the FDY in the 1927 edition.
I posted a current photo of the side of the building in the photo section. it looks like it may have had a stage with a fly loft.
Just learned about this former theatre in Etowah. It’s a shame it still doesn’t exit. The b/w 1948 photo of its marquee and crowd of movie goers is a wonderful tribute photo to this theatre. Thanks Joe!
Here is a 1948 photo of the Strand.
The September 9, 1916, issue of The Moving Picture World had an item about a Strand Theatre in Athens, but I’m not sure it was the same house:
The Strand building in the various photos looks a bit too modern to have been operating in 1916, though it might have been remodeled again later, of course.I’ve found the Strand mentioned in Boxoffice Magazine as early as the July 6, 1940, issue. At that time it was being operated by the Manning & Wink circuit.
The most recent Boxoffice mention of the Strand I’ve found is in the January 31, 1972, issue, at which time it was still being operated by Martin.