Princess Theatre
203 W. Main Street,
Morristown,
TN
37814
203 W. Main Street,
Morristown,
TN
37814
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Crescent Amusement Co., Martin Theatres
Styles: Art Deco
Nearby Theaters
Very beautiful theatre. The Princess Theatre was opened on October 18, 1915 with Mary Pickford in “Rags”. The Princess Theatre was closed on April 7, 1983 with C. Thomas Howell in “The Outsiders”. It was once part of the Martin Theatres chain. It was demolished in 1995.
Contributed by
Jack Coursey
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
Listed in Film Daily Yearbooks from at least 1941 thru 1950.
The Pricess may have had a Reproduco to accompany silent films. These piano/organ units were manufactured by the Operators Piano Company of Chicago, which also made coin-operated automatic pianos.
Thanks Ken Roe.
The Princess Theater is long gone, I’m afraid. It closed in the late 1970’s and was eventually torn down.
I don’t think the address of 202 W. Main Street is correct. As can be seen in the Google Street View, the buildings currently at 202-204 W. Main Street are old, obviously predating the demolition of the theater.
I think the Princess had to have been across the street, at 203 W. Main, where there is now a business called the Java Garden, situated in a small, modern building set back behind an open area.
This photo, taken during a 1963 flood, shows the darkened marquee of the Princess at right. It can be seen that it was on a corner lot, which 203 W. Main is. I can’t find any other locations along Main Street that match the situation of the Princess.
The photo is hard to read, but I think it’s advertising the movie The Great McGinty, which opened in 1940 – fits with Ken’s dates above. I also found the reference to a Reproduco organ installed here, which would have the theatre open in the silent movie era.
The new-build Princess Theatre launched October 18, 1915 with Mary Pickford in “Rags.” It was equipped with a Wurlitzer Photoplayer. The J.E. Burke Building housed both the theater and the Candy Kitchen that served as the de-facto concession stand. Over 1,000 people came to the opening film.
The caption of the photo showing the Princess Theatre in 1940, on page 34 of Morristown, by Larry Michael Hobby, says that the theater closed on April 7, 1983. The last movie shown was “The Outsiders.” The building was demolished in 1995.