Strand Theatre

225 Church Street,
Tiptonville, TN 38079

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kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on December 18, 2008 at 10:45 pm

According to the Masons, they moved out of the Strand in 2005:
http://www.harmonylodge184.org/

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on December 18, 2008 at 10:42 pm

The Strand was owned by G.W. Haynes in the late 1930s. A fire caused major damage in January 1938, but apparently the theater was rebuilt.

JackCoursey
JackCoursey on September 16, 2007 at 10:01 pm

Thanks for the update. It is now the Harmony Lodge #184 Free and Accepted Masons on Church Street in Tiptonville.

jacksonhearn
jacksonhearn on May 8, 2007 at 3:52 pm

The Strand closed in the mid 60’s. The last time I remember seeing a movie there was when I was in the first grade (c. 1965). We got out of school to see a double feature Disney film. I think it was The Nutty Professor with Fred McMurray and The Shaggy Dog. Both in black and white.

The Theatre was owned by Utra Burton, who also ran the Lake Drive Inn in Wynnburg, TN.

The Balcony was for blacks only. They entered the theatre via the fire escape on the side of the building, where their ticket window was. I always wanted to sit up there, and my Grandmother’s cook promised to take me, but never did before it closed.

The Masonic Lodge bought the building, leveled the theatre’s floor, and used it as their meeting hall.

One of the men who worked for my father said that Harry Houdini performed there early in his career, and had signed the wall backstage. Alas, that had been painted over (if it was true).