The original American stood approximately across the street from Circuit Playhouse (Memphian Theatre). Before the new Playhouse on the Square was built, a portion of the building on the site was higher than the rest. That has been verified as the former auditorium of the American, the oldest of the three structures (which was also said to have had its screen behind the box office like the Old Daisy). The building torn down to build the new Playhouse on the Square was three connected buildings with different street addresses. I didn’t remember one area was taller and oblong until I first saw a mention of the American Theatre at that address. When the building was removed it had been remodeled many, many times and no real trace of its former uses was apparent. The only thing you could tell is that it was pretty old and decrepit.
A theatre with this name is also listed in the 1929 City Directory at 51 S Cooper, the actual site of Circuit Playhouse (Memphian). The primary reason Playhouse on the Square is on Cinema Treasures is that it moved from the Memphian where it was previously listed. Playhouse also hosts part of the Indie Memphis Film Festival.
The building with the same address listed for the Cobb Theatre has been posted. Remnants of exits below ground level appear that it was either a twin or a tiny four-plex.
Got inside today, roof damage caused a lot of water leaks but the auditoriums look very much the same. The lobby is a shambles but the new mall management is looking to re-open the theatre after renovating. The original UA Southbrook 4 Theatre was expanded to 7 screens (really another tiny separate theatre using the same box office) and was last operated by Regal.
By comparing addresses I found a fourth theatre on Chelsea, at Fifth St. It was named the Chelsea and was operating in the teens (1914-1917) and was probably a storefront.
I am so sorry, I forgot to post the details of Bill’s gathering. A few friends from all over gathered at the former Guild Theatre on Monday, June 10. We watched his documentary “Return to the Ritz, or, Thrilled to the Guild” and all present enjoyed listening to his inimitable voice and delivery once again. The documentary was made in 1990. Several friends from far and wide donated to have a cenotaph placed in his memory at Elmwood Cemetery. It has been ordered but not yet placed. The event is no longer posted on Facebook but a photo of the marker will be posted after it is placed.
Row of buildings on North Main taken in 2013. The orange sign at the end is the building which housed the Majestic/Empire theatre. A building formerly on the vacant lot just out of frame once housed the Queen Theatre. No traces of either remain.
It appears that the commercial section of Fort Pickering, the town/suburb where the DeSoto was, has become industrial development and interstate highway. No trace of just about anything before the interstate construction.
I was finally out that way and took photos. The mall and grounds are beautifully kept though the former cinema is boarded up. The outside shots show the rear of the cinema section with its manicured bushes. The mall was struck by a tornado on February 5, 2008, which caused damage to the center court atrium and adjacent tenant spaces. The Sears store, the Macy’s store, and the mall’s main entrance were heavily damaged; temporary repairs made at record speed allowed Sears to reopen on Sunday, February 10, 2008. Later in 2008, World Overcomers Outreach Ministries Church began to progressively purchase the property, totaling $2.7M, including the empty Macy’s and Dillard’s stores. It is now a combination of retail and community services offices.
If you haven’t seen it already, the Memphis Orpheum is on both front and back covers of this quarter’s Marquee magazine from the Theatre Historical Society.
That is a very interesting photo of the Orpheum, have not seen that one before. Whatever is on the marquee has been carefully retouched out. Note Milton Slosser’s name on the reader board.
I am not surprised. Most of the “colored” movie theatres had some live entertainment and/or talent shows. I need to find that book since I have published a piece on “colored” balconies in this month’s Marquee magazine and have a book coming out with that included.
Also, it was the so-so business at the DeSoto and Kemmons' knack for the theatre business that led to the construction of the Airway, Summer Drive-In, and the W C Handy. Kemmons had a theatre serving each racial community within a few blocks of one another. The Airway on Lamar and the Handy on Park.
http://www.malco.com/olive/ This is a link to photos of the new Olive Branch Cinema on the Malco website.
Both of the drive-ins in this neighborhood now have photos and pages of their own.
The original American stood approximately across the street from Circuit Playhouse (Memphian Theatre). Before the new Playhouse on the Square was built, a portion of the building on the site was higher than the rest. That has been verified as the former auditorium of the American, the oldest of the three structures (which was also said to have had its screen behind the box office like the Old Daisy). The building torn down to build the new Playhouse on the Square was three connected buildings with different street addresses. I didn’t remember one area was taller and oblong until I first saw a mention of the American Theatre at that address. When the building was removed it had been remodeled many, many times and no real trace of its former uses was apparent. The only thing you could tell is that it was pretty old and decrepit. A theatre with this name is also listed in the 1929 City Directory at 51 S Cooper, the actual site of Circuit Playhouse (Memphian). The primary reason Playhouse on the Square is on Cinema Treasures is that it moved from the Memphian where it was previously listed. Playhouse also hosts part of the Indie Memphis Film Festival.
A link to a vintage photo. Scroll through the book. http://www.arcadiapublishing.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=VPROD&Product_Code=9780738542898
Here is the row where the former theatre building is. Will try for a better photo.
The building with the same address listed for the Cobb Theatre has been posted. Remnants of exits below ground level appear that it was either a twin or a tiny four-plex.
Got inside today, roof damage caused a lot of water leaks but the auditoriums look very much the same. The lobby is a shambles but the new mall management is looking to re-open the theatre after renovating. The original UA Southbrook 4 Theatre was expanded to 7 screens (really another tiny separate theatre using the same box office) and was last operated by Regal.
I have revised the history of both of these theatres after doing some cross-researching and unraveling.
New research shows the Bellevue open as early as 1951.
By comparing addresses I found a fourth theatre on Chelsea, at Fifth St. It was named the Chelsea and was operating in the teens (1914-1917) and was probably a storefront.
Opened in 1996.
I am so sorry, I forgot to post the details of Bill’s gathering. A few friends from all over gathered at the former Guild Theatre on Monday, June 10. We watched his documentary “Return to the Ritz, or, Thrilled to the Guild” and all present enjoyed listening to his inimitable voice and delivery once again. The documentary was made in 1990. Several friends from far and wide donated to have a cenotaph placed in his memory at Elmwood Cemetery. It has been ordered but not yet placed. The event is no longer posted on Facebook but a photo of the marker will be posted after it is placed.
The Queen’s actual address, 90 N Main, is the vacant lot just out of frame on the left.
Row of buildings on North Main taken in 2013. The orange sign at the end is the building which housed the Majestic/Empire theatre. A building formerly on the vacant lot just out of frame once housed the Queen Theatre. No traces of either remain.
When this was shown to me at the archives I heard the comment that it had burned.
A new photo of the entire front and vertical from 1961 has been posted. From the Fire Museum of Memphis, used with permission.
It appears that the commercial section of Fort Pickering, the town/suburb where the DeSoto was, has become industrial development and interstate highway. No trace of just about anything before the interstate construction.
I was finally out that way and took photos. The mall and grounds are beautifully kept though the former cinema is boarded up. The outside shots show the rear of the cinema section with its manicured bushes. The mall was struck by a tornado on February 5, 2008, which caused damage to the center court atrium and adjacent tenant spaces. The Sears store, the Macy’s store, and the mall’s main entrance were heavily damaged; temporary repairs made at record speed allowed Sears to reopen on Sunday, February 10, 2008. Later in 2008, World Overcomers Outreach Ministries Church began to progressively purchase the property, totaling $2.7M, including the empty Macy’s and Dillard’s stores. It is now a combination of retail and community services offices.
Jimmy Tashie at Malco commissioned this display and wanted it to resemble a hood ornament. It does.
A new night photo of the State has been posted.
If you haven’t seen it already, the Memphis Orpheum is on both front and back covers of this quarter’s Marquee magazine from the Theatre Historical Society.
That is a very interesting photo of the Orpheum, have not seen that one before. Whatever is on the marquee has been carefully retouched out. Note Milton Slosser’s name on the reader board.
The Stagedoor was a restaurant which was run by Malco for a short while. I have a matchbook from there. It was not open very long.
I am not surprised. Most of the “colored” movie theatres had some live entertainment and/or talent shows. I need to find that book since I have published a piece on “colored” balconies in this month’s Marquee magazine and have a book coming out with that included.
Also, it was the so-so business at the DeSoto and Kemmons' knack for the theatre business that led to the construction of the Airway, Summer Drive-In, and the W C Handy. Kemmons had a theatre serving each racial community within a few blocks of one another. The Airway on Lamar and the Handy on Park.