Carolina Theatre

226 N. Tryon Street,
Charlotte, NC 28202

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Showing 76 - 100 of 189 comments

raysson
raysson on November 16, 2012 at 7:52 am

“SOUTH PACIFIC” was a Reserved Seat Exclusive Engagement Showing at Charlotte’s Carolina Theatre on June 25,1959. It was the only showing of the film in the Carolinas. Other cities in the Carolinas wouldn’t get the film until Christmas of 1959.

Patsy
Patsy on October 15, 2012 at 4:56 pm

“Council member Patsy Kinsey believes the developer with the best renovation plan will get the council’s support. This includes taking the pieces of the old facade and putting them back in place.” Music to my ears!

Patsy
Patsy on October 15, 2012 at 4:47 pm

ncmark: Thank you for posting this recent Observer article! I have now sent a thank you email to the journalist, Mark Price for writing the story about this theatre gem in the heart of Charlotte NC!

ncmark
ncmark on October 15, 2012 at 3:45 pm

Charlotte Observer article about plans for the Carolina Theatre from 10-15-12. http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/10/15/3598083/city-council-sees-jewel-in-old.html

Patsy
Patsy on April 12, 2012 at 6:05 am

raysson: Keep us informed about future Foundation for the Carolinas news articles regarding the Carolina Theatre’s future in uptown Charlotte. Thanks.

raysson
raysson on April 11, 2012 at 3:20 pm

HOW THE WEST WAS WON played here as a reserved seat engagement at the Carolina Theater on May 29,1963. It was a roadshow.

Patsy
Patsy on April 7, 2012 at 6:29 am

Thanks Chuck! Love the stage photo of when this theatre was in its heyday! If only…………….

raysson
raysson on April 6, 2012 at 12:47 pm

A 40 foot wide CINEMASCOPE screen was installed in 1953 for the film’s showing of THE ROBE.

raysson
raysson on April 6, 2012 at 12:46 pm

GONE WITH THE WIND played at the Carolina Theater on January 29,1940 as a Reserved Seat Engagement. It was one of two theatres within the state that played it as a roadshow. The other was the Ambassador Theater in Raleigh.

Patsy
Patsy on April 6, 2012 at 5:59 am

So nice to see “ncmark” post this information and link. I couldn’t bring up the link so found the complete link that all CT readers will find most interesting. I do hope that this Foundation can make a difference for this once remarkable theatre in downtown Charlotte! It is time for this theatre to be resurrected and brought into the uptown theatre district as a theatre destination among the other theatre venues.

Patsy
Patsy on April 6, 2012 at 5:54 am

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/03/30/3137372/possible-rebirth-of-uptowns-carolina.html#storylink=misearch

ncmark
ncmark on April 5, 2012 at 5:01 pm

A glimmer of hope for the Carolina as reported in the Charlotte Observer. The Foundation for the Carolinas – a local non profit umbrella organization and the new next door neighbor of the Carolina -has asked the city to investigate possible reuses now that the developers option to purchase the theater has expired and will not be renewed.
www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/03/30/3137372/possible-rebirth-of…

Patsy
Patsy on February 19, 2012 at 10:10 am

Carmichael: Very nice post regarding your memories of the Carolina. I still hold out hope that someday the Carolina can be returned to the downtown area.

Carmichael
Carmichael on February 19, 2012 at 9:48 am

The Carolina was the most luxurious theater in prosperous downtown Charlotte, and its vandalism and disappearance are tragic. The theater featured sumptuous appointments from the golden age of moving pictures – the late 1920s. I saw many amazing films there, but the most memorable was 2001, a special treat for me as a recent college graduate following a dinner with my mother. My father had died one year before my graduation, and after my graduation ceremony at UNC-Charlotte, we went out to dinner and to the Carolina to see 2001: A Space Odyssey. She bought a fabulous brochure for the film that I treasure to this day as a memento of her encouragement to me to reach high for the planets and the stars.

raysson
raysson on January 22, 2012 at 3:53 pm

“LAWRENCE OF ARABIA” played at the Carolina Theatre as a Reserved Seat Engagement Presentation on September 25,1963. I have the original ads from the Charlotte Observer. Not only “LAWRENCE” played here as a Roadshow Presentation,but also “THE SOUND OF MUSIC”,and “2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY” played here before capacity crowds at the Carolina Theatre.

banjotom
banjotom on January 1, 2012 at 10:13 am

The WBT Briarhoppers continue to perform today in their 78th year. Go to www.wbtbriarhopppers.blogspot.com for their comings and goings! I am their bass player.

Susan Walker
Susan Walker on May 26, 2011 at 5:05 am

Patsy, I don’t know if you ever received an answer regarding the WBT Briarhoppers, but if not…they were a country quartet that performed regularly on WBT-AM radio dating back to at least the 1930s. If you go out Nations Ford Road headed south, the old WBT studios built in the ‘20s are still there – however, the building is fenced off.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on July 25, 2010 at 3:40 pm

Thanks Patricia Nc.I left you a post on SOUTH PARK CINEMAS.

PatriciaCarol
PatriciaCarol on July 25, 2010 at 1:47 pm

Found an old ticket stub from a young woman’s 1928-30 scrapbook:

View link

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on July 6, 2010 at 3:21 pm

Charlotte let several theatres fall to highrises and having an “Uptown” as they call it.

Patsy
Patsy on November 6, 2009 at 6:19 pm

Thanks Chuck for the 1981 photo as I had never seen that one. Now on that corner there is nothing except the brick building that housed the auditorium.

Patsy
Patsy on November 6, 2009 at 6:17 pm

Mark: I had been wondering about the status of the Carolina and then read your July 1 post. Thank you, but the key words are “the economy” so hopefully it will recover enough to support construction in 2011.

ncmark
ncmark on July 1, 2009 at 6:38 am

The local media has reported that the city council is again extending the time frame for the developer to purchase the Carolina. The hope is that the economy can recover enough to support this development and construction could begin by 2011.

ncmark
ncmark on November 28, 2008 at 6:29 am

The local media reported that the developer hoping to incorporate the Carolina into a high end condo project would still like to complete the new tower. They have pre-sold 7 of the 20 condos so far and hope to renew sales efforts after their previous development a few blocks away is sold out. They do not expect to break ground this year. Meanwhile I have not heard of any money raised by the group challenged with funding the actual theater restoration. I suppose it’s possible the condo project could move forward while the theater portion is delayed. If the economy improves quickly this project might get back on track but a continued downturn could put it in jeopardy.

ncmark
ncmark on November 23, 2008 at 8:14 am

The only World Premier movie event I have uncovered at the Carolina was on June 15, 1960 for the mostly forgotten film ‘The Story of Ruth’.