Charles Theater

The theater, located at 1505 E. Broadway, is now the Southland Books & Cafe. We went there a little over a year ago, and they were having Drag Queen Bingo. The interior was under remodeling but had lots of traces of it being a theater. No idea what it looks like now inside, I was told that the marquee is gone.

The only mention of this theater in the Knoxville News-Sentinel, is an article on March 8,1952 where the owner was charged with running movies on Sunday. Another story on May 7, 1952 reporting that the owner, Charles H. (Buster) Bierley Jr. died, he was only in his 30’s. A Miss Maryville Contest was held at the theatre on June 14, 1955. I have posted in the photo section, the only ad found that ran May 26, 1953, along with a current picture of the building.