Walter Morris who owned the original Capri Cinema, (former Pike Theatre), used the money from the sale of the Lenox,(former Tower Theatre) to build the first Cinerama Theatre in Knoxville. The new theatre was built on the west side of the Capri. Morris leased the Capri Cinema to the Simpson Operating Company who also leased the Lenox from Morris until TDOT took the land for the reconfiguration of Broadway. Simpson would also lease and operate the new Capri-70. At that point, Simpson was operating the Capri Cinema, Capri-70, and the Riviera which was downtown.
The Capri-70 opened on November 23, 1967 and had 709 seats. It is a Stran-Steel structure that measured 80’ wide x 160’ long and is 48’ high at the eves. The auditorium was designed to meet the specification of Cinerama with the screen 35’ high and 72’ across the front of the theater—it was curved, and if you stood down in the center, it was 21 feet into the screen. The lenses were special ground by Bausch & Lomb in California, just for that particular theatre. It was just as sharp from one side to the other and had six-track stereophonic sound.
The theatre was twined in 1985 with one side seating 500 and the other side 178. At this time the name was changed to the Capri Cinema III & IV.
On July 1, 1987 United Artists leased the theatre from the Simpson Operating Company. It then became a Regal theatre in January 1991 after the Regal/ UA merger. The entire Capri complex closed on September 29, 1992 after Regal and Simpson were unable to negotiate a new lease.
As Joe mentioned, this complex is hard to place in a category. Both Capri’s were freestanding buildings built side by side. They were not like todays multiplex which are single structures with two or more auditoriums inside. To make it even more complex, Simpson dropped the “70” from the name in December 1978 and the whole complex became simply the Capri Cinema. In 1993, the original Capri Cinema was demolished except for the rear 25% which is used for storage and the Capri-70 was completely gutted inside to accommodate the new art gallery.
So I guess there will always be a little confusion here on CT as to which theatre is which. Sorry Mike, “The Taming of the Shrew” and “A Shot in the Dark” both played prior to Nov. 1967 and should be posted on the Capri I & II page. I have also posted a newspaper article in the photo section.
The Fox opened on July 18, 1969 and had 800 seats. The one thing that I remember about this theatre is the projection booth was only four steps above the back row of seats. They had a continual problem with people standing in the back row and playing shadow puppets in the projector’s light.
This theatre was opened on December 21, 1976 by ABC Southeastern Theatres. It had two auditoriums each seating 375. The first movies were “Nickelodeon” and “Great American Adventure”.
Ownership changed to Plitt, to Cineplex Odeon, and then to Carmike. After Carmike build the Commons Six Theatre less than half a mile away, they closed the Cedar Bluff Theatre on April 15, 1988.
The Halls Cinema originally opened April 21, 1983 with four screens. Three additional screens were added in May of 1989. The theatre is still in operation under independent ownership.
The shopping center that the theatre was in was developed in the mid 80’s. The Home Depot anchored the west side of the center and the East Towne 8 anchored the east end. Litchfield built the theatre which opened June 22, 1990. Shortly after the theatre opened, Regal Cinemas purchased the theatre from Litchfield.
When Regal bought out United Artists which operated the UA-7 located in the mall that was on the other side of the interstate, Regal switch the East Towne Crossing to a dollar theatre. After Regal enlarged the East Towne Mall theatre, they closed East Town Crossing on October 11, 2001. The building stood empty for several years before finally being torn down.
The Aug 6, 1937 issue of “The Film Daily” (pg 9), has a small article about Mrs. Fon Sexton who operates the Lyric in Ashland and the Grand in Ironton, buying the Stanly as a wedding present for her daughter.
In the Dec. 5, 1942 issue of “Showman’s Trade Review” there is mention a building permit had been obtained by Vine Properties Co. to rebuild the Gem Theatre which was heavily damaged by fire several months ago. Construction had already begun, and was expected to cost over $22,000.
In the Sept. 27, 1941 issue of “Showman’s Trade Review” there is mention that W.E. Drumbar and Walter Morris are building a 600 seat theatre in the Lonsdale section of the city. Drumbar has worked in Knoxville the past 24 years for Publix. Morris spent the last six years working for the Fox West Coast Circuit.
In the June 24, 1939 issue of “Showman’s Trade Review” there is mention of a contract being let to build a new 600 seat theatre at 1301 Western Ave. The owners were Denton Theatres which Mr. George L. Denton was president.
Yes Will, this was owned by a gentleman named Booth. He owned several theatres in Middle and East Tennessee. I have found some articles in the “Motion Picture News” archives about him filing for bankruptcy in late 1929. I will see if I can find them and post.
It was built by United Artist and opened when the mall did in July of 1984. At that time the name of the theatre was UA 7. When Regal Entertainment Group purchased the UA chain it became a Regal Cinema. In the mid 90’s Regal added 3 more screens and converted the original 7 auditoriums to stadium seating.
The world premiere of “A Walk in The Spring Rain” was held at the Capri-70 on April 9, 1970. I have posted pictures of the event in the photos section.
The first handprints were from Ingrid Bergman from the premiere of “A Walk in The Spring Rain” in April 1970. I have posted a picture of the event in the photos section. I have also posted additional photos on the Capri Cinema III & IV thread since technically that was the former Capri-70 before it was twined.
Thanks for the correction. I have always called that section Maynardville Hwy, but it doesn’t become “Highway” until it crosses the Knox/Union County line.
The Autism Center is in the building that used to house Rush’s Music Store. There was also another building next door that had a boating and marine store. The drive-in was behind these buildings with the marquee and entrance just north of the current Hardee’s. The Mini-Storage units are now located where the north side of the drive-in was.
If you look at the photos of this theatre in Charleston,http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/27447/photos , you are looking at the Westown Theatre. Both were Identical in appearance.
The building that once housed the Dawn Theatre was demolished this week along with adjacent buildings. No announcement has been made for the future of the property.
I have positioned streetview to the location of the main entrance on Callahan Road. The street sign/marquee was approximately where the Taco Bell sign is now, on Clinton Hwy at Callahan.
My dad helped with the installation of the projection equipment and brought me along for the ride. I was only twelve at the time, and wish now that I paid more attention and had taken some pictures. It’s funny how you think that something that is new will be around forever.
On Streetview, the Broadway Theatre was in the space between the alley and the building on the left. Broadway was renumbered sometime in the past, so the current address is 3411 North Broadway.
Walter Morris who owned the original Capri Cinema, (former Pike Theatre), used the money from the sale of the Lenox,(former Tower Theatre) to build the first Cinerama Theatre in Knoxville. The new theatre was built on the west side of the Capri. Morris leased the Capri Cinema to the Simpson Operating Company who also leased the Lenox from Morris until TDOT took the land for the reconfiguration of Broadway. Simpson would also lease and operate the new Capri-70. At that point, Simpson was operating the Capri Cinema, Capri-70, and the Riviera which was downtown.
The Capri-70 opened on November 23, 1967 and had 709 seats. It is a Stran-Steel structure that measured 80’ wide x 160’ long and is 48’ high at the eves. The auditorium was designed to meet the specification of Cinerama with the screen 35’ high and 72’ across the front of the theater—it was curved, and if you stood down in the center, it was 21 feet into the screen. The lenses were special ground by Bausch & Lomb in California, just for that particular theatre. It was just as sharp from one side to the other and had six-track stereophonic sound.
The theatre was twined in 1985 with one side seating 500 and the other side 178. At this time the name was changed to the Capri Cinema III & IV.
On July 1, 1987 United Artists leased the theatre from the Simpson Operating Company. It then became a Regal theatre in January 1991 after the Regal/ UA merger. The entire Capri complex closed on September 29, 1992 after Regal and Simpson were unable to negotiate a new lease.
As Joe mentioned, this complex is hard to place in a category. Both Capri’s were freestanding buildings built side by side. They were not like todays multiplex which are single structures with two or more auditoriums inside. To make it even more complex, Simpson dropped the “70” from the name in December 1978 and the whole complex became simply the Capri Cinema. In 1993, the original Capri Cinema was demolished except for the rear 25% which is used for storage and the Capri-70 was completely gutted inside to accommodate the new art gallery.
So I guess there will always be a little confusion here on CT as to which theatre is which. Sorry Mike, “The Taming of the Shrew” and “A Shot in the Dark” both played prior to Nov. 1967 and should be posted on the Capri I & II page. I have also posted a newspaper article in the photo section.
The Commons 6 opened on April 15, 1988 to replace the Cedar Bluff Twin. The Theatre closed on March 30, 2000 after being replaced by the Windsong 16.
The Fox opened on July 18, 1969 and had 800 seats. The one thing that I remember about this theatre is the projection booth was only four steps above the back row of seats. They had a continual problem with people standing in the back row and playing shadow puppets in the projector’s light.
The theatre closed January 7, 1979.
This theatre was opened on December 21, 1976 by ABC Southeastern Theatres. It had two auditoriums each seating 375. The first movies were “Nickelodeon” and “Great American Adventure”.
Ownership changed to Plitt, to Cineplex Odeon, and then to Carmike. After Carmike build the Commons Six Theatre less than half a mile away, they closed the Cedar Bluff Theatre on April 15, 1988.
The Halls Cinema originally opened April 21, 1983 with four screens. Three additional screens were added in May of 1989. The theatre is still in operation under independent ownership.
The shopping center that the theatre was in was developed in the mid 80’s. The Home Depot anchored the west side of the center and the East Towne 8 anchored the east end. Litchfield built the theatre which opened June 22, 1990. Shortly after the theatre opened, Regal Cinemas purchased the theatre from Litchfield.
When Regal bought out United Artists which operated the UA-7 located in the mall that was on the other side of the interstate, Regal switch the East Towne Crossing to a dollar theatre. After Regal enlarged the East Towne Mall theatre, they closed East Town Crossing on October 11, 2001. The building stood empty for several years before finally being torn down.
The Aug 6, 1937 issue of “The Film Daily” (pg 9), has a small article about Mrs. Fon Sexton who operates the Lyric in Ashland and the Grand in Ironton, buying the Stanly as a wedding present for her daughter.
In the Dec. 5, 1942 issue of “Showman’s Trade Review” there is mention a building permit had been obtained by Vine Properties Co. to rebuild the Gem Theatre which was heavily damaged by fire several months ago. Construction had already begun, and was expected to cost over $22,000.
In the Sept. 27, 1941 issue of “Showman’s Trade Review” there is mention that W.E. Drumbar and Walter Morris are building a 600 seat theatre in the Lonsdale section of the city. Drumbar has worked in Knoxville the past 24 years for Publix. Morris spent the last six years working for the Fox West Coast Circuit.
In the June 24, 1939 issue of “Showman’s Trade Review” there is mention of a contract being let to build a new 600 seat theatre at 1301 Western Ave. The owners were Denton Theatres which Mr. George L. Denton was president.
Yes Will, this was owned by a gentleman named Booth. He owned several theatres in Middle and East Tennessee. I have found some articles in the “Motion Picture News” archives about him filing for bankruptcy in late 1929. I will see if I can find them and post.
Memilr, the drive-in that was on the river was the Solway Drive-In.
Will, This picture must have been taken after October 1928. The Queen Theatre is not across the street from the Riviera.
JW, the Sunset Drive-in was in the 5000 block of Clinton Hwy. The Twin-Aire was in the 6600 block where Wal-Mart is now located.
I have posted a picture of the Tillery after it became Clayton Motors back in the 60’s.
It was built by United Artist and opened when the mall did in July of 1984. At that time the name of the theatre was UA 7. When Regal Entertainment Group purchased the UA chain it became a Regal Cinema. In the mid 90’s Regal added 3 more screens and converted the original 7 auditoriums to stadium seating.
The world premiere of “A Walk in The Spring Rain” was held at the Capri-70 on April 9, 1970. I have posted pictures of the event in the photos section.
The first handprints were from Ingrid Bergman from the premiere of “A Walk in The Spring Rain” in April 1970. I have posted a picture of the event in the photos section. I have also posted additional photos on the Capri Cinema III & IV thread since technically that was the former Capri-70 before it was twined.
Thanks for the correction. I have always called that section Maynardville Hwy, but it doesn’t become “Highway” until it crosses the Knox/Union County line.
The Autism Center is in the building that used to house Rush’s Music Store. There was also another building next door that had a boating and marine store. The drive-in was behind these buildings with the marquee and entrance just north of the current Hardee’s. The Mini-Storage units are now located where the north side of the drive-in was.
If you look at the photos of this theatre in Charleston,http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/27447/photos , you are looking at the Westown Theatre. Both were Identical in appearance.
The building that once housed the Dawn Theatre was demolished this week along with adjacent buildings. No announcement has been made for the future of the property.
This is the opening night audience taken March 8, 1909.
I have positioned streetview to the location of the main entrance on Callahan Road. The street sign/marquee was approximately where the Taco Bell sign is now, on Clinton Hwy at Callahan. My dad helped with the installation of the projection equipment and brought me along for the ride. I was only twelve at the time, and wish now that I paid more attention and had taken some pictures. It’s funny how you think that something that is new will be around forever.
On Streetview, the Broadway Theatre was in the space between the alley and the building on the left. Broadway was renumbered sometime in the past, so the current address is 3411 North Broadway.