Bijou Theatre (Knoxville, Tennessee) facts for kids
Exterior view of the theatre (c.2010)
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| Former names | Wells Auditorium (planning/construction) Wells Bijou Theatre (1909-35) Bijou Art Theatre (1935-75) |
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| Address | 803 S Gay St Knoxville, TN 37902-1711 |
| Location | Downtown Knoxville |
| Owner | Bijou Theatre Foundation |
| Operator | AC Entertainment |
| Capacity | 757 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | May 1908 |
| Opened | March 8, 1909 |
| Closed | 1975-2005 |
| Construction cost | $150,000 ($4.89 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | Oakley of Montgomery |
| General contractor | Thomas and Turner, Inc. |
| Website | |
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Lamar House Hotel-Bijou Theatre
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| Built | 1817, 1909 |
| Architectural style | Federal; Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001763 |
| Added to NRHP | December 4, 1975 |
The Bijou Theatre is a historic building in Knoxville, Tennessee. It started as part of the Lamar House Hotel. The hotel was built way back in 1817. Later, in 1909, the theatre section was added.
Over the years, the Bijou has been many things. It has hosted plays, vaudeville shows, and even served as a movie theater. It was also a place for graduation ceremonies for the city's African-American high school. Both the hotel and the theatre are important historical sites. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
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A Look Inside the Bijou Theatre
The Bijou Theatre building has two main parts. One part is the original hotel section from 1817. The other is the theatre section, built in 1909. You enter through a main lobby. This lobby leads to the theatre and other parts of the building.
Theatre Seating and Stage
The theatre can hold about 700 people. It has two levels of balconies. There are also special box seats on each side. The stage is quite large. It is about 35 feet deep and 69 feet wide.
The theatre's design is very fancy. It has Classical Revival architecture elements. You can see tall Corinthian columns. These columns support the box seats. There are also cool designs of grapes and vines. These decorate the front of the boxes and balconies.
History of the Lamar House Hotel
The land where the Bijou stands was part of early Knoxville. Thomas Humes started building a hotel there in 1816. He wanted it to be a tavern and hotel. Sadly, he passed away before it was finished. His wife, Margaret, made sure the building was completed. The "Knoxville Hotel" opened around 1817.
Early Hotel Days
The hotel was known as the largest in East Tennessee. It had 13 rooms, a saloon, and a dining room. It even had its own stables. The hotel became a popular spot for important people. Many famous guests stayed there. Andrew Jackson was one of five presidents to visit.
In 1837, the hotel was sold. It was renamed the "City Hotel." During this time, the rooms were well-furnished. The hotel also had a library and a lounge with a piano. Meals were served on nice china.
The Lamar House and the Civil War
In 1852, a banker named William M. Churchwell bought the hotel. He made it much bigger. He added a large section that expanded the hotel to 75 rooms. The hotel was renamed "Lamar House" in 1856.
During the American Civil War, the Lamar House played a role. When the Union Army took control of Knoxville in 1863, the hotel became a hospital. General William P. Sanders died there from battle wounds. His death was kept secret for a while. This was to keep Union soldiers from losing hope.
A Time of Grand Parties
After the war, the Lamar House became a very popular place again. It was known for its fancy parties. People held masquerade balls in the hotel's ballroom. They enjoyed cigars, fine wines, and oysters. Famous writer Frances Hodgson Burnett often attended. President Rutherford B. Hayes also stayed there in 1877.
By the 1890s, Knoxville's main business area shifted. The Lamar House Hotel started to decline. It changed owners many times. Eventually, it was bought by a company that wanted to build a theatre.
The Bijou Theatre Opens
In 1908, the Auditorium Company bought the hotel. They wanted to add a theatre. They tore down parts of the old hotel. In their place, they built the new brick theatre wing. New entrances were added through the hotel's lobby. The theatre cost about $50,000 to build. It could hold 1,500 people and had electric lighting. The backstage area had a special elevator for moving sets.
Opening Night and Famous Performers
The Bijou Theatre opened on March 8, 1909. The first show was Little Johnny Jones. It was a sold-out performance. Many famous acts came to the Bijou. The Marx Brothers performed there. So did jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie and magician Harry Houdini.
From 1914 to 1921, vaudeville shows were very popular. These were variety shows with different acts. African-Americans could attend shows in the upper balcony. Also, local African-American schools used the theatre for events.
In the 1920s, more famous artists visited. These included John Philip Sousa and his band. The famous ballet company, the Ballets Russes, also performed. In 1935, the Bijou became a movie theater. It showed movies that had already played in other cinemas. But live performances still continued. Many famous actors performed there. The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra also used the Bijou for its concerts.
Saving the Bijou Theatre
By the 1960s and 1970s, the downtown area of Knoxville was struggling. In 1974, the Bijou building was in danger. It was almost torn down. But a group of people who cared about history stepped in. They worked hard to save the building.
The theatre was then renovated. It became a center for performing arts. Years later, it faced problems again. But two Knoxville businessmen helped save it from closing. After a big fundraising effort, the theatre was renovated once more. They fixed water damage and updated the seats. They also improved the stage with modern lighting and sound. Today, the Bijou Theatre continues to host many exciting performances.
Images for kids
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The Bijou orchestra floor, boxes, and stage, viewed from the upper right loggia
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The Lamar House on an 1886 map of Knoxville, showing the original section (facing Gay Street, on the right), and the two early-1850s ell wings
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Lamar House advertisement, 1884
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Orchestra floor, looking toward the stage
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Gallery on the second floor of the original hotel section
