Tennessee Theatre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Tennessee Theatre
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Tennessee Theatre on Gay Street, 2019
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| Location | 604 South Gay Street, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA |
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| Built | October 1, 1928 |
| Architect | Graven & Mayger |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003979 |
| Added to NRHP | April 1, 1982 |
The Tennessee Theatre is a beautiful old movie palace in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. It first opened its doors in 1928. The theater is inside the Burwell Building, which was Knoxville's first "skyscraper." Both the theater and the building were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The theater was fully restored in the early 2000s. Today, the Tennessee Theatre hosts many live shows and classic movies. It is also the home of the Knoxville Opera and the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.
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What Happens at the Theatre?
The Tennessee Theatre offers many different kinds of shows and classic films. It is managed by AC Entertainment. The theater is also the main home for the Knoxville Opera and the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.
Broadway Shows at the Tennessee
For a while, Broadway-style shows were held at another venue in Knoxville. But in 2008, these popular shows moved to the Tennessee Theatre. The series was renamed Broadway at the Tennessee. It started with the musical Chicago. Other famous shows that have played here include Movin' Out, Hairspray, Jesus Christ Superstar, Sweeney Todd, and Stomp.
A Look Back: The Theatre's History
The land where the Burwell Building stands today has a long history. In the 1790s, the first classes for Blount College were held there. Blount College later became the University of Tennessee.
A man named Clay Brown Atkin helped build many structures in Knoxville. He was known for making mantels. Atkin became interested in the Knoxville Banking & Trust Building. This 10-story building was finished in 1908. It was the tallest building in Knoxville at the time. In 1917, Atkin bought the building. He named it after his wife, Mary Burwell. The Burwell Building was 166 feet tall. It was Knoxville's tallest building until 1913.
The Tennessee Theatre opened on October 1, 1928. It had about 2,000 seats. People called it "Knoxville's Grand Entertainment Palace." Chicago architects Graven & Mayger designed the theater. They used a Spanish-Moorish style. But the design also included ideas from all over the world. For example, the chandeliers had Czechoslovakian crystals. The lobby floor was made of Italian terrazzo. The carpets and drapes had Oriental patterns.
The theater was built by George A. Fuller. He also built the famous Flatiron Building in New York City. The Tennessee Theatre was one of the first public buildings in Knoxville to have air conditioning. It also had a special Wurlitzer organ.
During its busiest years, the theater hosted a few world movie premieres. These included So This is Love (1953) and All the Way Home (1963). In 1966, the theater was updated. Its seating was reduced to 1,545.
The theater changed owners many times. It closed for the first time in 1977. It opened and closed off and on for a few years. In 1981, a local radio company bought it. They started to fix it up for the 1982 World's Fair. On April 1, 1982, the theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Bringing the Theatre Back to Life
In 1996, the Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation was created. The radio company donated the theater to this non-profit group. The theater was even named "The Official State Theatre of Tennessee." In 2001, the Foundation announced a plan to fully restore the theater. This big project cost $29.3 million. It was paid for by donations and tax credits.
The theater closed for renovations in June 2003. The goal was to make it look just like it did when it first opened. The stage was made deeper to fit larger shows. A special orchestra shell was added to improve sound. The orchestra pit was made bigger. Dressing rooms were updated. Lighting and other equipment were modernized. Elevators were installed, and a new marquee was put up.
The restoration also included new carpets, drapes, and lights. These items looked exactly like the originals. All the plaster and paint in the lobby, lounges, and auditorium were carefully restored. Special sound treatments were added to the auditorium. The outside of the building was also made quieter. Now, the theater can seat 1,645 people.
The theater reopened on January 14, 2005. It had a very successful first season. In 2013, the Tennessee Theatre sold its one millionth ticket since the restoration.
The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ
The Wurlitzer organ was installed in the Tennessee Theatre when it opened in 1928. It was built by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company in New York. At the time, it cost about $50,000.
The organist at the Tennessee Theatre is always a big part of the show. The first organist was Miss Jean Wilson. Her name was even on the marquee with the movies. Later organists included William T. Snyder and Freddie Brabson.
In October 2000, almost the entire organ was sent to Ken Crome in Nevada. He is a master organ restorer. He fixed the instrument piece by piece. Artists and craftspeople made the organ look like it did in 1928. The rooms on either side of the stage, where the pipes are, were replastered. This helped protect the restored instrument.
The Wurlitzer came back to Knoxville in August 2001. It was re-installed over the next month. Theater organist Lyn Larsen helped set up the organ's sound. He was the first to play it publicly at a special concert on October 1, 2001.
See also
- Bijou Theatre
- Staub's Theatre
- The Burwell
