Tennessee Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Tennessee Theatre is a 1920s-era movie palace
, located within the Burwell Building in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee
, at 604 South Gay Street
.
— were first held.
The theatre first opened on October 1, 1928, and with nearly 2,000 seats in the auditorium, was billed as "Knoxville's Grand Entertainment Palace". Its interior was designed by Chicago architects Graven & Mayger in the Spanish-Moorish style, although the design incorporates elements from all parts of the world: Czechoslovakian crystals in the French-style chandelier
s, Italian terrazzo flooring in the Grand Lobby, and Oriental influences in the carpet and drapery patterns. The theatre was one of the first public buildings in Knoxville to have air conditioning
. The theatre also featured a beautiful Wurlitzer Organ.
During its heyday, the theatre played host to a few world movie premieres, including So This is Love (1953), and the adaptation of James Agee
's All the Way Home (1963).
After a refurbishment in 1966, the theatre's seating capacity
was lowered to 1,545.
The theater changed owners several times over its life, and eventually closed for the first time in 1977, and then was open and closed intermittently for the remainder of the late 1970s. The theatre was purchased by local radio company Dick Broadcasting in 1981, who started a renovation effort to prepare it for the 1982 World's Fair
. On April 1, 1982, the theatre was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
Portions of the 1999 film October Sky
were filmed in and around Knoxville, and the facade of the theatre can be seen during a scene in which the main characters go to the movies.
More recently, the theatre was the home for the Appalachian Ballet, the Knoxville Opera, and the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.
, and cost about $50,000 at that time.
In October 2000, virtually the entire organ was shipped to Reno, Nevada
, to master organ rebuilder Ken Crome, who painstakingly restored the instrument piece by piece, and artisans and craftsmen returned the organ's appearance to its original 1928 color scheme and design. The chambers on either side of the stage, which house the pipes, were replastered to fully ensure the protection and preservation of the restored instrument.
The Wurlitzer returned to Knoxville in August 2001 and was re-installed over the course of the next month. Acclaimed theatre organist Lyn Larsen
was involved in the configuration and tonal regulation of the organ, and was the first to publicly perform it at a gala concert on October 1, 2001.
Renovations included expansions of the stage depth and height to accommodate larger and more elaborate productions, a custom orchestra shell to enhance the acoustics of the new larger stage, an enlarged orchestra pit, upgraded dressing room facilities, modernization of the lighting, rigging, and other theatrical equipment, the installations of elevators, and a new marquee.
The restorations included new carpets, draperies, and lighting fixtures that duplicated the original designs, and historically accurate restoration of all plaster and paint surfaces throughout the lobby, lounges, foyers, and the auditorium. Integration of acoustic treatments into the restored auditorium and lobby, and a substantially improved exterior sound isolation system were included in the restoration design. Seating capacity is now 1,631 people.
The theatre reopened January 14, 2005 to a near sold-out season, and now offers a wide range of performing arts events and classic films to the public. It is managed by AC Entertainment
. Thermocopy
has been a major presenting sponsor of the Theatre since its reopening in 2005.
The design team for this renovation effort included Westlake Reed Leskosky Architects of Cleveland, Ohio; McCarty Holsaple McCarty Architects of Knoxville, Tennessee; Evergreene Studios, Historic Restoration Consultants of New York, New York; and Acoustic Consultant Kirkegaard Associates
of Chicago, Illinois.
Movie palace
A movie palace is a term used to refer to the large, elaborately decorated movie theaters built between the 1910s and the 1940s. The late 1920s saw the peak of the movie palace, with hundreds opened every year between 1925 and 1930.There are three building types in particular which can be subsumed...
, located within the Burwell Building in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
, at 604 South Gay Street
Gay Street (Knoxville)
Gay Street is a street in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, that traverses the heart of the city's downtown area. Since its development in the 1790s, Gay Street has served as the city's principal financial and commercial thoroughfare, and has played a primary role in the city's historical and cultural...
.
History
The Burwell Building was built in 1907. At a height of 166 feet (50.6 m), it was Knoxville's tallest building until 1912. The Tennessee Theater occupies an annex to the building that was added in 1928. In the 1790s, the lot now occupied by the Burwell Building was home to a two-story log structure where the classes of Blount College— the forerunner of the University of TennesseeUniversity of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
— were first held.
The theatre first opened on October 1, 1928, and with nearly 2,000 seats in the auditorium, was billed as "Knoxville's Grand Entertainment Palace". Its interior was designed by Chicago architects Graven & Mayger in the Spanish-Moorish style, although the design incorporates elements from all parts of the world: Czechoslovakian crystals in the French-style chandelier
Chandelier
A chandelier is a branched decorative ceiling-mounted light fixture with two or more arms bearing lights. Chandeliers are often ornate, containing dozens of lamps and complex arrays of glass or crystal prisms to illuminate a room with refracted light...
s, Italian terrazzo flooring in the Grand Lobby, and Oriental influences in the carpet and drapery patterns. The theatre was one of the first public buildings in Knoxville to have air conditioning
Air conditioning
An air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...
. The theatre also featured a beautiful Wurlitzer Organ.
During its heyday, the theatre played host to a few world movie premieres, including So This is Love (1953), and the adaptation of James Agee
James Agee
James Rufus Agee was an American author, journalist, poet, screenwriter and film critic. In the 1940s, he was one of the most influential film critics in the U.S...
's All the Way Home (1963).
After a refurbishment in 1966, the theatre's seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
was lowered to 1,545.
The theater changed owners several times over its life, and eventually closed for the first time in 1977, and then was open and closed intermittently for the remainder of the late 1970s. The theatre was purchased by local radio company Dick Broadcasting in 1981, who started a renovation effort to prepare it for the 1982 World's Fair
1982 World's Fair
The 1982 World's Fair, formally known as the Knoxville International Energy Exposition, was held in Knoxville, Tennessee, in the United States. The theme of the exposition was "Energy Turns the World."...
. On April 1, 1982, the theatre was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Portions of the 1999 film October Sky
October Sky
October Sky is a 1999 American biographical film directed by Joe Johnston, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper and Laura Dern. It is based on the true story of Homer Hickam, a coal miner's son who was inspired by the launch of Sputnik 1 to take up rocketry against his father's wishes, and who...
were filmed in and around Knoxville, and the facade of the theatre can be seen during a scene in which the main characters go to the movies.
More recently, the theatre was the home for the Appalachian Ballet, the Knoxville Opera, and the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.
The Mighty Wurlitzer
The Wurlitzer was installed in the Tennessee Theatre at the time of its opening in 1928. It was built by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company in North Tonawanda, New YorkNorth Tonawanda, New York
North Tonawanda is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 31,568 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is named after Tonawanda Creek, its south border...
, and cost about $50,000 at that time.
In October 2000, virtually the entire organ was shipped to Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
, to master organ rebuilder Ken Crome, who painstakingly restored the instrument piece by piece, and artisans and craftsmen returned the organ's appearance to its original 1928 color scheme and design. The chambers on either side of the stage, which house the pipes, were replastered to fully ensure the protection and preservation of the restored instrument.
The Wurlitzer returned to Knoxville in August 2001 and was re-installed over the course of the next month. Acclaimed theatre organist Lyn Larsen
Lyn Larsen
Lynette Ann Larsen is a former Australian woman cricketer. She was captain of the Australian women's cricket team from 1985/6 to 1993. She captained the side in 10 Test matches, including 5 victories...
was involved in the configuration and tonal regulation of the organ, and was the first to publicly perform it at a gala concert on October 1, 2001.
Renovation and restoration
In 1999, the theatre, now owned by The Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation, was designated "The Official State Theatre of Tennessee". In 2001, the Foundation announced a campaign to completely restore and renovate the Theatre. The $29.3 million project was funded through public and private donations, with the help of $6.3 million in tax credits. The theater closed for renovations in June 2003 to completely restore it to its original glamor.Renovations included expansions of the stage depth and height to accommodate larger and more elaborate productions, a custom orchestra shell to enhance the acoustics of the new larger stage, an enlarged orchestra pit, upgraded dressing room facilities, modernization of the lighting, rigging, and other theatrical equipment, the installations of elevators, and a new marquee.
The restorations included new carpets, draperies, and lighting fixtures that duplicated the original designs, and historically accurate restoration of all plaster and paint surfaces throughout the lobby, lounges, foyers, and the auditorium. Integration of acoustic treatments into the restored auditorium and lobby, and a substantially improved exterior sound isolation system were included in the restoration design. Seating capacity is now 1,631 people.
The theatre reopened January 14, 2005 to a near sold-out season, and now offers a wide range of performing arts events and classic films to the public. It is managed by AC Entertainment
AC Entertainment
AC Entertainment is a music promotion company based in Knoxville, Tennessee, the co-producers of the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival and Vegoose, both with Superfly Productions, and talent-buyers for the Orange Peel...
. Thermocopy
Thermocopy
Thermocopy is the oldest and largest business technology company located in East Tennessee. Founded in the early 1960s, the Knoxville, Tennessee-based company has expanded from its origins as an office equipment dealer to offer information technology support, document management consultation, and...
has been a major presenting sponsor of the Theatre since its reopening in 2005.
The design team for this renovation effort included Westlake Reed Leskosky Architects of Cleveland, Ohio; McCarty Holsaple McCarty Architects of Knoxville, Tennessee; Evergreene Studios, Historic Restoration Consultants of New York, New York; and Acoustic Consultant Kirkegaard Associates
Kirkegaard Associates
Kirkegaard Associates is an American acoustics design firm based in Chicago, Illinois, with an office in Boulder Colorado. As of 2010, the company is headed by Lawrence Kirkegaard and employs 29 professionals in architecture, acoustics, music recording, mechanical and audio engineering, musical and...
of Chicago, Illinois.
Broadway at the Tennessee
After the failed "Broadway in Knoxville" series at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium finally had to come to an end due to a lack of profit, quality 'Broadway-Style' entertainment in Knoxville did not end, but was transferred to the Tennessee Theatre for a 2008-2009 season. The series, now presented by the Tennessee Theatre, was renamed 'Broadway at the Tennessee' and kicked off with 'Chicago'. Later productions included Movin' Out, Hairspray, Jesus Christ Superstar, Sweeney Todd, and Stomp. Broadway at the Tennessee's 2009-2010 season was scheduled to include Camelot, The Wizard of Oz, Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance, Mamma Mia!, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, and Avenue Q.See also
- Bijou TheatreBijou Theatre (Knoxville)The Bijou Theatre is a theater located in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. Built in 1909 as an addition to the Lamar House Hotel, the theater has at various times served as performance venue of both traditional theatre and vaudeville, a second-run moviehouse, a commencement stage for the city's...
- Staub's Theatre
External links
- Tennessee Theatre website
- Burwell Building (website for building that contains the theatre)