Paramount Theatre
827 S. White Station Road,
Memphis,
TN
38138
827 S. White Station Road,
Memphis,
TN
38138
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I could have sworn that I saw “The Empire Strikes Back” there in 1980, on a single large screen. It was the largest screen showing the film.
The widescreen, large-format cinematography,70mm TODD-AO, 6 track sterephonic sound, music filled soundtrack, presentation of “The Sound of Music” was shown as a reseved seat “roadshow” engagemement at this theater. It started on April 7, 1965 and played for 79 WEEKS! That’s over a year and a half!
“The hills are alive with the sound of music.” Oscar Hammerstein II 1895-1960
I saw the “Sound of Music” in the early ‘60s at the Paramount. Later, I stood in a long line to see “The Exorcist” in 1973. I was too young to get in without a parent. My mother and I had nightmares for years…
The Paramount opened early 60s I believe. I do know that it was specially fitted with a curved screen for the pseudo Cinerama road showing of “2001 A Space Odyssey”
Update: the one I mention above as the “Colonial” may actually have been the Whitehaven Twin, a 1950s-era free-standing single screen, later twinned. It was on the East side of Elvis Presley Blvd but a mile or two North of Graceland. There was also the Bristol on Summer Avenue a little bit West of Highland, just North of I-40, demolished in the late 1970s. It was said to have been built when Summer Avenue was still called the “Bristol Highway.”
Point taken. I still believe the name change was a cheap trick, but I agree that this is not the most appropriate forum for the subject, so I apologize and will try to give it a rest. Meanwhile, this is a great site, and my most sincere compliments and appreciation to those who set it up. Now as for Memphis theaters—how about the Rosemary at Jackson and Watkins (replaced by a First Tennessee Bank which later also folded), the Princess on Main Street just North of the Malco/Orpheum, the Crosstown on Cleveland near North Parkway (Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall), the Luciann on Summer just East of Trezevant (Porno/Bowling Alley), the Suzor #2 on Jackson Avenue in “Hurt Village” where Elvis used to go when he lived in the Projects (closed but still standing as late as 1981), the Fare 4 (later 10) at Summer and White Station, the Strand right next to Loew’s State on South Main, the Southbrook multiplex in Southbrook mall, The Colonial (? could be wrong on the name) just North of Graceland on Elvis Presley Blvd/Highway 51 in Whitehaven, and the Southaven multiplex just across the line in Mississippi—plus a couple of other indoors and several drive-ins whose names even I can’t remember? So many theaters, so little time…. Best wishes, good luck and good counting to all. W.H. Wingo, Southwestern at Memphis/“Rhodes College” class of 1967.
WHW: ahh, what’s in a name? Southwestern or Rhodes, it’s still a jewel architecturally and a fine fine academic institution. I lived right behind the campus when I worked at the Orpheum (formerly the Malco). Memphis may have many problems, but your old Alma Mater is one of the brighter spots.
Saw the original “Star Wars” and “Alien” there in the late 1970s.
It opened before 1969: it was open while I was attending “Rhodes College” (—gag—) 1963-67, and “The Sound of Music” played there for nearly 2 years during that time (but I didn’t go). I think it was still a single screen when I got back from the AF in 1973, but was twinned shortly after that. A typical post-WWII shopping mall-airplane hangar house. Demolished and replaced by a Stein-Mart last I heard.
I show a listing in the IMPA 1988 59 edition for a Paramount Theatre at 827 White Station Rd, Memphis 38138. I think that the theatre opened in 1969 and was twined during the 1970s. I do not know if the building still remains or if it was demolished after its closing in the early 1990s.
Closed and torn down in 1990 I believe. It was operated by MALCO and had been twinned. There was nothing much to say about it. It was a plain, somewhat barn-like, suburban hall.