Tennessee Theatre

604 S. Gay Street,
Knoxville, TN 37902

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Showing 51 - 75 of 119 comments

TheatreOrgan
TheatreOrgan on June 18, 2008 at 2:27 pm

Beautiful photos Lost Memory! Thanks for posting!! These photos make the theatre appear even more beautiful than opening day.

TheatreOrgan
TheatreOrgan on April 18, 2008 at 9:25 pm

Great outside pic ‘Lost Memory’ ~ Thanks! I last played the organ there in 1978, pre-restoration. Even then, it was a great Wurlitzer to play.

Patsy
Patsy on February 6, 2008 at 11:47 am

The TENNESSEE marquee is nice to see in photos, but the full impact occurs when seeing it IN PERSON as I did this past December. And a tour by Dr. Snyder, resident organist was “the icing on the cake”!

Patsy
Patsy on January 19, 2008 at 4:25 pm

Interesting “before restoration” b/w photo!

Patsy
Patsy on January 8, 2008 at 3:05 pm

Will Dunkin: Sorry I missed you while in Knoxville. Sure enjoyed the theatre tour by Dr. Snyder…such a nice man!

Will Dunklin
Will Dunklin on January 8, 2008 at 12:23 pm

JAlex, it does look good, but those are LEDs inside a decorative, bulb-shaped cover, not incandescents. tntim will have to tell us more about them.

Patsy
Patsy on January 8, 2008 at 11:25 am

Lost Memory: Your Aug. 14, 2007 posted photo of the ticket kios is very nice. During my visit to Knoxville over the holidays that ticket kios had a very familiar person inside…Santa Claus! At night the marquees were lighted and it was a joy to see them shining brightly as I drove down Gay Street in Knoxville TN.

Patsy
Patsy on January 8, 2008 at 11:23 am

I recently visited the Tennessee and received a lovely full tour by resident organist, Dr. Bill Snyder. He even treated my husband and I to a private lovely 4 tune concert ending with, of course, the Tennessee Waltz. I also stepped into the Regal Cinema to check it out as they are headquartered in Knoxville along with Martha White Flour and HGTV, by the way! On the walls of the Regal are large b/w vintage photos of Knoxville so be sure to look up when you enter! And by the entrance doors is a vintage projector!

JAlex
JAlex on January 8, 2008 at 11:01 am

Happened to be driving through Knoxville New Years Day and got off I-40 to check out the exterior of the Tennessee. Highlight of the brief visit was the vertical…what a delight to see that the letters were lamped with incandescent bulbs. Now, that is what I call class!

tntim
tntim on September 11, 2007 at 10:55 am

The vertical sign for the new Regal Riviera can also be seen on the right hand side of the above photo.

timlett
timlett on September 5, 2007 at 9:10 pm

Dr. Snyder,

I doubt you remember me but many years ago (5 or 6) I served as Dean of the Knoxville AGO chapter and we had a couple of concerts at the Tennessee on the Wurlitzer prior to its restoration. Hector Olivera was one of the concerts we presented. Just wanted to thank you for the wonderful musical extravaganza on Monday, Sept 3. I couldn’t believe the attendance and it was actually my first time in the theatre since it has been restored. I travel so much now ( you might remember I was the Gen Mgr at Knoxville Area Transit) that I don’t get to many organ events in Knoxville anymore, although I am currently the organist at Central UMC.

Also, FYI, I understand my great friend and handbell mentor from 25 years ago in Abilene Texas is practicing on the Wurlitzer. So glad you found Charles Parham. A tremendous organist. He, like you are true treasures.

Thanks again for the concert.

Patsy
Patsy on August 14, 2007 at 4:38 pm

Lost Memory: Thanks so very much as I just sent it to friends who recently moved to Knoxville!

Patsy
Patsy on June 19, 2007 at 11:33 pm

Thank you so very much.

richsaff
richsaff on June 19, 2007 at 11:25 pm

Patsy,
I do have a copy of the GAC channels “Christmas At The Tennessee” show that was broadcast in December 2006. I had to work that night and set the vcr to copy it. I would be happy to make you a copy and send it to you no charge. I also copied the live local broadcast of the fund raiser and last night the theatre was open before the renovation was started. I was in the theatre that night for the fund raiser but wanted to see what the whole thing looked like on TV too.
Bill Snyder,
The first Monday of the month shows are better that ever, if possible, with the addition of guest MC’s and special artists. Bravo!

Patsy
Patsy on June 14, 2007 at 3:44 pm

Lost Memory: Thanks for the wonderful photo and I just found out that dear friends will be moving to Knoxville later this summer so next winter I’ll be making a trip to this southern city to see this theatre gem!

richsaff
richsaff on March 12, 2007 at 8:19 pm

If you want to sit on the main floor, the center section, rows G through L are just about perfect. You are back far enough that you don’t have to sit in anybody on stage’s lap and you can see the whole stage.
If you are attending one of Bill’s monthly organ extravaganzas, I prefer to sit in the balcony. Even though the organ pipes are located on either side of the stage, in the balcony it seems like you are surrounded by the sounds due to the curvature of the theatre
And Patsy, if you will send me and email at I might be able to mail you something special.

tntim
tntim on March 6, 2007 at 2:28 pm

Unless you want to be close enough to feel the spray off the entertainer, you do not want these seats. Theatres are not designed for audiences to sit in the pit. The sound and sightlines from this location is the pits (ha ha). Will is correct; the best sound in the Tennessee is in the balcony.

Will Dunklin
Will Dunklin on March 5, 2007 at 12:12 pm

Dear D30678
Only the nouveau riche sit closer than Orchestra Center, row C. Which has had me resting my chin on the foot lights at many shows. I’ll take row B balcony any day. Avoid row A balcony if you’re over four feet tall. The stage is 50+ feet wide and you just can’t see it all if you’re right up on it.

Cheers!

D30678
D30678 on March 5, 2007 at 5:49 am

Quick question. I’m considering purchasing Orchestra pit tickets (3rd row, center) for an upcoming concert. Are these good tickets or will I develop a neck ache from looking straight up all evening?

BillSnyder
BillSnyder on January 12, 2007 at 7:14 pm

Patsy:

Two comments.

  1. I look forward to giving you a tour of the Tennessee Theatre as well as a mini concert on the Mighty Wurlitzer when your schedule permits.

  2. There is not a video of the December 16, 2006 event at the Tennessee Theatre. This was a showing of the classic movie White Christmas with Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney. We had two showings, and both were sold out. We had to regretfully turn people away.

There is no greater thrill as far as I am concerned than having a full house seeing a movie in a movie palace!!!!

All best.

Bill

Patsy
Patsy on December 30, 2006 at 7:43 pm

tntim or Bill Snyder: Is there any way that one can purchase a video of the December 16th “Christmas at the Tennessee?

Patsy
Patsy on December 30, 2006 at 7:40 pm

Bill Snyder: I certainly have enjoyed looking at the many photos of your beautiful and grand lady, the Tennessee. Thank you for the Cinema Treasures open invitation as I, as a member, hope to take you up on that invite someday.

BillSnyder
BillSnyder on December 29, 2006 at 6:23 pm

Following are a few updates about the Tennessee Theatre.

  1. In addition to the titles Director of Development and Community Relations and House Organist, I now have the title Managing Director of the Tennessee Theatre.
  2. In October 2006, Jelani Eddington gave a marvelous concert on the Mighty Wurlitzer. He stayed a week after the concert and recorded the instrument. The CD should be available for distribution in early 2007. If you would like to order a copy at $15.00, please send me an email at [/email]
  3. We have launched a strategic fund raising plan for the Tennessee Theatre. The two components that have been implemented are an annual giving solicitation and a gift shop that will be accessible on line shortly after the first of the year.
  4. I continue to do a free noon time organ concert the first Monday of each month, and I have been including other performers to participate in the program. For example, the December 4, 2006 program included a 30 minute program by the chorus of Central High School in Knoxville. This is one of the finest high school choral groups in the country, and we had over 1,000 persons in attendance. Does anyone “out there” know of a theatre organ concert in recent times that has had such an attendance?
  5. On January 14, 2007, we will have Bill Cosby doing two shows, at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM as the second annual fund raising gala. Both shows will be a sell out, and we anticipate clearing a minimum of $125,000 for the theatre. Tony Bennett gave a very successful concert last year as our innaugural fund raising gala.
  6. All readers of Cinema Treasures have a standing invitation for a tour of the theatre and a mini-concert on the Mighty Wurlitzer if you are in Knoxville. To make arrengements, please contect me at:

Bill Snyder
865-684-1149 (number at the theatre)
865-599-2211 (cell)

Best wishes to all for a wonderful year in 2007.

Bill Snyder
Director of Development and
Community Relations
House Organist
Managing Director
The Historic Tennessee Theatre

Patsy
Patsy on December 6, 2006 at 5:28 pm

Can anyone get this cable channel as I’m not familiar with it?

Patsy
Patsy on December 6, 2006 at 5:26 pm

tntim: Thanks…will check it out!