Carolina Theatre
226 N. Tryon Street,
Charlotte,
NC
28202
226 N. Tryon Street,
Charlotte,
NC
28202
9 people
favorited this theater
Showing 76 - 100 of 190 comments
raysson: Please keep us updated on any developments regarding this theatre and its future in uptown Charlotte!
“SOUTH PACIFIC” was a Reserved Seat Exclusive Engagement Showing at Charlotte’s Carolina Theatre on June 25,1959. It was the only showing of the film in the Carolinas. Other cities in the Carolinas wouldn’t get the film until Christmas of 1959.
“Council member Patsy Kinsey believes the developer with the best renovation plan will get the council’s support. This includes taking the pieces of the old facade and putting them back in place.” Music to my ears!
ncmark: Thank you for posting this recent Observer article! I have now sent a thank you email to the journalist, Mark Price for writing the story about this theatre gem in the heart of Charlotte NC!
Charlotte Observer article about plans for the Carolina Theatre from 10-15-12. http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/10/15/3598083/city-council-sees-jewel-in-old.html
raysson: Keep us informed about future Foundation for the Carolinas news articles regarding the Carolina Theatre’s future in uptown Charlotte. Thanks.
HOW THE WEST WAS WON played here as a reserved seat engagement at the Carolina Theater on May 29,1963. It was a roadshow.
Thanks Chuck! Love the stage photo of when this theatre was in its heyday! If only…………….
A 40 foot wide CINEMASCOPE screen was installed in 1953 for the film’s showing of THE ROBE.
GONE WITH THE WIND played at the Carolina Theater on January 29,1940 as a Reserved Seat Engagement. It was one of two theatres within the state that played it as a roadshow. The other was the Ambassador Theater in Raleigh.
So nice to see “ncmark” post this information and link. I couldn’t bring up the link so found the complete link that all CT readers will find most interesting. I do hope that this Foundation can make a difference for this once remarkable theatre in downtown Charlotte! It is time for this theatre to be resurrected and brought into the uptown theatre district as a theatre destination among the other theatre venues.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/03/30/3137372/possible-rebirth-of-uptowns-carolina.html#storylink=misearch
A glimmer of hope for the Carolina as reported in the Charlotte Observer. The Foundation for the Carolinas – a local non profit umbrella organization and the new next door neighbor of the Carolina -has asked the city to investigate possible reuses now that the developers option to purchase the theater has expired and will not be renewed.
www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/03/30/3137372/possible-rebirth-of…
Carmichael: Very nice post regarding your memories of the Carolina. I still hold out hope that someday the Carolina can be returned to the downtown area.
The Carolina was the most luxurious theater in prosperous downtown Charlotte, and its vandalism and disappearance are tragic. The theater featured sumptuous appointments from the golden age of moving pictures – the late 1920s. I saw many amazing films there, but the most memorable was 2001, a special treat for me as a recent college graduate following a dinner with my mother. My father had died one year before my graduation, and after my graduation ceremony at UNC-Charlotte, we went out to dinner and to the Carolina to see 2001: A Space Odyssey. She bought a fabulous brochure for the film that I treasure to this day as a memento of her encouragement to me to reach high for the planets and the stars.
“LAWRENCE OF ARABIA” played at the Carolina Theatre as a Reserved Seat Engagement Presentation on September 25,1963. I have the original ads from the Charlotte Observer. Not only “LAWRENCE” played here as a Roadshow Presentation,but also “THE SOUND OF MUSIC”,and “2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY” played here before capacity crowds at the Carolina Theatre.
The WBT Briarhoppers continue to perform today in their 78th year. Go to www.wbtbriarhopppers.blogspot.com for their comings and goings! I am their bass player.
Patsy, I don’t know if you ever received an answer regarding the WBT Briarhoppers, but if not…they were a country quartet that performed regularly on WBT-AM radio dating back to at least the 1930s. If you go out Nations Ford Road headed south, the old WBT studios built in the ‘20s are still there – however, the building is fenced off.
Thanks Patricia Nc.I left you a post on SOUTH PARK CINEMAS.
Found an old ticket stub from a young woman’s 1928-30 scrapbook:
View link
Charlotte let several theatres fall to highrises and having an “Uptown” as they call it.
Thanks Chuck for the 1981 photo as I had never seen that one. Now on that corner there is nothing except the brick building that housed the auditorium.
Mark: I had been wondering about the status of the Carolina and then read your July 1 post. Thank you, but the key words are “the economy” so hopefully it will recover enough to support construction in 2011.
The local media has reported that the city council is again extending the time frame for the developer to purchase the Carolina. The hope is that the economy can recover enough to support this development and construction could begin by 2011.
The local media reported that the developer hoping to incorporate the Carolina into a high end condo project would still like to complete the new tower. They have pre-sold 7 of the 20 condos so far and hope to renew sales efforts after their previous development a few blocks away is sold out. They do not expect to break ground this year. Meanwhile I have not heard of any money raised by the group challenged with funding the actual theater restoration. I suppose it’s possible the condo project could move forward while the theater portion is delayed. If the economy improves quickly this project might get back on track but a continued downturn could put it in jeopardy.