Luciann Theatre

2434 Summer Avenue,
Memphis, TN 38122

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Additional Info

Architects: Claude Northern

Styles: Streamline Moderne

Previous Names: Paris Adult Theatres I & II

Nearby Theaters

Luciann Theatre

Michael Cianciolo built the 1,014-seat Luciann Theatre in 1939-1940, and his son Augustine ran the theatre which opened on November 9, 1940 with Errol Flynn in “Virginia City”. The Luciann Theatre is named after sisters Lucy Cianciolo and Ann Cianciolo Angelo. In July 1958 it was closed and became a bowling alley.

Prior to the Luciann Theatre being built, in 1936 a Parkview Theatre was planned for the adjacent site, designed by architect R.B. Spencer for the Parkview Amusement Co., but it was never built. The site became the parking lot for the Luciann Theatre. In later years a bank was built on that site.

In 1966, the Luciann Theatre became a nightclub named ‘The Party’, which was very popular with Memphis Sound artists and the public. The Luciann Theatre perhaps had the first lighted dance floor in the city.

On March 23, 1971 it was sold to the Paris Adult Group, and for a number of years the concrete ‘Luciann’ name was covered by plywood, having been renamed Paris Adult Theatres I & II. About one quarter of the auditorium was being used for adult films in 2011, with a few of the ‘venetian blind’ side lights still intact together with some architectural details. Therefore, technically, there is still one screen operating under the Paris Adult Group management. It was closed in November 2017. In the summer of 2020 the building was sold, and work began to repurpose and renovate the theatre. It will revert back to its original Luciann Theatre name.

The exterior is amazingly well preserved as opposed to many other former neighborhood theatres in Memphis. Another Cianciolo operation, the Rosemary Theatre, was named for the third daughter, Rosemary. It did not survive in the 1960’s.

Contributed by Jack Coursey, Vincent Astor

Recent comments (view all 17 comments)

Matthew Prigge
Matthew Prigge on April 5, 2012 at 10:48 am

Hello all,

I am doing a large-scale research project on adult theatres and would be very interested to hear from anything who either worked at or attended this theatre during its time showing adult films. If you would like to help me out, you can email me at .

Thanks!

Bougieman
Bougieman on June 16, 2017 at 3:49 am

This is the adult theater where the only known surviving print of the infamous “Bat Pussy” was discovered. Released by Something Weird Video on vhs and dvd, this is a low budget adult movie from the 1970s generally considered by adult film historians to be one of the worst and least erotic adult movies ever made. It’s also one of the strangest from its era, that’s for sure.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on November 28, 2017 at 3:51 am

The building should be heritage listed!!

vastor
vastor on December 13, 2017 at 10:49 am

There is community interest from several avenues in preserving it.

Somer
Somer on December 14, 2017 at 1:46 pm

Great old theatre. I remember being a guest of the family there.

SpinDoctor
SpinDoctor on December 14, 2017 at 4:27 pm

We have someone interested in accquiring the building. Would appreciate any info available!

Scarpia1944
Scarpia1944 on December 15, 2017 at 10:43 am

Dear Spin doctor. Our family has not owned that property since about 1980. I would suggest a check of tax records for Memphis might help. I can tell you about the history up to the time the Luciann was closed when it was the Party Nightclub Mike Cianciolo

rivest266
rivest266 on August 13, 2021 at 6:55 pm

This opened as the Luciann theatre on November 9th, 1940 and closed in 1958. It reopened as the Paris Adult Theatres I & II on March 23rd, 1971. Both grand opening ads posted.

Cbalducc
Cbalducc on October 18, 2022 at 12:48 pm

Looks like Italians dominated the movie theater business in Memphis at one time.

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