Lenox Theatre
4716 N. Broadway Street,
Knoxville,
TN
37918
4716 N. Broadway Street,
Knoxville,
TN
37918
1 person
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Simpson Theatres
Previous Names: Tower Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Tower Theatre was built in 1947 by Walter Morris, who also operated the Pike Theatre and the Lee Theatre. It opened on May 27, 1948 with Ruth Warwick in “Driftwood”.
In 1963, C.H. Simpson who operated the Riviera Theatre downtown, leased the Pike Theatre and Tower Theatre. The Pike Theatre was renamed Capri Cinema, and the Tower Theatre was renamed Lenox Theatre in September 1964. The Lenox Theatre was closed October 25, 1966.
The Lenox Theatre was soon torn down to make way for the I-640/Broadway interchange.
Contributed by
Jack Coursey, tntim
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
I saw Santa Claus Conquers the Martians there,whatever year that was. I remember the parachute stuff and I’m glad someone else did too. I was beginning to think I had imagined it. I seem to remember it had another name though.
I read on a University of Tennessee site about local theatres that the Tower Theatre was once named the Lenox Theatre. Is that the name you were thinking of John?
I spent many Saturday mornings in this theater while growing up in the late 50s' and early 60s'. Cas Walker grocery store used to have coupons in the paper which let kids in on Saturday morning for 15 cents. They showed a serial like Batman and cartoons as well as the double feature. They showed a lot of three stooges shorts also. It was close to Tazewell Pike and Broadway. I believe there used to be a roller rink nearby on the other side of the street.
No wonder I couldn’t find this theatre it is called LENNOX THEATRE and not LENOX THEATRE, Well, Guys on OCT.20 1964 it was called LENOX THEATRE. Don’t know why or when the other “N” was added. Anyways from an old KNOXVILLE paper,the LENOX was playing “WRONG ARM OF THE LAW” with Peter Sellers and a sex comedy 1964 style called “THE ARMOROUS GENERAL”.A double feature at the LENOX.Maybe a Knoxville Theatre dawg can solve the mystery on when the and why the extra “N” was Added. Thanks Chuck1231 for getting me here.
It may be a typo (maybe on my part) because everything that I have found has the spelling Lenox.
Thanks Tntim,yes,the Knoxville paper has LENOX.
The Tower closed on September 2, 1964. After a remodel, it re-opened as the Lenox on September 23, 1964 with the showing of “Dr. Strangelove”. The Lenox closed on October 25, 1966 due to the reconfiguration of Broadway.
Here is a story of the construction of the Tower. Link
I remember going to the Tower Theater in Knoxville in the 50s. It was located on Broadway near a Cas Walker grocery store and in the back of the theater there was a sound proof “crying room” for parents who brought their young children with them to the theater. The Pike was the sister theater located in west Knoxville on Kingston Pike. I think both theaters were torn town in the 1960s.
I have posted the add announcing the opening of the Lenox after remodeling.
This opened as Tower on May 27th, 1948 and renamed Lenox on September 23rd, 1964. Grand opening ads posted.