Holiday Cinema
947 Volunteer Parkway,
Bristol,
TN
37620
947 Volunteer Parkway,
Bristol,
TN
37620
2 people
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This opened with an open house on September 9th, 1973, and opened on September 12th, 1973. Grand opening ads posted.
It was still operating in 1986, as I took my younger sister to see “The Great Mouse Detective.” We sat in the smaller of the twins, and it was the definitely the most minuscule theater I have ever stepped foot in, before or since. Probably 100 seats. Ten rows, five seats on either side of the aisle.
I’m guessing the person who juxtaposed the “B” and the “R” is the same person who took the picture before the manager caught on
The two films in the photograph came out in 1983. They obviously misspelled “Scarface.” That theater was split in the late 70s or early 80s. Building twins (two NEW theaters together) was huge in the 60s, but SPLITTING an existing auditorium in two gained steam in the mid-70s, especially in small towns/cities. I attached another photo, showing how I believe they split the existing theater.
Is that Dr. Evil poster really from 1963? I ask, because I thought the theater was built later than that. Also, I guess it wasn’t originally a twin? It’s twin theaters were really small, so even prior to splitting, it would have been a small venue. I also see what looks like a “G” rating in the lower left. The rating system wasn’t created until late 1968. May 10, 1968 fell on a Friday, but the rating system wasn’t utilized till months later. May 10, 1974?
That theater definitely had a late 60s/early 70s vibe. Dr. Evil’s shows did run from around 1959 until the early 80s(?).
If you go to Google satellite, and zoom in on the shopping center, you can tell where the twins formed an “L” shape. The adjacent, small business to the left (currently a style salon in 2021) was added after the theater was built. Parkway Plaza is now the name of the “shopping center,” which started as a self-standing A&P Grocery, probably in the 50s.
The actual address for this former theater is approximately 947/949 Volunteer Parkway. The strip center is still there. Even the movie poster holders are on the wall! I have attached some photos. When it was built, it was as an addition to a former A&P Grocery Store. I went to one movie there, and the twins were tiny.