Fine Arts Theatre
36 Biltmore Avenue,
Asheville,
NC
28801
36 Biltmore Avenue,
Asheville,
NC
28801
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Related Websites
Fine Arts Theatre, Asheville (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: E.M. Loew's Theaters Inc., H.B. Meiselman Theaters
Functions: Movies (Film Festivals), Movies (Independent)
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Strand Theatre
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
828.232.1536
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This Art Deco style theatre is the only theatre left operating in downtown Asheville. It originally opened as the Strand Theatre on October 24, 1946 and had a seating capacity of 800 in orchestra and balcony. It was renamed Fine Arts Theatre on June 8, 1962.
It is the home of the Asheville Film Festival held in November of each year. The Fine Arts runs first run art and independent films.
The building itself is a cream color with two sets of block glass running from the top of the building down to the marquee on each side. It has a small triangle-shaped marquee with the theatre name in neon on each side.
Contributed by
Chuck Van Bibber
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Recent comments (view all 32 comments)
Was the Strand originally on College?
Patsy, there was an earlier Strand Theatre in Asheville, from 1915 to about 1935, but it was on Patton Avenue. It was renamed the State Theatre in the 1930s.
It will be interesting to see if this theater will add digital projection or fold. I hope they invest and add the digital.
Theater was converted to digitall the first week of August.
Chuck 1231 I think the Asheville film festival is in Oct. It was last year. A note this theater has started showing slides, but still use the curtains about 5 minutes before the start of a film and at the end of a film. Very nice compromise.
October 24th, 1946 grand opening ad as Strand as well as the June 8th, 1962 grand opening as Fine Arts in the photo section.
December 13th, 1996 grand opening ad also in the photo section.
Here is an item about the Strand from the July 18, 1946 issue of The Film Daily:
Great locally owned theater that shows art fare documentaries and not mainstream blockbusters. They close the curtains ( both theaters are vertical top to bottom) at the end of each movie and they do the slide show for about 15 minutes or less than lower the curtains again before each film starts. Both theaters have masking that is at the top of screen and comes down for scope presentations.
This theater is amazing. They are following Covid protocols checking vaccinations and not selling tickets at full capacity.