Carolina Theatre

Part I

Carolina Theatre 

Opening Night

Circa 1927

Charles Christian Hook, Architect

(1870-1938)

and

Robert E.  Hall & Co., Designer 

New York City

Circa 1927

The Carolina Theatre originally opened as a silent movie palace.  After several decades of showing both live entertainment and films, the theatre closed in 1978.  Sadly, it remained closed for nearly 50 years before reopening in March 2025.  

The Carolina Theatre opened March 7, 1927, as part of Paramount Picture's Publix Theatre chain managed by Warren Ervin of the Publix Theatres Corporation. The Carolina welcomed a large audience who came to see the silent movie, A Kiss In A Taxi.*  Originally, movies ran for three days and vaudeville performers were on stage Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.  In 1938, the theatre was renovated to accommodate sound films with the original murals replaced with acoustic tiles.  On February 10, 1956 the theatre played host to a performance by Elvis Presley.  

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The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra debuted on the Carolina Theatre stage March 20, 1932.  Perhaps most notably, Elvis Presley appeared on stage February 10, 1956 where he "shook, rattled and nearly rolled off the stage". In the 1960s, the Carolina Theatre saw a record-breaking 79-week run of the movie, The Sound of Music, which played to nearly 400,000 people (more than the population of Charlotte at the time).  The Carolina Theatre also holds the distinction of having been the first air-conditioned building in Charlotte. 

In 1953, the Carolina Theatre installed a panoramic screen to accommodate CinemaScope films.  In 1961, it was further renovated to accommodate Cinerama films.  The Sound of Music would premiere at the Carolina on March 31, 1965 and run a record 79 weeks! The 398,201 people who saw the movie were more than the population of Charlotte, at the time. 

With rising competition from suburban multiplexes, the Carolina Theatre closed on November 27, 1978 with a showing of Bruce Lee's Fists of Fury which was released September 9, 1972.

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The Carolina Theatre opened with great fanfare on March 7, 1927 welcoming a large audience to see the silent film comedy, A Kiss in a Taxi.*  The theatre was built for $750,000 and originally seated 1,450 people .. 900 in the orchestra level and 550 in the balcony level. According to a Charlotte Observer, at the time, the Carolina Theatre awed moviegoers with its wrought iron chandeliers and intricate murals. 

*A Kiss In A Taxi was a 1927 American silent comedy film starring Bebe Daniels and directed by Clarence Badger.  It was based on a French play produced on Broadway in 1925.  Paramount Pictures distributed the film.  The release date was February 22, 1927.

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"For sheer splendor and luxury, it is a creation that will provoke admiration throughout the theatrical world".

Charlotte Observer