604 S. Gay Street
Knoxville, Tennessee
All The Way Home
Starring Robert Preston and Jean Simmons
Initial Release: September 14, 1963
The magnificient Tennessee Theatre first opened its doors on October 1, 1928 and was hailed as "the South's most beautiful theatre." When the first patrons stepped inside downtown's movie palace to see their favorite stars on the silver screen, they paid only 40 cents for matinees and 60 cents for evening shows (children paid only 10 and 15 cents).
The Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville, Tennessee has a rich history initially opening ij 1928 as a grand movie palace. It evolved into a premier performing arts venue, hosting both live performances and films, particularly during the Great Depression and WWII. The theatre faced challenges in the post-war era, but was revitalized through a major renovation in the early 2000s. As with many theatres of its era, the rise of suburban multiplexes and changing entertainment trends lead to those challenges for the Tennessee Theatre.
In 1928, the Tennessee Theatre, designed by Graven & Mayger in the Spanish-Moorish Revival style opened its doors as a "motion picture palace". The original seating capacity was 1,996. The grand lobby, designed by the same architects features Czechoslovakian crystals in the French-style chandeliers, Italian terrazzo flooring and Asian-inspirred carpets and drapery.
The Tennessee ceased showing premier films and temporarily closed in 1977, only to be revived and reopened in the early 1980s with a renovation in preparation for Knoxville's World's Fair in 1982. A comprehensive $30 million renovation project restored the theatre to its historic grandeur. The theatre reopened in 2005 as a premier performing arts venue, hosting Broadway shows, concerts and opera. In February 1935, the Tennessee Theatre hosted the legendary Ziegfeld's Follies. In 1938, the Tennessee Theatre screened movies for decades including popular films like Disney's "Snow White" in 1938.
During the Great Deprression and WWII, the Tennessee Theatre served as a sanctuary for the community, providing a place to escape and stay informed. The theatre played a role in Knoxville's transition from segregation to integration.
The Tennessee Theatre is a National Register of Historic Places landmark and was added April 1, 1982. The Tennessee Theatre is home to the Knoxville Opera and to the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.
The Mighty Wurlitzer
Tennessee Theatre
Mighty Musical Monday with organist, Freddie Brabson
February 1, 2021
For decades, a favorite elemtn of the Tennessee Theatre experience has been the golden-voiced Mighty Wurlitzer organ. The Wurlitzer was installed in the Tennessee Theatre at the time of the bulding's opening in 1928. The organ was built by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company in North Tonawanda, New York and cost about $50,000 at that time. Today, it is one of the few theatre organs still installed in its orginial location.
Miss Jean Wilson was the Tennessee Theatre's first house organist and whose name appeared on the marquee alongside early films. Since then, many organists have followed her, mostly notably Billy Barnes who entertained at the console four times daily in the 1930s and 1940s. Tennessee's emeritus organist, former Chancellor and Dean of Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Dr. William T. Snyder graced the organ for decades before current House Organist, Freddie Brabson joined the team. Matthew Fisher is currently the Associate House Organist and the theatre's Development Associate.
In October 2000, virtually the entire organ with all the pipes and the console with its manuals, stops and pedals were shipped to Reno, Nevada to master theatre organ rebuilder, Ken Crome. Mr. Crome and his technicians painstakingly restored the instrument piece by piece. Artisans and craftsmen returned the organ's appearance to its original 1928 color scheme and design. The chambers on either side of the stage, which house the pipes, have been replastered to fully ensure the protection and preservation of the restored instrument.
While the organ originally came from the factory with 14 ranks of pipes, Mr. Crome expanded these to 17 ranks during the rebuild, giving the Mighty Wurlitzer a world-class voice.
The Wurlitzer returned to Knoxville on August 27, 2001 and was re-installed by Mr. Crome and his staff during the entire month of September. Acclaimed theatre organist, Lyn Larsen was involved in much of the configuration and tonal regulation of the organ Larsen was the first to publicly perform on it as a sold-out gala concert on October 1, 2001.
"I am so excited about the newly restored Wurlitzer organ in the Tennessee Theatre and I consider it to be among the handful of the very finest 'in-theatre' installations in the country. The unsurpassed craftsmanship of Ken Crome and his expert team of artisans, the perfect match ofthe auditoriium's acoustics to the organ sound and the commitment to 100% quality by everyone at the theatre have all combine to produce this 'new-old' pipe organ that is absolutely sublime. I hope to be a part of the Tennessee Theatre for many years."
Lyn Larsen
Dr. William T. Snyder
Organ Emeritus, Tennessee Theatre
Sidenote: I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Synder several years ago while visiting friends in Knoxville. He gave Bill and myself a tour of the Tennessee Theatre and played the organ while we sat in the auditorium.
A memorable moment!
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