After over $20 million in renovation, the grand Tennessee Theatre reopened to a black tie invitation only gala event on Friday night. Since we were not on the list to attend the gala, Daddy and I attended the free open house this afternoon with several thousand like-minded people dressed in casual clothes and bundled up against the cold, blustery Knoxville weather.
The first thing we noticed upon arrival at the theatre was the new 56′ Tennessee sign. What a great addition to the Gay Street landscape! As we walked through the front doors, we were engulfed in the crowds filling the Grand Lobby. Excitement was at a high pitch and we listened as some people discussed their first visit to the Tennessee while others were awed by the renovation. We were among the awed.
You will have to indulge me for the many photos below. The Tennessee Theatre has been restored to its original glory and it is quite a sight. Eighteens theatre palaces were originally built with the Spanish-Moorish design. Only 6 remain open: Mt. Baker Theatre (Bellingham, WA), Paramount Theatre (Abilene, TX), Raymond Burr Performing Arts Centre (New Westminster, BC), Regent Theatre (New York-now a church), Temple Theatre (Meridian, MS) and Warnor’s Theatre (Fresno, CA). Five of the 18 have been demolished and seven are closed (info from: “Curtain Up”, article by Doug Mason). A website about historical theaters is http://www.cinematreasures.org
The new marquee and sign for the historic Tennessee Theatre. The sign is a 56′ replica of the original 1928 “Tennessee” sign.
Theatre seats have been reworked and recovered in beautiful red velvet. Very cushy! The endcap for each row is this beautiful gold, pink and turquoise design.
The item most associated with the Tennessee Theatre is the mighty Wurilitzer organ. The face of the theatre is Bill Synder, retired chancellor of the University of Tennessee and house organist since 1979. Today he charmed us with a hours of musical enjoyment. According to literature we picked up, Bill will begin a post retirement position as director of development and community relations for the theatre.
Note the carpet around the base of the organ. This is the same carpet used throughout the theatre and is the original design.
Part of today’s tour included areas that are not normally open to the public. This means the dressing rooms, which have been extensively remodeled with showers, toilets and lighted mirrors. We walked through a number of dressing rooms stopping in rooms for the stars, rooms for the masses (above) and a Green Room or waiting room with game tables and chairs, kitchen fixtures, couch and lounge chairs. We were not allowed in the new orchestra pit or on the expanded stage.
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Each dressing room is named after a deceased celebrity who has appeared at the Tennessee. The name scribbled in blue magic marker is for one of the groups that performed at the opening on Friday. The design on the top right of the sign corresponds with figurines lining the auditorium near the ceiling.
That’s a self picture of me taking a picture with Daddy watching to my right.
The auditorium is spectacular. The theatre was designed with a “Spanish-Moorish” theme. Lots of gold, heavy brocade and bright colors grace the walls and fixtures.
The main stage. It has been enlarged so that more elaborate productions can be staged.
We sat in the balcony for a long time, listening to music, looking at the intricate ornamentation (on every surface) and people watching.
Some of the designs on the ceiling. The colors are all original, found after the restoration crew scraped some six layers of stuff off the walls and ceiling. The red and gold design is hand-painted on the ceiling. What patience that would require!
One of the five crystal chandeliers hanging in the Grand Lobby. The chandeliers are valued at $250,000 each.
The Grand Lobby of the Tennessee Theatre. All five chandeliers are visible. The Italian terrazzo floor was repaired and in some cases replaced. The elegance of 1928 is back in Knoxville for all to enjoy.
