![]() ![]() Allan Jenkins, formerly of this city, and well known here as a newspaper and theatrical man, is the local manager of the Nashville house. The message stated that the opening was entirely satisfactory, and that the house was crowded with an enthusiastic audience to see Walter Edwards and his fine company in a revised edition of the ‘Sign of the Four.’ Mr. “Manager McKee, of the Bijou Theatre, received a message from Manager Jake Wells, at Nashville, Tenn., last night, in reference to the opening of the new Bijou Theatre at that place. “Opening of the Nashville Bijou Theatre Last Night. The September 15, 1904, issue of the Richmond Times Dispatch ran this item about the opening of the Nashville house the previous night: “ANOTHER WELLS SUCCESS The Nashville Bijou was one of several theaters that were picked up by the Starr Family’s Bijou Amusement Company. Beginning in the mid-1910s, Wells gradually retrenched to his Virginia holdings, selling off houses throughout the south to other firms. The Nashville Bijou was originally built for Jake Wells' Richmond, Virginia, chain the Bijou Theatre Company. For close to forty years, the Bijou Theatre featured both live performance and film until it was razed in 1957 for construction of the new Nashville Municipal Auditorium. In its later years it was operating with 800-seats, possibly by closing one or both of the balconies & boxes. Ethel Waters also appeared here as did “Ma” Rainey, and in the 1930’s Count Basie performed on the stage. At a midnight matinee in 1926 the Bijou Theatre became a segregated theatre when Milton Starr allowed whites to sit on the main floor and directed African-Americans to sit in the balcony. From 1923 to 1925 Bessie Smith appeared regularly at the Bijou Theatre. Stage acts were booked through TOBA (Theatre Owners Booking Association). The Bijou Theatre became the Nashville flagship of the Bijou Amusement Company, one of the first African American theatre chains in the south. Milton and later Alfred Starr built up a chain of some 45-50 theatres throughout the South, under the name Bijou Amusement Company. In 1916 Michael & Milton Starr first leased the vacant theatre, and purchased it the following year, where under Milton’s management it was converted into a movie theatre for exclusively African-American patronage. ![]() It never did well in its 4th Avenue neighborhood which was then becoming increasingly African-American, and Wells closed the theatre in 1913, putting it up ‘For Sale’. Seating was provided for 1,642 in orchestra, two balconies and boxes. The Bijou Theatre was opened on Septemas a stock company playhouse for white family patronage. It is a very beautiful place.Located on the West side of 4th Avenue North, midway between Gay Street and Charlotte Avenue.īuilt in 1904 by Jake Wells on the site of the former Adelphi/Grand Opera House. Seats are comfortable and the interior is absolutely stunning. Amazing that you don't have to go too far back in history to find a time when discrimination like that was considered the norm, but it is very cool that this little theater was a trailblazer in the area of desegregation. Jon Foreman of Switchfoot spoke during a break in his band's concert there a couple of years ago and said that the Bijou was the first theater in Tennessee to allow African American patrons to visit. This little theater is over 100 years old and has great historical significance. The view from their is spectacular and there is no one in front of you to obscure your enjoyment of the event. The place is so small that the front of the balcony is only about a dozen rows back from the stage. If you have the opportunity to select your seats, try to get front row in the balcony. Artists frequently comment during their shows about how amazing the acoustics are in the building. ![]() I have seen several concerts in this little place. The Bijou is and incredible gem in downtown Knoxville, TN.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |