The Charlotte Observer, Saturday, September 2, 1978

After 51 Entertaining Years, Theater Nearing 'The End'

Groups work together to try to save building

By Catherine Chapin, Observer Staff Writer

Observer Photo By JOHN DAUGHTRY Crowds Are Gone          ... in recent years

The Carolina Theatre, which has showcased everything from vaudeville to feature films in its 51 years, probably will close as a movie theater when its lease runs out Jan. 31.

Kermit High, who had managed the theater since 1952 and had owned it since 1972, died in July. His widow, Helen, said Friday she doesn’t think she can handle the theater any longer. Beyond that, she wouldn’t answer questions.

The Carolina has had an uncertain future for the past 10 years, twice being threatened with closing.

Its closing will end an era that saw live performances by Bob Hope, Fred Waring, Guy Lombardo and Elvis Presley. Presley performed on a 90-cent double bill with a movie in 1956.

The Carolina also was the site for the North Carolina premiere of "Gone With The Wind" in 1940. Although it began as a vaudeville house and hosted stage productions such as "Mr. Roberts," the last live performance at the theater was in 1972.

The death of the Carolina as a movie house - now showing grade-B features (the current film is "It’s Alive 2) - could mean its rebirth as a legitimate theater. Bryant Cutter of the real estate firm B.W. Cutter and Co., which has owned the building housing the Carolina for most of the theater’s life, said Friday he would renovate the building if someone would lease it as a performing arts theater. Cutter also said he would lease the theater in its present condition for someone else to renovate.

The once-lavish 1,400-seat theater at one time contained antiques, crystal chandeliers, handwoven Spanish drapes and the state’s largest stage. Most of that Renaissance design disappeared in a 1961 modernization.

Cutter estimated renovations to the theater and four other stores in the building, at 6th and Tryon streets, would cost between $200,000 and $500,000. He said he hopes to attract mall-type shops to surround the theater and wants to renovate the second floor of the building for offices. Cutter also owns a few vacant shops on 6th Street and is considering adding those to the renovation project.

"We’re going to start a little campaign," Cutter said. "We need to quit talking about other cities and do something with what Charlotte has."

Cutter said the Carolina - Charlotte's only remaining downtown movie house - could show first-run films. That move, however, would be counter to the trend against downtown theaters in most cities.

Cutter wants to have the building leased when D&K Enterprises gives up the theater Jan. 31. He said the building will be torn down if no one shows interest.

Another Carolina Theater, in Winston-Salem, may be renovated by the N.C. School of the Arts Foundation. The N.C. Commerce Department is studying if the theater, owned by the Piedmont Publishing Co., could operate profitably as a theater for large drama productions. The study is to be released Oct. 5.

One firm has expressed interest in Charlotte’s Carolina. Hughston Warner Talbert Communications Corp., wants to turn the theater and surrounding buildings into an entertainment mall.

The development firm is trying to gauge interest in the Charlotte business community, co-owner Don Hughston said. "We’ve been around to a lot of people with the idea. We haven’t gotten any official action from anybody."