| March 22, 1926 |
Public announcement made about the Carolina Theatre. Construction
begins. |
| March 7, 1927 |
Carolina Theatre opens to the public. A
Kiss in a Taxi, starring Bebe
Daniels, is the first film shown and is coupled with several
vaudeville acts. |
| October 8, 1928 |
The Air Circus
opens as the first talking movie shown in the theatre. |
| March 20, 1932 |
The Charlotte Symphony
Orchestra gives its debut performance in the theatre on a Sunday
afternoon. |
| January 29, 1940 |
Gone with the Wind has
its North Carolina premier in the theatre. |
| March 17, 1943 |
Ethel Barrymore performs
on stage in The Corn is Green. |
| Between ’44 & ’53 |
Original marquee and vertical sign replaced with a modern version. |
| October 29, 1953 |
New forty-foot Cinemascope screen installed. The
Robe, the first movie released in Cinemascope, has its North
Carolina premier. |
| February 10, 1956 |
Elvis Presley
performs on stage with members of the Grand Old Opry. |
| December 22, 1961 |
This is Cinerama
opens after a two week renovation that drastically alters the theatre.
A giant curved screen is installed that extends beyond the proscenium.
Seating capacity is reduced when the main projection booth is moved
to the ground floor to make room for the three projector Cinerama
(Seattle, US or Bradford,
UK) process. The entire auditorium is draped floor to ceiling
and the original box office is replaced with a modem version. |
| September 8, 1963 |
After all films made in the Cinerama process have been shown, the
theatre installs a new screen and projector. Lawrence
of Arabia opens in 70 mm. |
| March 31, 1965 |
The Sound of Music
begins its record breaking 79 week run. The theatre books big road
show movies for the next several years. Titles including Dr.
Zhivago, Patton
and 2001: A Space
Odyssey. As other cinemas open in the suburbs, attendance
and revenues decline. The theatre eventually is relegated to Kung
Fu and exploitation movies. |
| 1972 |
ABC Southeastern chain announces plans to close the theatre. Kermit
High, manager since 1952, takes over their lease. |
| November 27, 1978 |
The theatre closes after showing Last
Fist of Fury starring Bruce
Li (not Bruce Lee) |
| November 13, 1980 |
Fire breaks out in the stage area of the theatre. The old fire curtain
falls and protects the auditorium from major damage but the stage
areas are gutted. |
| March 21, 1983 |
Exterior facade placed on local
historic register. |
| May 1987 |
CityFair project announced with a renovated Carolina Theatre as
the anchor. The theatre is envisioned as a multi-use facility with
meeting space and conferences during the day then transforming into
a night club in the evening. Restaurants are planned for the balcony
and former stage area. |
| Fall 1988 |
CityFair opens but work on the theatre is halted due to escalating
costs and financial difficulties with Carley Capital, the developer.
All of the original lobby area and an adjacent building are removed.
The stage area is partially rebuilt to accommodate the planned food
court. Much of the auditorium is gutted. |
| September 9, 1989 |
Metrolina Theatre Organ Society is formed with the goal of encouraging
restoration of the theatre so that a theatre organ can be installed. |
| October 1992 |
Original remaining facade is spruced up and painted. |
| April 1995 |
Tours are given of the auditorium during SpringFest. Over 7,000
people walk through the theatre. |
| December 31, 1995 |
Tours are given during the annual First Night celebration. |
| August 1996 |
A film series is organized and presented over three months in the
theater. The Charlotte
Chamber of Commerce, the Mint
Museum of Art and the Public Arts Commission participate. |
| August 30, 1996 |
Phantom of the Opera opening gala is held in the theater; event
wins top national honors. |
| December 31, 1996 |
Tours are again given during the annual First Night celebration. |
| January 1997 |
Carolina Theatre Preservation Society is formed. $50,000 grant from
the state is transferred to CTPS after several months of being held
in trust by the Arts &
Science Council. |
| April 1997 |
Tours and entertainment are offered during SpringFest. |
| July 1997 |
Afro-American Children’s Theatre uses theatre for a performance. |
| October 1997 |
Moving Poets performs Dracula over a three night run. |
| April 1998 |
Moving Poets performs their premiere of Salome during Easter weekend |
| May 7, 1998 |
Scheduled Friday lunchtime tours of the theatre begin and continue. |
| May 22, 1998 |
Chickspeare performs Shakespeare’s As You Like It. |
| August 27, 1998 |
NationsBank announces 45 story tower to be built on CityFair site.
First indication that the theatre would not be demolished. The partnership
of NationsBank, Keith Corporation, and Trammell Crow pledge $1 million
towards restoration. |
| September 22, 1998 |
Keith Corporation donates their option to purchase the theatre to
the ASC. This option expires at the end of 1998. |
| November 1998 |
ASC petitions City Council to extend the donated option until January
15, 2000. Carolina Theatre Task Force forms with members from ASC,
CTPS, and Performing Arts
Center. |
| December 14, 1998 |
Charlotte City
Council unanimously votes to extend the option. |
| June 3, 1999 |
Started in December 1998, the demolition
of CityFair is accomplished. |
| August 1999 |
Hearst Tower construction began behind the theatre. |
| October 2000 |
Over the past five months, MTOS and CTPS used the theatre to present
silent and sound films in 2 series, attracting attendance at each
of up to 250. |
| February 2001 |
The City of Charlotte, citing safety reasons, prohibits further
public visits to the theatre, while allowing the Mint
Museum of Craft & Design total access including storage. |
| June 8, 2002 |
Attempting to combine a celebration of the 75th anniversary of the
opening of the theatre with a fund raising event, CTPS loses thousands
with the locally-produced "Reflections" at Spirit Square. |
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Original outline by Mark Huffstetler. Additions
by John Apple, Michael Johnston, and Lisa Lee Morgan.
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