WARNER  . PANTAGES 48-52 S. Main
 

Opened 1920  .  Seats 2300  .  Closed - Demolished 1968.

Originally known as the PANTAGES, the Warner Brothers bought the building from Pantages about 1928. The lobby was very small: really only a rear-of-house cross aisle. Built during the regrettable era of Jim Crow laws, there were two balconies - a large balcony for the white folks and above that the "colored only" balcony.  It was considered the grandest theater in town.  A brilliantly lighted marquee stretched the full width of the gleaming white, terra-cotta facade, and every inch of the interior was covered in ornate, gilded plasterwork.  The building was demolished in 1968 for a bank skyscraper with a sunken plaza where the Warner auditorium stood.

 

Warner's at night

Warner's - Main at night

Warner's - side alley

Marquee 1940 - Before Neon  

 

This beautiful building in its open setting and that grand marquee, was the most photographed of all the Memphis theatres.  The last movie shown here was "Coogan's Bluff".  The PANTAGES is listed in the 1920 through 1958 directories.  

 

 Pantages 1922

Circa. 1925's

 Warner's -1934 Warner's 1947 Warner's 1957
 
 

Auditorium - c. 1928

Auditorium

    Auditorium 1943

Balcony 1943 

Auditorium
 
 

Warner's 1945 "Colored Entrance" 1949 Warner's 1959   Warner's 1959

Closed 1969   

 
 
 

Pageant 1951

Pageant Ticket 1951

Alex. Pantages

Pantages Article

5 '  Plaster Urn

Pantages Light Fixture
 
 

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1923 Pantages Ad

1928 Ad

1953 Ad

1965 Ad

1957 Ad

1926 Pantages

Matchbook advertising 1937
             
             

Miniature Model

1919 Pantages

1919 Pantages

1919 Pantages

1922 Promotion

1964 Ad
 
 

 
 

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Credits
 

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