The building design, by the architecture firm Speight and Hibbs of Clarksville, Tennessee, incorporates elements of the Art Deco and Art Moderne styles. The exterior of the building has the streamlined appearance that characterizes Art Moderne design, including extensive use of rounded edges and horizontal lines. Art Moderne elements are also present in the interior, along with Art Deco-style lighting and wall decor.[2] Built in the Jim Crow era, the building design provided segregated facilities for African-American moviegoers, who used a separate entrance door to get to the theater balcony and to segregated bathrooms and a drinking fountain located in the stairwell.[3]
The theater operated until 1987, then closed for several years because of its owner's health problems. It reopened in 1992, but closed in 1996, when the building was taken over for use as a church.[3] The church moved out in 2002, and the building stood empty for several years before being converted to its current use as a fitness center and physical therapy clinic.[2][3] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in August 2010.[4]
Referencesedit
^"National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 7/12/10 through 7/16/10. National Park Service. 2010-07-23.
^ abc"Varsity Theatre / Martin, TN". Theatre Historical Society of America. August 24, 2010.
^ abc"History: Varsity Theater, Weakley County, TN". The Sideline Physical Therapy and Fitness Center. 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
^Vicki Smith (January 2010). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Varsity Theatre" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 2015-05-31.
External linksedit
Varsity Theatre, Cinema Treasures website
April 13, 2024
varsity, theatre, martin, tennessee, varsity, theatre, historic, movie, theater, martin, tennessee, building, listed, national, register, historic, places, varsity, theatreu, national, register, historic, placesshow, tennesseeshow, united, stateslocation104, o. The Varsity Theatre is a historic movie theater in Martin Tennessee USA The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places Varsity TheatreU S National Register of Historic PlacesShow map of TennesseeShow map of the United StatesLocation104 Oxford St Martin TennesseeCoordinates36 20 36 N 88 51 05 W 36 34333 N 88 85139 W 36 34333 88 85139Arealess than one acreArchitectSpeight and HibbsArchitectural styleModerne Art DecoNRHP reference No 10000464 1 Added to NRHPJune 1 2010Varsity Theatre was built in 1949 for the Ruffin Amusement Company of Covington Tennessee When it opened it was the premier movie house in Martin and Weakley County seating 1 000 people in its air conditioned interior The name varsity was chosen in recognition of the University of Tennessee College in Martin 2 The building design by the architecture firm Speight and Hibbs of Clarksville Tennessee incorporates elements of the Art Deco and Art Moderne styles The exterior of the building has the streamlined appearance that characterizes Art Moderne design including extensive use of rounded edges and horizontal lines Art Moderne elements are also present in the interior along with Art Deco style lighting and wall decor 2 Built in the Jim Crow era the building design provided segregated facilities for African American moviegoers who used a separate entrance door to get to the theater balcony and to segregated bathrooms and a drinking fountain located in the stairwell 3 The theater operated until 1987 then closed for several years because of its owner s health problems It reopened in 1992 but closed in 1996 when the building was taken over for use as a church 3 The church moved out in 2002 and the building stood empty for several years before being converted to its current use as a fitness center and physical therapy clinic 2 3 It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in August 2010 4 References edit National Register of Historic Places Listings Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties 7 12 10 through 7 16 10 National Park Service 2010 07 23 a b c Varsity Theatre Martin TN Theatre Historical Society of America August 24 2010 a b c History Varsity Theater Weakley County TN The Sideline Physical Therapy and Fitness Center 2011 Retrieved April 2 2014 Vicki Smith January 2010 National Register of Historic Places Registration Form Varsity Theatre PDF National Park Service Retrieved 2015 05 31 External links editVarsity Theatre Cinema Treasures website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Varsity Theatre Martin Tennessee amp oldid 1215954396, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
