Tennessee Theatre hosting free classic movie screening

KNOXVILLE — The Tennessee Theatre is hosting a free classic movie screening (Back to the Future) during the First Friday celebration on June 6 to dedicate the theater’s new digital projector donated by Regal Entertainment Group. The theater will hold its quarterly First Friday open house with backstage tours and music on the Mighty Wurlitzer from 5-7 p.m. The movie will begin at 7 p.m.

Regal Entertainment Group donated the projector to the historic theater to allow for a greater selection of movies to be shown, as well as an increased ability to accommodate corporate meetings and events. At the First Friday event, Tennessee Theatre Executive Director Becky Hancock will dedicate the new projector from the stage with representatives from Regal.

“We are proud to support our downtown neighbor, the Tennessee Theatre,” said Greg Dunn of Regal Entertainment Group. “With the Regal Riviera and the historic Bijou Theatre, Knoxville has a vibrant theater district that brings significant cultural and economic impact to downtown. We are proud to help grow that impact through the donation of this new projector.”

Free popcorn and soda will be provided during the movie screening. The film will be the first at the Tennessee Theatre to be projected digitally. Prior to this showing, the theater has used a traditional 35-millimeter film projector.

“Thanks to generous donors, we are able to continue to upgrade the technology in our facility to remain the region’s premier arts venue while maintaining our historic charm,” Hancock said. “A digital projector in the Tennessee Theatre will allow us to expand our summer movie offerings, as well as offer an enhanced experience to private bookings with video or presentation needs.”

Prior to the movie, backstage tours of the historic theater will be offered at 5:15, 5:45 and 6:15 p.m., with organ music available in the auditorium. A major goal of the nonprofit theater is to provide regular public access to the venue as a cultural asset belonging to the community. Several times a year, the Tennessee Theatre opens its doors for a free First Friday event for anyone in the community to enjoy the historic facility.

Published May 27, 2014