![]() They were known for spinning plates and breathing fire. Choy Heng Wa and his troupe, variously known as “Chinese magicians” and “novelty acrobats,” performed several shows on the Bijou stage. Hazel Leona, “the Merry Sunshine of Vaudeville,” was on the same bill.Īmong the many who performed at the Bijou in the days just before Christmas were Pietro Deiro, one of the country’s most famous accordionists and Skipper and Kastrup, the song-and-dance duo billed as “the Original Grouch Destroyers.” Ethel McDonough made her name as a “drummer girl” and as a high-dive act, but in 1916 she was a singer-comedienne and a “Statuesque Beauty.” Phil Bennett, “the Alpine Troubadour,” was a yodeler. The Imperial Bicycle Five played basketball on the Bijou’s stage. You Always Hear About It… But You Have to Get It to Appreciate It.”Īny holiday reveler who stepped out, especially to the Bijou, would have found something interesting. The Bijou, “The Joy Spot of Knoxville,” “the Theatre Beautiful,” bought the most space in the papers. Across the street, Staub’s Theatre wasn’t too proud for vaudeville, but more likely to feature Broadway and opera acts. Less than a block down the sidewalk, the Bijou featured vaudeville, too, but with more variety, including some famous national acts. On Gay Street, the Grand featured vaudeville. KHP’s historian Jack Neely looks back at what was going on at the Bijou roughly a century ago: “By 1916, Knoxville supported several small movie theaters, but the stage shows still drew the biggest crowds. KHP is proud to share an episode of Knoxville Chronicles with Jack Neely: Bijou Theatreproduced by Knoxville Weekend. ![]() Humes, and his wife, Margaret (later Margaret Cowan Humes Ramsey, may have intended it as a residence, but after Thomas’s death, opened it as a hotel. It has a deep history dating back to the very early 1800s when Irish immigrant Thomas Humes built what we now know as the Lamar House, the front part of the Bijou Theatre. Real estate values in that area have gone ballistic.A true Gay Street icon, the Bijou Theatre is Knoxville’s oldest and one of the city’s most beloved theatres. I’m sure if any such operation were to try and open from scratch at such a locale today, the surrounding yuppie parents would block it to no end. ![]() I was always amazed that the Bijou stood the test of time, with a Chicago public grade school located essentially kitty corner & across the street. Until the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum opened up across the street. The Royal London Wax Museum down the street was more our interest. Even though we grew up in the area, we never set foot in this place. Though the theatre may specialize in gay porn, I believe the accompanying book/DVD store caters to a hetero adult clientele as well. Might have just been the media trying to link the theatre to other seedy activities. Though I’m not sure if this was ever proven to be true, or just speculation due to the bomber’s supposed criminal ties. There was also an apparent failed bombing in the early `90’s that I mentioned over on the Aardvark CT page.Īccording to news reports at the the time, the would be bomber accidentally blew himself up while alledgedly enroute to the Bijou. There were giant mugs shots from the `70’s in the gallery window. that had an exhibit based on the owner of the Bijou. A few years back there was an art gallery further North on Wells St.
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