4 replies to this topic

[swampfox43]

I was watching this show on the History Channel tonight "Sex in '69 - the sexual revolution in America". The show went on to discuss the proliferation of theaters that began showing porn in the late 60's early 70's and showed a series of theater marquees around America. I couldn't help but notice a theater named "Charlotte", so I paused it and took these pictures.

I've lived here 46 years and remember most of the old theaters that were around but I do not actually remember one being named "Charlotte". At first I thought, well maybe this was another cities theater with that name, as it well could be. But to the right, you can see a Wachovia (make a deposit and go watch porn), and to the left is a Family Dollar. I cannot make out the name of the store to the right of the Wachovia but it looks like Miller's....something. It appears to be uptown somewhere. Any ideas on this?

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[caterpillar2]

swampfox43, on 27 November 2010 - 11:16 PM, said:

I was watching this show on the History Channel tonight "Sex in '69 - the sexual revolution in America". The show went on to discuss the proliferation of theaters that began showing porn in the late 60's early 70's and showed a series of theater marquees around America. I couldn't help but notice a theater named "Charlotte", so I paused it and took these pictures.

I've lived here 46 years and remember most of the old theaters that were around but I do not actually remember one being named "Charlotte". At first I thought, well maybe this was another cities theater with that name, as it well could be. But to the right, you can see a Wachovia (make a deposit and go watch porn), and to the left is a Family Dollar. I cannot make out the name of the store to the right of the Wachovia but it looks like Miller's....something. It appears to be uptown somewhere. Any ideas on this?

The Charlotte Theater was on the south side of West Trade Street. about two or three blocks down from the square. It was a rather precarious place. My dad used to drop me off instead of sending me to a nursery. It was cheap babysitting and all I had to do was fight off the pervs. It was about the time that you mentioned that it became a X rated movie place. Those were the years that porn seemed to take over many theaters especially drive-ins. There used to be an old joke about the Charlotte Theater that said that one needed to buy three boxes of popcorn. One was for the rats, one for the pervs., and one for yourself. Downtown used to house the Charlotte Theater, the Fox,  the Imperial, and the Carolina.

Just a bit of added trivia, withing a stone throw of the square uptown in 1907, there were fifteen pubs downtown. They were eventually closed because of the drunks, loud obscene language and the prohibition that eventually moved in.

[AuLukey]

Man, it's a shame this doesn't still exist (re-purposed, of course.)  A small theater like this would have been a nice touch to still have around in uptown, along with the aforementioned theaters and pubs.

[Charlotteman]

In the 1970s there was also a porno theatre beside the original bus station on Trade.  The Venus Cinema.

Back then Charlotte had more porno theatres, adult book stores, and massage parlors than Carter has pills.  The wild and sexy 70s definitely didn't leave Charlotte out.

[swampfox43]

caterpillar2, on 28 November 2010 - 01:27 PM, said:

The Charlotte Theater was on the south side of West Trade Street. about two or three blocks down from the square.

Thank you so much for responding to this caterpillar2. For the life of me I cannot remember this one. I remember the Carolina (saw Sound of Music there) & the Imperial but can't place the you Fox Theater either. Where was that located?

Also, do you happen to know about what year the "Charlotte" was torn down?

And charlotteman, you mentioned The Venus. I had forgotten that one until you mentioned it. I wasn't 16 until 1976 so only got uptown when the folks took us to Sears, Belks or Ivey's, and the occasional Carolina Theater for a movie. I do remember seeing The Venus though. Wow! All these theaters uptown and Charlotte wasn't able to save ONE!! The Carolina still has a chance.

Edited by swampfox43, 28 November 2010 - 06:23 PM.