The Bijou Theatre is a pillar of Knoxville’s rich history with roots back to the early 1800s. Today, it serves as a gathering space for the community where folks can see plays, musicals, live music, and so much more perform on the stage.
Bijou History
The Bijou began as The Lamar House, serving as a hotel for nearly a century from 1801 to 1908. The land that the theater sits on is believed to be the oldest commercially active property in all of Tennessee. During the middle of the century, the Lamar House underwent several remodels, each more grand and opulent than the last, allowing the hotel to serve as the center of Knoxville’s social scene. In 1908, the Lamar House was purchased and remodeled into the Jake Wells Bijou Theatre, with a hotel, store, and restaurant also operating at the Bijou. Vaudeville was the entertainment du jour at the time, though that was replaced by motion pictures soon enough.
During Hollywood’s Golden Age, the eight major film studios of the day dominated and controlled the distribution of films in America. The Bijou became a subsidiary of Paramount Pictures in 1935 with a 30-year lease and ran second-runs of holdover Paramount films that had already been shown at the bigger Tennessee Theatre. After the Paramount lease expired in 1965 and was not renewed due to the fall of the studio system, the Bijou had a shaky few decades until it was saved and renovated in 2005.
Catch a Show
Throughout the year, you can see a number of exciting performances on the Bijou’s historical stage. Music industry newcomers and national touring artists alike delight crowds with their concerts. You can also see unique, artistic dance performances and even live events by popular podcasts. Check out their lists of events to see which you might like to get tickets to!
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Dine at the Bijou
There was a restaurant in the Bijou when it first opened as a theater just as there is today! The Bijou Bistro is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Their menu features fresh takes on American classics, and there are plenty of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options to accommodate everyone.
The Bijou has a long and storied history, and there’s always more to discover when you visit this beautiful historic theater.
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