"Murphy was an optimist!"
Knoxville’s Riviera Stadium 8 Grand Opening Celebration August 25, 2007 2:39 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Announcements, History, Of Interest, Theater
The new Regal Cinema on Gay Street opens this week. I will be juggling from 5pm to 6:30pm at the Opening Night Celebration. My understanding is that it is a street party although the first press release I read implied invite only. Same press release, different location.
Ah! Here is some better information. Looks like the events within the theatre are invitation only while a street party is being held for the public. I will be juggling in the street party. Watch for the fire! Michael Messing will be performing magic and there should be other entertainers.
On Monday, August 27, the Regal Riviera will host an Opening Night Celebration. On this evening, there will be an invitation-only party to celebrate the new theatre and recognize those who made this theatre project possible. The public is welcome to enjoy a “Street Party” on this evening as well. This free event will be held on Gay Street just outside the new Riviera. The “Street Party” will feature a live performance by East Tennessee’s own RobinElla and a ceremonial ticket tearing to commemorate the opening of the new theatre.
The exciting week of promotional events continues on Tuesday, August 28, Wednesday, August 29 and Thursday, August 30. Everyone is invited to these Preview Events for $1 movies, $1 popcorn and $1 soft drinks with proceeds benefiting local charities. Through September 30th Riviera patrons will be able to enter Regal Cinemas “Rediscover Downtown” Sweepstakes to win a $2,000 prize pack: $500 Regal Cinemas Gift Card, $500 Mast General Store Card plus $1,000 to spend as you like downtown. No purchase is necessary. Sweepstakes rules are available at the theatre.
On Thursday, August 30 there will be added entertainment available at the Riviera Stadium 8 with a free fireworks show presented by Pyro Shows. The night-time sky will light up at 9:30pm with a spectacular display choreographed to popular movie theme songs simulcast on WIVK 107.7 FM. The “Salute to Cinema Fireworks Show” will be easily viewed from all across downtown Knoxville with additional fireworks accentuating the Regal Riviera’s marquee on Gay Street.
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I think it is very interesting that the site of the theater is the same as the 1920’s Rivieria Theater. Good move Knoxville! From the Knox Heritage site:
510 South Gay Street – Riviera Theatre (1920)
Art Deco, two story brick with corbelled cornice, projecting engaged pilasters. Chicago window in central of three bays, flanked by two smaller windows. Vertical mullions divide top side and all windows are topped by transoms divided vertically. Flat roof. Altered storefront. GONE-Demolished in 1988.The Riviera was built in 1920 into an existing Victorian building that stood on the east side of the 500 block of Gay Street. It featured a Wurlitzer organ and the innovative “Typhoon” ventilation system. It seated more than 1,000 and was hailed as “a shrine of the silent art.” It christened what would be more than half a century of movies with DeMille’s silent film, Conrad In Search Of His Youth.
Like most theaters, the Riviera featured its share of live entertainment, from dancer Ginger Rogers to early jazz bands like the popular local orchestra Maynard Baird’s Southland Serenaders.
In 1927 the Riviera showed what was almost certainly the only big-studio film shot in this area during the silent era, Stark Love. The star of the controversial film, which included a brief nude scene, was Helen Mundy, a reluctant actress whom the director had discovered in a downtown Knoxville soda fountain. The movie was a national sensation for about a week, hailed by some critics as one of the great films of the year; then, like its ambivalent star, it was forgotten.
The Riviera burned in 1963, sending an audience who had come to watch the special-effects adventure film Jason and the Argonauts fleeing into the street. Except for the façade, it was considered a near total loss but, remarkably, was restored, less grandly, in a matter of months, and reopened with the Audrey Hepburn/Cary Grant thriller, Charade. It continued showing films until Adios Amigo in early 1976, followed by a series of second-run films the following summer; after that came a dozen years of broken dreams, as one developer after another proposed reopening the Riviera as a performing arts center, a dinner theater or an “ultramodern” office building. Though there was a sentimental effort to restore the theater in the 1970s. The rear of the building, for years, displayed a large black-and-white mural of Charlie Chaplin, clearly visible from James White Parkway.
The building was torn down around 1988 with little comment. The site is now paved for a parking lot.
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They should update that bit about the parking lot. Cinema Treasures has another reference to the 1920s Riviera. See you in the streets!
5commentsThe Boy Scouts tried to kill me today August 25, 2007 1:48 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Of Being Dad, Of Interest, Scouts
I was debating not going on next month’s boyscout outing. I enjoy the outings very much! But they can be expensive and money is heavy on my mind right now. I came to my senses and decided not to deny the boys. As a matter of fact, I’ve offered to include Sarah in the weekend’s activities. So next month, Tommy, Noah, Sarah and I will go to Camp Pellissippi for a canoe derby. We will have canoe racing and see how many people we can fit into a single boat and so forth. It should be much fun.
Scouting is very safety conscious. To do activities like this in scouting requires a medical form stating one is in good health. Water activities require a swim test within the past 6 months. My test was this morning. Just before I got in the water I slammed down my last swig of coffee. I had to do 6 laps with power strokes and then 2 laps with a resting backstroke. I was doing fine and had the lungs and strength to do a lap without even raising my head although my 2nd and 3rd lap included taking breaths just to not wear myself out. At the end of my 3rd lap, it hit me! A feeling like indigestion! I couldn’t get a full lung of air! What I wanted to do more than anything in the world was a world class belch! Have you ever had one of those? Maybe you just chugged a carbonated beverage and then you feel the need to burp but its stuck in your chest just below your sternum? If you can only work it out, the reverberating bass tones emanating from your mouth surely would shake walls and register on the Richter scale. Those last 3 laps were horrible. I wanted to be polite and not burp but I wanted to be able to get some air and not look like I was struggling to do a simple swim. What a terribly uncomfortable feeling!
I passed. I blame the coffee for the tough moment!
add a commentAre we a nation of six year olds? August 25, 2007 12:28 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Politics, Touchy Subjects, United StatesWarning! Some adult language in the video. Also if you believe the 9/11 attacks were because of "your freedoms" you might have a hard time listening to this.
See also. Oh man! I just watched that whole thing. You really should see the last 2 minutes!
1 comment so farOnline community looks after its own August 25, 2007 9:46 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Communications, Daily Life, Health, Mental[06:48] <Critter> ok.. you’ve all worked pretty hard during the week… go ahead and take the weekend off. kthxgbye
Thanks!
add a commentAccident Update August 25, 2007 9:31 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Transportation, TravelWe were rear ended on Thursday. The girl’s insurance company called me asking that I take the van to the Knoxville Collision Center on Lexington who assured me that there was no damage. To make sure he wasn’t just brushing me off, I went so far as to quipped, "The insurance company is paying via direct bill. Are you sure there isn’t anything you want to fix?" He explained in detail how my bumper was normal and that the car was structurally sound. "Can’t fix what’s not broken." Wow! Did we ever dodge a bullet! I feel horrible that the girl’s car got smashed in the parking lot while we waited for the police to arrive.
1 comment so farBrick your iPhone August 24, 2007 4:41 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Communications, Gadgets, TechnologyWell.. Everyone else was linking to it. NO! No attribution! Just a link.
add a commentA video request August 24, 2007 4:11 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Publishing, VideoThink about your headlines! August 24, 2007 2:05 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : News, Of InterestShould this be "Judge Jenkins Rests"?
1 comment so farFrom the mouths of babes August 23, 2007 10:42 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Amy, Cathy, Daily Life, Evan, Family, From the mouths of babes, Noah, Of Being Dad, Sarah, TommyDad: "What do you want for dinner?"
Noah: "Steak"
Tommy: "Meat"
Mom: "Whatever you want dear"
Sarah: "Mac and cheese"
Amy: "Not steak"
Evan: "Da da!"
We had pizza.
1 comment so farPornstar Service Announcement August 23, 2007 9:57 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Humor, Philosophy, VideoWhy yes! It is safe for work! Barry says its not safe for work. She never reveals anything! And her one wordy dird is bleeped.
I love the last thing she says.
2commentsWhat’s the right way to attribute a source? August 23, 2007 4:55 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Blog, Philosophy, Publishing, TechnologyI am loving this discussion. Bloggers, programmers, and geeks need to jump over and join in the fun!
Update: I wonder how many people are linking to Michael’s post. Jail Lail has linked to it. He even twittered it. Music City Bloggers have it covered. Has the NYT actually linked to it yet? If so, how did they attribute their story?
See also: Technorati and be sure to digg it.
Hit from behind August 23, 2007 4:05 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Murph, Philosophy, Transportation, TravelWe were on Lyons View Rd, where the wealthy houses are, and a garden truck backs into the road with the aid of a home owner motioning to stop traffic. I’m not going to drive through that large truck nor race around the back of it so I slow to a stop only to heard the dreaded squeal of tires. Some college girl decides she wants to park in the back of our van instead of the parking garage at the mall where she was heading. So much for the joyously good mood I was in. When I heard the tires I released the brake and accelerated a little so the impact was minor. I’m sure we will be sore and I am worried about the children but we turned down the ambulance and have decided not to see the doctors. The bumper hangs a little lower on the back right corner but it is almost unnoticeable. I heard the squeal. I just couldn’t find her in the rear view mirror. Something was wrong. I should have been able to see this coming and move out of the way!
We pulled into the Cherokee Bigotry Club because state law says if no one is hurt we clear the scene. Their big parking lot made sense. I point at some damage on her car and she says, "that’s from a different one." While waiting for the police to show up, a Mercedes Benz backs into the driver’s door of the college girl. That’s when I started looking for the cameras because surely this was a joke! After waiting a bit, the old guy in the Benz who owns a construction company doing work at the country club lectured us about being on private property and drove off. I took a moment to give him a few lecturing words of my own before he drove away.
Dammit. Now I have to spend the next 5 years berating myself and trying to figure out what I could have done differently to prevent this!
Update: I should add that when I called non-emergency I got no answer so I had to use 911 which the automated system put me on hold.
Update: Body shop said the bumper did its job and there is no damage to repair.
13commentsMoan your IP address August 23, 2007 12:29 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Humor, Sex, Software, TechnologyYesterday I mentioned a service that geographically tries to put your location on a map based on your IP address. An IP address uniquely identifies you (in some cases your network) on the Internet. If you are using a cable company or phone company for your Internet service, your IP address may periodically change. For privacy purposes or other reason you may want to know what the current address representing you.
As a side note, often the public IP address is simply that of the modem at your house. If you have a network behind that modem (which would be connected to the modem by a router), then the world will see all computers in your house as having the same IP address. Technically, the world thinks you have only one computer.
When I wanted to know my ip, I used to jump over to http://www.whatismyip.com/. But never again! From now on, I want a sexy girl to moan my ip! When you go to http://www.moanmyip.com/ your speakers need to be on. Although the voice might get you some looks, the site should be considered worksafe. If you are concerned, http://www.hearmyip.com/ is absolutely worksafe.
Make sure your toolkit of bookmarks includes http://www.dnsstuff.com/ and http://dnsreport.com/.
1 comment so farDane Cook has 2 million MySpace friends! August 23, 2007 10:41 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Humor, Publishing, VideoThe details are in this video. Warning! Adult language and topics are breached.
Dane Cook Gets Two Millionith Friend – Watch more free videos
In the video:
Dane Cook http://www.myspace.com/danecook
Jackie Dawn http://www.myspace.com/famewhore (see also: the real one)
Jon Lovitz http://www.myspace.com/jonlovitz
Bob Saget http://www.myspace.com/bobsaget
Cory Doctorow calls it like it is! August 23, 2007 9:31 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Education, Health, Mental, Of Interest, SecurityFor those that don’t want to click through, that’s in reference to bulletproof backpacks.
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