Historic Bijou Theater, back in business

Merle Haggard, Bob Dylan headline benefit concert After fears that it would close for good, the historic Bijou Theater in Knoxville was reorganized and refinanced through the support of members of the community, and will hold a grand re-opening ceremony Friday. A brand new look for the fourth oldest building in Knoxville was made possible through $2.1 million in funds raised through the help of Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, various benefit concerts, as well as federal grant monies approved by Congressman Jimmy Duncan. The building faced foreclosure in 2005 when two Knoxville businessmen stepped in to renegotiate the theater’s loan. A grand, red-carpet ribbon cutting is planned for June 2 at the Bijou, with Knoxville band Robinella, as well as R.B. Morris and the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra performing. Haslam will attend the event as a special guest. Festivities begin at 8 p.m. The Bijou Theater opened March 8, 1909, as part of an already existing hotel known as the Lamar House. Built in 1817 as a hotel and tavern, the Lamar House is the fourth oldest building in Knoxville. It now houses The Bistro restaurant and the theater’s offices. The first performance at the Bijou was “Little Johnny Jones” starring George M. Cohan on the theater’s opening night. In the next several years, performers including the Marx Brothers, Dizzy Gillespie and many others graced the stage. Concerts already planned for the Bijou’s summer season include the following: • The Yard Dogs Road Show, Sunday, June 4, 8 p.m. • Richard Thompson, Wednesday, June 7, 8 p.m. • Dickey Betts, Friday, June 9, 8 p.m. Betts joined the Allman Brothers in the late ‘60s until they broke up in 1976. • Mountain Heart, Friday, June 23, 8 p.m. Mountain Heart is a traditional bluegrass band with several former members of Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver. • The Gourds, Sunday, June 25, 8 p.m.