Memorial Auditorium's Walker Theatre hosts open house

Upgrades including new lights, sound, renovations to dressing rooms and more have been made in Walker Theatre, located inside Memorial Auditorium. (Staff photo by Erin O. Smith)
Upgrades including new lights, sound, renovations to dressing rooms and more have been made in Walker Theatre, located inside Memorial Auditorium. (Staff photo by Erin O. Smith)
photo Dave Holscher, general manager of the Tivoli Theatre, points out upgrades being made to the dressing rooms Friday, Aug. 11, 2017 at the Walker Theatre in Chattanooga, Tenn. Work is being done to improve the theater with updates including new lights, sounds, renovations to dressing rooms and more.

Are you curious about what the recently updated Walker Theatre inside Memorial Auditorium looks like?

Did you even know there was such a venue as the Robert Kirk Walker Theatre inside the venerable old building? It does exist and has been there since the building was built in 1926.

Check it out for yourself Thursday, Dec. 7, beginning at 5:30 p.m. during an open house. Memorial Auditorium is located at 399 McCallie Ave.

Simply called Walker Theatre, it seats 851 people and is located upstairs above the main auditorium. Over the years, it has played host to school groups, dance studio recitals, film screenings, film festivals, church services, spoken-word programs and concerts.

It underwent renovations in 2011-12, with most of the work focused on the room itself, as well as seating. This past year, the Tivoli Foundation added permanent stage lighting and a sound system and remodeled the bathrooms, backstage and concession areas.

Rooms that had for years been used for storage, now serve as green rooms or dressing areas. Vintage-era lighting fixtures were also added in the public areas.

There is no charge to attend the open house. Discounted drinks and refreshments will be available in the concession area.

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