New Life for a Condemned Theater

Grand Majestic Theater – Photo by Michael Williams, Jefferson County Post Staff Writer

On the Parkway in Pigeon Forge sits a theater that barely escaped the wrecking ball. The theater, which was once home to Magic Beyond Belief, had been gutted and was in the process of being demolished. It had once been the scene of a popular magic show that had brought delight to legions of visitors. But, in 2010, developers made plans to construct a water themed attraction on the site. The show was moved across the street and the two shows in the neighboring theaters were moved as well.

Inside the Magic Beyond Belief Theater workers went to work removing every seat, the concession stand, bathroom fixtures, the box office and much of the façade. They were in the process of removing the stage when the deal fell through. The dream of building the new attraction would never come to fruition. In the end three theaters had moved and one was about to be demolished and there was nothing to show for it. That is until Doug and Jackie Miranda decided to breathe new life into the shell of a theater.

The Mirandas were the owners of the Grand Majestic Theater that sat atop the hill on Music Mountain Drive in Pigeon Forge for five years. The show was the home of America’s Hit Parade and the Soul of Motown. The couple decided to move their show into the old Magic Beyond Belief Theater. To do so would require major renovations.

“We installed a new concession stand, a new box office, seats, wall paper, office space upstairs, new bathroom fixtures, carpeting and a new façade,” said Doug Miranda. “We even had to cover the trap doors on the stage that were used by the magic act.”

The Mirandas rolled up their sleeves and did some of the work themselves saving thousands of dollars in labor costs. The wall paper in the lobby was installed by Doug as well as some of the painting. Work began in January 18, 2013, and the transformation was incredible. The Mirandas staged their first show in the new theater on March 17, just two months later. The cost of the facelift for the theater was approximately $150,000. According to Miranda, it was money well spent.

“We are excited,” said Doug Miranda. “Our new location has given us greater visibility and a marked increase in ticket sales.”

The Soul of Motown and America’s Hit Parade continue to enjoy great popularity and is ranked among the highest on trip advisor with more than 700 reviews all of which are positive. For more information about the show visit the web site http://www.thegrandmajestic.com