LIS 648: Week Eight

This week we had a special treat at the East TN History Center: Dean Novelli, a local author and historian, gave a lecture regarding the history of the Lamar House Building. The building is the oldest continually operating commercial building in Knoxville and was constructed in the late 1700s.

The building, I learned, was the site of a party thrown for Andrew Jackson! It was later turned into a used car store (inside the theater!) as well as an adult theater and house of ill repute. The building has since been mostly restored and houses the Bijou Theater as well as the Bistro at the Bijou, a beloved community restaurant.