The historic Carolina Theater stands as a silent witness to nearly a century of change.

Originally opened in 1929, its grand architecture was once a beacon of entertainment in the city's cultural scene.

But by 1978, the theater had fallen silent as newer venues emerged.

Carolina Impact's Chris Clark unveils how a visionary restoration effort has breathed new life into this landmark.

(upbeat music) - [Chris] Renown novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald once mused that there are no great second acts.

Despite his words, the Foundation for the Carolinas believes he may have been mistaken, especially when it comes to the newly restored Carolina Theater.

- Restoring this gem, this thing that means so much to our community for 100 years, it's a really big mission.

- [Chris] When the Carolina Theater first opened its doors in 1927, the grand structure itself was as captivating as the silent film "A Kiss and a Taxi" that drew crowds inside.

Its design and ornate details rivaled the allure of the cinematic experience unfolding on the screen.

People eagerly paid not just to watch the film, but to immerse themselves in the marvel that was the theater itself.

- Everything was just beautiful.

Chandeliers from Spain, curtains from France.

It was probably the most exciting thing to happen in uptown Charlotte in 1927.

- [Chris] The theater played host to cinematic treasures like "Gone with the Wind.'

- Sir, you are no gentleman.

- And you, Miss, are no lady.

- [Chris] And "The Sound of Music."

♪ The hills are alive - [Chris] But perhaps the most unforgettable moment came in 1956.

(bright music) When a singer from Tupelo, Mississippi took the stage and left the audience breathless.

- He was 21 at the time.

The newspaper identified him as folksinger comes to Charlotte.

- [Chris] Before he was king, Elvis Presley electrified the crowd, leaving more than 1,000 fans heartbroken as they had to be turned away.

But like so many historic theaters of its time, the Carolina Theater's grandeur slowly faded.

The final curtain fell on November 27, 1978, after a last bittersweet screening of "The Fist" starring Bruce Lee.

- Uptown was just a place where people came to work and then went home.

As technology grew also, people wanted movie theaters that were near their home, that had parking.

- [Chris] The grand old palace stood abandoned for almost four decades.

Its splendor ravaged by the passage of time, the forces of nature, and at the hands of vandals.

Numerous restoration attempts came and went, each one falling short.

Yet in 2012, the city entrusted the property to the Foundation for the Carolinas.

Leaders vowed to breathe new life into the beloved landmark and knew they were in for a struggle from the moment they laid eyes on it.

- It was one of the most terrifying sites I've ever looked at in the real estate world.

You wouldn't know it now, but Mayor Gant and Mr. McCall and I looked at each other.

I looked at Michael Marsicano and said, "This is crazy."

Once we got started, the destination, the outcome, the complete restoration was never in doubt.

- [Chris] In 2017, the work began again.

Restoring the theater demanded an eye for detail.

It's a delicate dance between tradition and progress, requiring not just heavy construction workers, but artists and engineers who could weave together time-honored techniques with cutting-edge methods to revive the theater's grandeur.

- We only have a few black and white pictures that showed some of the original plaster work.

So, through that process, those artisans carved new pieces of plaster.

What you see is actual plaster, done the same way it was back in 1927.

- [Chris] The chairs were larger and more comfy, but the ironwork still ornate, along with the molding, the carpet, and of course, the ceiling.

- We had a scaffolding in this space so they could access the ceiling.

That scaffolding was up for two years.

- They are meticulous, and they are perfectionists.

The purists will love this.

- [Chris] So will the tech people.

It was state of the art in 1927 when it opened, and it's state of the art 100 years later.

- We have 10 laser projectors.

Six of them are used for projection mapping, and that's where we can project on all the walls inside the theater from floor to ceiling.

We have a full big screen, movie, projector, and screen.

- There is probably not a theater on the East Coast, maybe all the way to the Mississippi, that has this level of technological advancement.

- [Chris] The total cost of restoring the Carolina Theater is projected to reach roughly 90 million.

That's a hefty price tag that has raised some concerns.

Originally, the plan was to build a hotel atop the theater, creating a symbiotic relationship.

However, with the hotel plans currently on hold, some have questioned whether the theater can succeed on its own.

Despite these concerns, the Foundation for the Carolinas is confident the Carolina Theater has the strength and cultural value to stand and flourish independent of the hotel.

- That's why the programming will be focused 50% at a minimum on community civic engagement, emerging organizations, and supporting our emerging arts and culture.

We will have 50% of the theater programming that provides economic return.

Pages and pages of projections show it to be possible for the theater to be economically viable on its own.

- [Chris] After more than four decades of silence, the grand doors of the Carolina Theater are set to once again open to the public, beckoning a new generation to experience the splendor of a bygone era.

This historic institution now stands proudly as a symbol of resilience, ready to once again dazzle audiences and celebrate the spirit of the past while looking forward to the future.

For Carolina Impact, I'm Chris Clark.

(upbeat music)