​TEMPLE

The History (at least the way we remember it)

There are a variety of stories and viewpoints on the origins of Temple.  We shall stick to the facts and leave the rest to folklore told by the story tellers of the future, around campfires, in the wilderness, near several species of small furry animals gathered together in a cave and grooving with a pict. 

 

The first Temple event took place in November of 2004 at a small bar called Amne$ia on Clinton Hwy, as a monthly compliment to the well established gothic dance night, Sanctus.  After a short time, it was requested by the owners of the venue that Temple become a weekly event or stop doing events all together.   The venue had been suffering from lack of business and our meager 100 patrons made all the difference in the world to them.   We decided that burning out as a weekly was better than not trying (thanks Spam) and the weekly event was born.

 

After a few months it was clear that one successful night per week was still not enough to keep the doors open and we went on the hunt for a new home.    Once Temple would get rolling, I, along with a few friends, would duck out of  Temple for an hour or so and drive around and see what other clubs were doing on a Saturday night.  On one of those nights we wandered into a club that most of us had long since forgotten;  The Electric Ballroom.    

 

The Ballroom was mostly being run as a drag club at the time, and numbers were slow on a Saturday night so the owner, Terry, agreed to give us a shot.  Thus began our long run in the building we called our home for years to come.    We had a few slow nights, and we had a few blow out events (like What Is Fetish?).  This became the place that almost everyone would remember as "where it all started".

 

After three years the building was sold and we were homeless,  but we did not quit.  Over the next few years we would make our home at a variety of places.  Sometimes for a month or two, some times for a year or more.  Legacy, The French Quarter, The Valarium, The Ciderhouse, Fairbanks, HottRods, The Maxx, The World Grotto, Blackstock, The Hill, and Relix Theatre.  Maybe there are some that I missed.  I am sure someone will tell me.  

 

When it was announced that The International would be opening in the building that was formally The Electric Ballroom (and the Valarium, and Ciderhouse, and Blackstock)  we were over the moon.  The owner promptly invited us to continue hosting our events and it feels like being home.

 

We are now Knoxville's longest running dance night (to the best of our knowledge) and only gothic / industrial / alternative themed dance night.  And to be fair we are equal parts social club, where those who enjoy the darkness will gather and chat over drinks,  and dance club, for those that cannot stay away from the dance floor.

 

The music runs from heavy industrial, classic goth, new wave, and metal to showtunes, classic 80s, quirky, odd, dark, cabaret and a lot more.

 

The dress code is fairly simple.  Jeans and Tshirt, ballgown, tuxedo, corsets, leather pants, cosplay and everything in between.  We don't judge.  We ask you to do the same.

 

In the meantime you should have a drink, talk to someone you have never met, and see if you can learn something new about yourself while you are at it.