Ritz Theatre
119 North Main Street,
Clinton,
TN
37716
119 North Main Street,
Clinton,
TN
37716
2 people
favorited this theater
The Ritz Theatre was located on the town square across from the Court House. It opened in 1945 and closed as a movie theatre in 1969. It was reopened again in 1972 and housed the Red Speeks Country Music Show which was a local radio show. It was closed again in 1987.
In 2000 it was cleaned up, remodeled and reopened featuring movies and live performances. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
Contributed by
Chuck
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Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
Couple photos of the Ritz Theatre.
http://www.agilitynut.com/05/1/ritz5.jpg
http://www.agilitynut.com/05/1/ritz4.jpg
Here is another photo of the Ritz Theater.
Another photo of the Ritz theater in Clinton can be seen here.
Added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1998
Ritz Theatre and Hoskins Rexall Drug Store No. 2 (added 1998 – Building – #98001446)
Also known as Red Speeks' Country Music Theatre
111-121 N. Main St., Clinton
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Hughes, Edd, Speight & Hibbs
Architectural Style: Moderne
Area of Significance: Architecture
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Commerce/Trade, Health Care, Landscape, Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Medical Business/Office, Specialty Store, Street Furniture/Object, Theater
Current Function: Commerce/Trade, Health Care, Landscape, Work In Progress
Current Sub-function: Medical Business/Office, Specialty Store, Street Furniture/Object
The Ritz was listed in the 1970 motion picture almanac, but it may have closed before press time. The operator at that time was the Rockwood Amusement Company out of Nashville.
I remember when the Brocks' reopened the theatre. I lived in a small downtown apartment that was within walking distance to the theatre. My daughter and I would drive by the Ritz on our way home to see what movie was playing and it was always exciting for her to hear that we were going to see a show. We would grab a bite to eat at the Mexican Restaurant (which used to be downtown) and then walk our meal off on the way to the show. The Brocks hospitality is second to no other theatre I have visited and was always genuinely heart warming. I have lots of memories of various performances at the Ritz but those cold nights walking w/ my daughter are definitely the best. So that’s my stroll down memory lane and my ode to the Ritz.
Sure wonder what “An Evening In Mayberry” was in Lost Memory’s 2005 photo link.
Vintage Mayberry patrol cars out front and two showings? Must have been a unique event what ever it was.
Don’t know of any film of that name.
I’ll have to hit up the old imdb.
I think it was a live event David. “An Evening in Mayberry” held in Tennessee. Wasn’t Mayberry supposed to be in North Carolina? I wonder if Opie made an appearance. LOL
1984 photo of the Ritz Thesatre. In 1984 it was the County Music Theatre.
View link
This is a 2009 photo.