Some information the Captol Theater in Elizabethton, Tennessee. The Capitol was located on the north side of Elk Avenue in “Old Town” or “Cat Island” as it is known locally. I think the Capitol came along in the late forties/early fifties and did not last long. I saw one movie there.
Some information the “Bonnie Kate” Theater in Elizabethton, Tennessee. During the years 1926 through 1929 Elizabethton experience a boom time when the Bemberg and Glanzstoff Rayon factories began operations there and several theaters were the result of that boom. The Bonnie Kate Theater is located at 115 Sycamore Street and is still in operation. The Bonnie Kate was built the Classical Revival Design and opened in the spring of 1926. The “Bonnie Kate” was named after Katherine Sherrill Sevier, a heroine of Carter County in the 1700’s and the wife of the first Governor of Tennessee. The “Bonnie Kate” opened to a full house of 500 enjoying the showing of a silent film. During the 1930’s and in the 1940’s a live local music show called “Barrels of Fun” was broadcast by two radio stations to a listening audience reported to be in the millions in the southeastern United States. I saw many movies here in the 1950’s. The theater converted to a split screen and rocking chair seating in 1969 and was reportedly the first theater east of the Mississippi with this type seating. Their concessions currently include burgers, etc.
Some information on the Ritz Theater in Elizabethton, Tennessee. During the years 1926 through 1929 Elizabethton experience a boom time when the Bemberg and Glanzstoff Rayon factories began operations there and several theaters were the result of that boom.
The Ritz was located at 608 Elk Avenue in the Birchfiel Building that was constructed in the late 1920s by Thomas Construction Company (a local contractor). The building is in the Art Nouveau style and is the only Art Nouveau style building in Elizabethton. You can still see the comedy and tragedy masks on each side of the center windows and the decorative patterns in the concrete. I saw many movies and Saturday Serials in this theater.
Some information on the “Grand” and “Betsy” Theaters in Elizabethton, Tennessee. During the years 1926 through 1929 Elizabethton experience a boom time when the Bemberg and Glanzstoff Rayon factories began operations there and several theaters were the result of that boom. The “Grand” was the first theater in Elizabethton and was located on south side of Elk Avenue about four buildings east of Sycamore Avenue. The “Grand” burned in late 1926 or early 1927 but was remodeled and re-opened in December of 1927. Sometime latter it was renamed the “Betsy†Theater, “Betsy” the nickname for Elizabeth Maclin Carter for whom Elizabethton was named in 1796. In the 1970’s a downtown renewal project turned the “Betsy” into a walkway to a parking lot leaving only the facade. The facade is visible today.
Some information on the “Grand” and “Betsy” Theaters in Elizabethton, Tennessee. During the years 1926 through 1929 Elizabethton experience a boom time when the Bemberg and Glanzstoff Rayon factories began operations there and several theaters were the result of that boom. The “Grand” was the first theater in Elizabethton and was located on south side of Elk Avenue about four buildings east of Sycamore Avenue. The “Grand” burned in late 1926 or early 1927 but was remodeled and re-opened in December of 1927. Sometime latter it was renamed the “Betsy†Theater, “Betsy” the nickname for Elizabeth Maclin Carter for whom Elizabethton was named in 1796. In the 1970’s a downtown renewal project turned the “Betsy” into a walkway to a parking lot leaving only the facade. The facade is visible today.
Some information the Captol Theater in Elizabethton, Tennessee. The Capitol was located on the north side of Elk Avenue in “Old Town” or “Cat Island” as it is known locally. I think the Capitol came along in the late forties/early fifties and did not last long. I saw one movie there.
Some information the “Bonnie Kate” Theater in Elizabethton, Tennessee. During the years 1926 through 1929 Elizabethton experience a boom time when the Bemberg and Glanzstoff Rayon factories began operations there and several theaters were the result of that boom. The Bonnie Kate Theater is located at 115 Sycamore Street and is still in operation. The Bonnie Kate was built the Classical Revival Design and opened in the spring of 1926. The “Bonnie Kate” was named after Katherine Sherrill Sevier, a heroine of Carter County in the 1700’s and the wife of the first Governor of Tennessee. The “Bonnie Kate” opened to a full house of 500 enjoying the showing of a silent film. During the 1930’s and in the 1940’s a live local music show called “Barrels of Fun” was broadcast by two radio stations to a listening audience reported to be in the millions in the southeastern United States. I saw many movies here in the 1950’s. The theater converted to a split screen and rocking chair seating in 1969 and was reportedly the first theater east of the Mississippi with this type seating. Their concessions currently include burgers, etc.
Some information on the Ritz Theater in Elizabethton, Tennessee. During the years 1926 through 1929 Elizabethton experience a boom time when the Bemberg and Glanzstoff Rayon factories began operations there and several theaters were the result of that boom.
The Ritz was located at 608 Elk Avenue in the Birchfiel Building that was constructed in the late 1920s by Thomas Construction Company (a local contractor). The building is in the Art Nouveau style and is the only Art Nouveau style building in Elizabethton. You can still see the comedy and tragedy masks on each side of the center windows and the decorative patterns in the concrete. I saw many movies and Saturday Serials in this theater.
Some information on the “Grand” and “Betsy” Theaters in Elizabethton, Tennessee. During the years 1926 through 1929 Elizabethton experience a boom time when the Bemberg and Glanzstoff Rayon factories began operations there and several theaters were the result of that boom. The “Grand” was the first theater in Elizabethton and was located on south side of Elk Avenue about four buildings east of Sycamore Avenue. The “Grand” burned in late 1926 or early 1927 but was remodeled and re-opened in December of 1927. Sometime latter it was renamed the “Betsy†Theater, “Betsy” the nickname for Elizabeth Maclin Carter for whom Elizabethton was named in 1796. In the 1970’s a downtown renewal project turned the “Betsy” into a walkway to a parking lot leaving only the facade. The facade is visible today.
Some information on the “Grand” and “Betsy” Theaters in Elizabethton, Tennessee. During the years 1926 through 1929 Elizabethton experience a boom time when the Bemberg and Glanzstoff Rayon factories began operations there and several theaters were the result of that boom. The “Grand” was the first theater in Elizabethton and was located on south side of Elk Avenue about four buildings east of Sycamore Avenue. The “Grand” burned in late 1926 or early 1927 but was remodeled and re-opened in December of 1927. Sometime latter it was renamed the “Betsy†Theater, “Betsy” the nickname for Elizabeth Maclin Carter for whom Elizabethton was named in 1796. In the 1970’s a downtown renewal project turned the “Betsy” into a walkway to a parking lot leaving only the facade. The facade is visible today.