In small towns across Ingles country folks have found their way of embracing the arts and feeding into the culture of their communities. Well, that’s what we’re here to celebrate today. Welcome to the Capitol Theatre.

This is Greeneville, Tennessee. Home to about 15,000 people and the second-oldest town in the state, it was named for Revolutionary War hero, Nathaneal Greene. It’s got a beautiful downtown historic district, and right in the heart of all of it is the Capitol Theatre.

The theatre has a really interesting story. Originally built in 1934, it got its start as a silent movie house with touring Vaudeville acts. Over the years it’s been an antique store, a movie theatre, a performance venue… and now it’s the cultural center of this quaint southern town.

Its current iteration began in 2014 when local businessman Tracy Solomon purchased the property as an investment into his hometown community. Here in its tenth decade of new life it’s an active part of Greeneville’s downtown culture.

We’re visiting during one of the many movie nights that the theatre hosts. But it’s also home to a wide variety of other events. Concerts, parties, proms, even yoga classes take place here.

It’s a great spot to take in the evening’s entertainment. The beautiful lobby has all the snacks and beverages you need to enjoy the night, and the theatre itself is an intimate and thoroughly enjoyable space to take in the show – with over 300 seats and state of the art A/V equipment delivering a truly first-class experience.

The Capitol Theatre is certainly fulfilling its mission of being a beacon of light where family and friends can create a lifetime of memories. And they’re inviting community members to share those memories, creating collections of stories telling the tale of this special town.

Several times on this show we’ve talked about the importance of the arts in our communities. These are the experiences that bring us together. And having places like the Capitol Theatre where we can gather and share an evening of enjoyment with one another… well, that’s the glue that connects us all.