|
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
|
The Community Arts Center in nearby Elizabethton Tennessee
All photos and illustrations by
|
And what a setting they have chosen! The historic Bonnie Kate Theater on South Sycamore Street in Elizabethton Tennessee is still maintained as a movie theater but also houses the Community Arts Center. There is a gallery shop on the first floor and the light-filled second floor houses classrooms for art classes for participants of all ages. In addition, the group uses a stage in one of the two movie theaters for theatrical productions and musical performances.
|
This organization has just celebrated its first anniversary but you might not suspect that when you walk in their well-organized gallery shop with impressive local arts and crafts. They celebrated their anniversary with an "Evening of Jazz" on September 29 on the Bonnie Kate stage. The featured performers were Rick Simerly, Charles Goodwin, Martin Walters and Eddie Dalton.
|
As with any active organization in a historic location, renovation is an ongoing task. They are currently working on their second floor classroom area, already a great setting for small arts and crafts classes.
The 500 seat Bonnie Kate Theater opened in 1926. In the late 1960s it was advertised as the "Rocking Chair Theater", the first theater east of the Mississippi with rocking chair seating. A great source of old photos of the theater is "Images of America: Elizabethton" by Michael and Lanette Depew (Arcadia Publishing). Below is a link to the book's listing on Amazon.com.
|
The organization has received much support from the community. You can join in with the following membership choices:
|
Some interesting links related to this article: |