The site of the present Capitol Theatre was originally the WA Dunlap Building, built circa 1910, and housed the Bogle McCammon Furniture Co. and Undertaking establishment. The building later was the location of the J.C. Penney Company until the company lost its lease in 1934. Crescent Amusement Company began construction of the Capitol Theatre that same year. Crescent owned a chain of theatres across the south. The Capitol was the largest venue of three movie houses in downtown Maryville, seating just under 1000 people. The other two theaters were the present day Palace Theater, and the Park Theatre, which was in the building directly across the street. Legend has it a hidden speakeasy under the Capitol, known as The Emerald Room, opened in 1919, and still exists today ; )

Typical of art deco style movie houses of the post depression era, the Capitol was the flagship entertainment venue for locals, where parents would often drop their children off for an afternoon matinee while they shopped.

In the 1930s a movie ticket cost .23 cents, and a box of popcorn was a dime. From the 1920s to 1960s, known as the Hollywood Golden Age, studios were pushing out gem after gem of B-Westerns, gangster films, and musicals. In 1939, two beloved films, The Wizard of Oz, and Gone With the Wind, were expensively produced with Technicolor. In the adjacent photo, locals line up outside for the premier of Gone With the Wind. The photo was taken by a young teenager, the late Elmer Mize, from a window in a building across the street. Elmer would one day be the Maryville town historian. The banner reds, “Nothing Cut But the Price!,” a promotion of the uncensored version where the first curse was used in a major release in modern American cinema history.

According to the late Ed Abbott, who was a ticket usher as teenager, and the theatre manager for many years, the Capitol had 999 seats, less chairs than its capacity due to insurance rates. The theatre’s fly loft over the stage allowed the silver screen to retract in order to also accommodate live theater and musical performances. Bluegrass legend, Ralph Stanley, performed at the grand opening.  After it finally closed in the 1970’s, the Capitol housed a variety of tenants, including Roy’s Records Shop, a disco tech, a wedding dress boutique, and a sports collectibles shop.

In 2008 the Capitol underwent a complete renovation. The sloped flooring in the main auditorium was tiered to accommodate a dinner theater format with state-of-the-art lighting and sound.  The adjacent Capitol theatre Ice Cream Parlor is a whimsical local favorite for scrumptious movie themed treats and is adorned from floor to ceiling in movie props and memorabilia. 

Since the revival of this historic gem, the Capitol has enjoyed much success and is particularly popular for private events and weddings. The Capitol has been named one of the 10 Most Amazing Venues in the U.S. The Capitol has been featured in Southern Living magazine, Tennessee Crossroads, and is part of the Tennessee Heritage Trail. The Capitol has been awarded a Business Excellence Award by the Blount County Chamber of Commerce, and the Oak Shingle Award for outstanding restoration.