For today’s generation, the building on Sycamore Street across from the Elizabethton City Hall doesn’t mean much, but to countless Carter Countians of another era, the building known as the Bonnie Kate Theater holds some special memories.
Harvey Pritchard, former Elizabethton STAR executive, worked as an usher at the theater during his high school years — in the 1940s.
“I made $15 a week, and I worked after school and on the weekends. We, generally, had the largest crowds on Friday and Saturday nights,” Pritchard said.
As an usher he seated people, and after the last show of the evening, Pritchard made one last check of the theater to make sure no one stayed behind. “Occasionally, we’d have someone who had been drinking stray into the theater and take a seat. We’d have to awaken them after the last show and send them on their way,” Pritchard said.
“I also helped with making the popcorn. We usually started popping the corn about 20 to 30 minutes before movie time,” he said.
Pritchard said it was sad to learn the theater building will go on the auction block “There’s a lot of memories in that old building, a lot of history. For many years it was one of the most popular places in town. It was where you took your sweetheart on Friday night to catch a movie,” he shared.
The theater building will be auctioned off at 11 a.m. next Friday by Jim Wood Realty and Auction Co. of Jonesborough. Citizens Banks holds the deed to the building and adjacent lot, which was foreclosed on last year. A total of $230,000 is owed on the building.
A local group of concerned citizens has been raising money in recent months, hoping to buy the building and turning it into a performing arts center. John Huber, who is heading up the group said he plans to be there (at the auction) and place a bid. “We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”
In late October, the Bonnie Kate made the Tennessee Preservation Trust’s List of Most Threatened Historic Sites in the state, making it eligible for state funds should the group be able to purchase the building.
Build in 1926, the theater for a number of years in the 1940s and 1950s was home to a radio show called Barrel of Fun. Over three million people tuned in to the radio show each Saturday morning.
“I remember it well,” said Peggy Davis. “George Simerly and his brother, Charles, emceed the program. A lot of local musicians got their start on the Bonnie Kate stage,” said Davis, noting that Bonnie Lou and Buster appeared on several of the shows.
Earl Williams, former manager of Watson’s and Peebles, has some fond memories of the Bonnie Kate. Although he worked for a brief time at the Capitol and Ritz Theaters, Williams said when a newspaper carrier for the STAR, he at times would receive free tickets to the Bonnie Kate when he paid his paper bill on Friday. “That was big with me, because it meant I got to go to the movies,” he said.
Another person who has fond memories of the Bonnie Kate is former owner Ray Glover. Glover’s love affair with the Bonnie Kate began when he was a young boy.
“I went to the movies there when I was just a kid. It cost nine cents to get in. I remember a time when Johnny Mack Brown came to the Bonnie Kate. I couldn’t beg, borrow, or steal money to go. It was such a disappointment to me,” he said.
Glover later worked at the Bonnie Kate, but had resolved when just a boy to own his own theater. “I was just a boy, and Mr. Neal ran me off from the Ritz Theater. Mrs. Gregg, who worked there, came after me and grabbed me by the arm and brought me back. My thought at that moment was ‘I’d show him one day.’”
Glover noted that a lot of successful people had worked at the Bonnie Kate, among them Gary Odom, who now serves in the Tennessee Legislature; Drew White, a journalist, and Charlie Hux, just to name a few.
“I loved the downtown. But, like the downtown, the movie industry changed. Big box stores and malls came in, and downtown changed. Big movie houses and televisions led to the demise of the small town theater,” Glover said.

Brian and Cindy Higgs, the last owners, bought the theater from Leroy Policky. In addition to the theater, the Higgs’ operated a cafe and ice cream shop in the building. Once they stopped operating the theater, they tried to replace it with a dinner theater and live music.
The last movie to show at the Bonnie Kate was on Nov. 16, 2012 – The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2.
Huber noted that the building needs some repair work, especially the roof. “There have been issues with the roof for some time, and at one point the Higgs’ had requested financial help from the community to replace the roof.”
Late last year at the authorization of the bank some repairs were made to the roof. Floyd Storie of Floyd Storie Roofing said rain had leaked all the way through the roof to the rafters and sheathing.
If the foundation should be successful in their bid to purchase the building, Huber said seating would need to be replaced and other improvements made.
“New lighting and a better sound system will have to be installed as well as a new stage. We are probably talking about $1 million in renovation costs,” he said.
Floyd Storie, a member of the Bonnie Kate committee, said, “I hope the building can be preserved. It is one of the most historical buildings in the city. Most everyone, who is 35 years or older, has a memory of the Bonnie Kate and attending the movies there.
Huber said as a performing arts center, the Bonnie Kate has all kinds of entertainment possibilities. More specifically, he mentioned concerts, even plays by Barter Theater, as well as college and high school productions.
Should the Bonnie Kate group be outbid on the theater, Huber said all money donated for the purchase will be returned.