Imagine finding an old, yellowed journal from June of 1939 at a local estate sale, opening it, and reading:
My Dearest Diary,
I am simply bubbling over with such excitement; I just have to confide in you! My heart has been stolen away! I am, quite honestly, head over heels in LOVE! Now, don’t go thinking it’s a fellow. It’s the movies! (Fooled ya, didn’t I?) But, truly, Bowling Green is just the finest town a picture fan could ask for! And whilst I admire our other Crescent Amusement theaters (the Princess and the Diamond), my heart belongs to the Capitol! It’s the most grand picture palace in town, showing such splendid features, and my spirit just takes wing when I’m watching stories on the silver screen there. In that darkened hall, I’m in movie heaven, and life is just grand.
That Park City Daily News reporter surely hit the nail on the head when he called the Capitol “one of the most modern theatres in the South.” Every time I’ve been there since its reopening in March, it’s been just packed! And the new sound system, oh my! It’s simply marvelous, and makes you feel right in the thick of it. Everything is as clear as a bell! They call the equipment “mirro-phonic,” which I haven’t the foggiest what it means, but it sounds quite the thing, doesn’t it? And those seats, they’re much comfier than before. I do so love that they’re staggered, so no more bobbing about to see the screen. The refrigerated drinking fountain in the lobby is such a treat, and the air conditioning is just perfect for these sweltering summer days!
My word, look at the time! I must be off now – another picture awaits!
While the narrative above is a work of fiction, it provides a number of details about the experiences one might have had at the Capitol in 1939, following its major renovation. Many details were culled from newspaper stories from the Newspapers.com’s Southeast Collection(available at https://warrenpl.org/news-tech). To give full credit, it was inspired by Telia Butler’s “Throwback Thursday” that aired on WNKY April 24, which highlighted information from her grandmother’s 1940s diary, that also mentioned going to movies at the Capitol (thanks, Telia!).
Bringing it back to today, the Capitol is again a wonderful place to watch movies, and it’s the least expensive place in town (can’t beat FREE, can you?)! We have quite an extensive offering in June, including:
•Monday, June 2, 2pm & 6:30pm A Dolly Parton Classic in honor of Duncan Hines Days (1980, Rated PG)
•Tuesday, June 3, 12:30pm “D-I-G. What does that spell?” (2003, Rated PG)
•Wednesday, June 4, 6:30pm Kubrick’s Sci-fi Epic (1968, Rated G)
•Saturday, June 7, 5pm & 7pm SOKY Alliance Movie Night (film 1: 2023, Rated R; film 2: 1999, Rated R)
•Tuesday, June 10, 12:30pm Animated Knights Galore (1963, Rated G)
•Wednesday, June 11, 6:30pm Heath Ledger’s Knight Adventure (2001, Rated PG-13)
•Friday, June 13, 7pm & 9pm A Friday the 13th Celebration (film 1: 1980; film 2: 1981; both Rated R) co-hosted by the BG Horror Club
•Tuesday, June 17, 12:30pm One Bear’s Journey of a Lifetime (2003, Rated G)
•Tuesday, June 17, 6:30pm Herzog’s Treadwell Documentary (2005, Rated R)
•Wednesday, June 18, 6:30pm Kurosawa’s Contemplation on Art & Life (1990, Rated PG)
•Thursday, June 19, 6:30pm A Juneteenth Celebration (2016, Rated PG-13)
•Saturday, June 21, 3pm (1983, Rated PG); 5pm (1985, Rated R); 7pm (1986, Rated PG-13) A Whole Day of John Hughes
•Tuesday, June 24, at 12:30pm Hugh Jackman as P.T. Barnum (2017, Rated PG)
To see the full list with titles, go to capitolbg.org/events. Our public performance license will allow us to post them on our website but will not allow us to publish them in a magazine, newspaper, or on social media.
Finally, we want to remind you also about the Summer Solstice Concert scheduled for Friday, June 20 at 7pm at the Capitol. The evening will be a special celebration featuring the return of Rebecca Baumbach, Skip Cleavinger, Pat Broaders, and John Skelton! This accomplished group will fill the night with the beautiful sounds of Irish flute, tin whistles, Galician pipes, bouzouki, and other traditional instruments, alongside captivating Celtic poetry. Join WCPL for a night of music, verse, and community spirit as we mark the longest day of the year.
Follow us on social media (@capitolbg) or sign up for our online newsletter (tinyurl.com/CapitolBGNews) to keep up with everything going on – we don’t want you to miss a thing!
-by Ashley Fowlkes
Be the first to comment