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Now showing at the Capri: renovation

Friday, September 4, 2009
By Sadie Fowler

Matt Hill works on the Capri Theater's facelift Thursday by getting rid of the 40-year-old chairs and making space for new rocking seats.
(T-G Photo by Sadie Fowler) [Order this photo]

Who would have thought cozy rocking chairs being hauled off to the dump would mean that Mr. Economy is actually treating some people well?

No, truckloads of old chairs being hauled away from the 61-year-old Capri Theater on Depot Street do not mean the theater is going out of business.

Over the last few weeks, owners Ray and Beth Rhoton have been replacing the old, worn out, golden, ripped and raggedy -- yet still very popular -- theater chairs for two reasons.

Manager Mary Cates sits in one of the new chairs in the upstairs theater. The theaters also have new drapes on the walls and the downstairs theater has a new screen.
(T-G Photo by Sadie Fowler)
[Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]
One, they can afford to, because despite a struggling economy, the Capri is doing just fine.

"Of the comments I've heard so far, people are glad to see money being put into the theater, because that means we're staying open," manager Mary Cates said. "We're not going anywhere ... It's a little slow here now with the horse show, but that's normal. The theater is holding its own."

Unlike most theaters, at the Capri folks can buy an evening ticket for $6 and matinees are a dollar off. Their low prices, even for popcorn and sodas, attract regular customers from Murfreesboro and Tullahoma and keep locals coming back as well.

The second reason for replacing the chairs in the theater, known by locals as the "rocking chair theater," is because Cates was running out of supplies to fix the old chairs. Cates said she would have to take out rows of chairs, only to use those chairs for parts to fix other chairs.

The Capri was built in 1948 and operated for many years by Clyde Jacobs, who passed away in April. Since then, the chairs -- well, half of the chairs -- have been replaced once.

"These chairs in the downstairs theater were done 40 years ago, but the ones upstairs are original," Cates said.

The Rhotons, who purchased the Capri in 2002, are renovating the Shelbyville theater in addition to their two other theaters (in Winchester and Estill Springs) in stages so they don't actually have to shut the them down during the renovations.

Cates said it's evident how much folks liked those old rocking chairs. In the downstairs theater, there are three sections. The side two sections were the first to be replaced with the sharp new burgundy and black chairs, while the old ones remained in the middle section.

Cates said she'd peek in during a movie and customers who started out sitting on the new chairs would have shifted to the old seats.

"People who have been here will miss the old chairs until those new ones get broken in, but they will rock!" Cates laughed, explaining the new chairs are very comfortable, and much more modern ... just not quite as soft as the old ones -- yet, Cates said.

Renovations at the theater, which also include new drapes in both rooms as well as a new screen downstairs, should be completed by the end of the month.

The Capri is open nightly, with two shows at 7 p.m. Matinees are shown, in addition to the evening shows, on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 and 4 p.m.

Comments

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i got my first kiss as a teenager (1974) in them old rocking seats....yea!! good luck to the new chairs i hope others are as lucky!!!

-- Posted by chefgrape on Fri, Sep 4, 2009, at 10:58 AM

Our community is lucky to have such a nice affordable place to go to the movies.

-- Posted by BCAC-Brenda on Fri, Sep 4, 2009, at 12:38 PM

I want to apologize up front but I went to the theater last week and sat upstairs to see the new Halloween movie with my son. My son weighs about 200 pounds...he had to sit sideways in the seat with his back facing me sitting to his left with both of his knees together to the right of the seat in front of him. I had to sit with my legs spread because there was 4 to 5 inches of space between the front of my seat and the seat in front of me. Unless you weigh 96 pounds soaking wet then it is very hard to sit with your legs in front of you because there isnt enough room. I will not go to another movie upstairs and I am hoping there is more legroom downstairs between the seats when it is finished. If it turns out that it is the same downstairs as it is upstairs then I wont be back at all. Not everyone in Shelbyville is skinny. It would be hard for any grown man of 200 pounds to sit comfortably in the upstairs seats. I would like to come back in the future to watch a movie but will have to see if it will be comfortable enough to do so.

-- Posted by AmericanWoman on Fri, Sep 4, 2009, at 1:45 PM

Who remembers the Princes theater? Iguess that dates me.

-- Posted by jim8377 on Fri, Sep 4, 2009, at 1:47 PM

I am glad to see the new seats . . . I love this theater but dont go that much because the old seats were never very comfortable for me but you can't beat the price of admission or the concessions. I will definitely go to try the new seats out and if they are like the ones in Tullahoma and Murfreesboro then I will definitely be giving them more of my business.

BTW . . . it's good to see a local business prosper like this and we all should do our part to support it.

-- Posted by jaxspike on Fri, Sep 4, 2009, at 2:15 PM

I went 2 Tullahoma to see the new Halloween and there seats are rocking chairs,,,but its inconvient to have a rocking chair while taking in a horror movie because when you jump from the movie your chair jerks and makes you feel like your gonna flip over backward as for the lady talking trash about the Capri,,,i'm 120 pounds and I've seen tons of movies at that great theater and I was comfortable the whole way through my aunt is 154 pounds and 5'6 and she didnt have 2 sit funny b/c of "no room" the theater is very very comfortable and while I'm glad to see it catching up with the times i do not believe it deserved the trash you talked about it. MAYBE YOUR SON SHOULD GO ON A DIET. I bet you bought him A JUMBO POPCORN WITH EXTRA EXTRA BUTTER. If theres so little space then why was I able to fit me, a little stroller my purse and my sons diaper bag and carrier behind the row in front of me comfortably? Your just looking for something to complain about. Go to weight watchers and quit your whining!

GO CAPRI YOU ROCK!!!!!

-- Posted by freakyfriday on Fri, Sep 4, 2009, at 2:24 PM

I'm really excited about the new seats. Now, if they could get some lights in the main theater before the show so I can find my seat, and a better sound system so I can feel the movie beating me in the chest. Then, our little theater would be unmatched.

-- Posted by acoustik on Fri, Sep 4, 2009, at 2:45 PM

With alot of businesses closing with the economy the way it is I am so glad to see the Capri is renovating and doing well. I think it benefits our community in so many differant ways, thanks Capri!

-- Posted by ShelbyvilleSky.com on Fri, Sep 4, 2009, at 4:19 PM

freakyfriday,

You are a moron. It is not uncomman for a fit teenage boy to weigh 200lbs.

And BTW, a movie like that is hardly the place for a baby young enough to need a stroller. Nothing worse than a crying baby in a movie theater.

-- Posted by gottago on Fri, Sep 4, 2009, at 5:23 PM

Shortly after the Capri Theatre became known as the "rocking chair" thatre, I saw my first movie there. "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" starring Don Knotts. All these years later, (too many) I still find myself going to the Capri and I enjoy it as much now as I did then.

-- Posted by Tattoos & Scars on Fri, Sep 4, 2009, at 9:42 PM

-- Posted by acoustik on Fri, Sep 4, 2009, at 2:45 PM

Amen!! I love the Capri, the only thing that keeps me from seeing action packed movies there is the lack of DLP and surround sound. Oh, and the lack of accessible parking (but that is to be expected on a square). I am so glad to see these folks investing in this community, I just wished they'd also bring a drive in to this county as well.

-- Posted by darrick_04 on Sat, Sep 5, 2009, at 10:37 AM

My family really enjoys the Capri. The ticket and concession prices can't be beat! Plus, I can take my grandson to a movie, even on a week night, and have him home by bed time. And now, with 3 restaurants on the square, you can have dinner and a movie and never have to move your car.

-- Posted by Donna Thomas on Sat, Sep 5, 2009, at 11:58 AM

I love the Capri, but i wish the sound system was better. I go to the Capri all the time but my brother insists on the Windsong in the Boro for the sound system experiance.

You go Capri.. I luv ya.,.

-- Posted by 4fabfelines on Sat, Sep 5, 2009, at 8:46 PM

I wish it would have the 3 D glasses,when a movie is in 3 D.And as for the seats,they would be better if the arm rests could be pulled up,so a not so skinny person could sit more comfortable in them.

And how cruel to make a remark to the size pop corn a child eats,because of his weight.That was a shameful remark.But then, the person who made that remark must be Gods twin. So they had the right to judge. "NOT"

To the child that the remark was made to: just remember, "We reap what we sow and God will judge the person who judged you."

-- Posted by Wheelbillie on Sun, Sep 6, 2009, at 6:35 PM

As I understood from Mary the seats have arm rests that move up and down to accomodate my "large Husband".We have not been back since, can someone tell me if this is the case?

(Before you start on the fat jokes, he is large due to working out and being over 6' tall..)

-- Posted by Juju35 on Tue, Sep 8, 2009, at 1:43 PM

Thanks for everyone's comments. We are trying to renovate as we can. The seats and drapes were a large investment for us and we need everyone's business in order to do more updates. The downstairs seats are much larger and do rock. We did lose some seating in order to have the nice chairs. Upstairs the seats are stationary and are a tighter fit. To the customer that had an uncomfortable experience ... there are a couple of rows upstairs that are tighter fits than others. Maybe you were in one of those rows. Also, the arms do raise on all chairs. A new and improved sound system is on our wish list. Thanks again for your comments and check us out on Facebook under Montana Drive In. Our facebook fans receive all movies before they are listed anywhere else!

-- Posted by rhoton8500 on Tue, Sep 15, 2009, at 7:48 PM