Historic East Tennessee theatre marks 100 years

HARRIMAN, Tenn. (WVLT) - Harriman's historic Princess Theatre is celebrating 100 years of hosting performances in East Tennessee. Formerly a 900-seat showplace, the theatre was originally built in 1926 by Crescent Amusement. At the time, it was known as one of the larger movie theatres in a small town, according to the theatre's website. The historic building has also seen its fair share of ups and downs, including being destroyed in a 1939 fire, then reconstructed. It reopened on Nov. 16, 1939 and began showing movies once again to audiences in Harriman. That only lasted a few decades, however. In 1987, manager Cecil Johnson began to lease the theatre, learning the company that owned the building planned to close it. In 1999, Johnson retired and the doors were closed, according to the website. The closure prompted the City of Harriman, Roane State Community College, the Tennessee Technology Center at Harriman, Roane County Schools, business leaders and community leaders to come together in 2001 with plans to once again re-open. In 2004, the Princess Theatre Foundation formed to raise money for the project. Thanks to donations from the Tennessee Department of Transportation and TVA, the theatre was renovated in 2009. Now, the theatre acts as a performing arts and education center.