Historic Theaters of the Tennessee Tri-Cities

The Stories Behind Iconic Venues

Theaters in the Tri-Cities featured everything from early minstrel shows of the nineteenth century to the modern multiplex movie houses of the twenty-first century. It’s a complex subject that is closely connected to the region’s overall history. The Barter Theatre is the official theater of Virginia. Memorial Hall Theater, which opened in 1904, may be the oldest operating venue in the region. The Johnson City Transit Center now sits at the previous site of four famous theaters. Robert Sorrell details the history of these iconic theaters and the influence they had on their communities.

Author Robert Sorrell is an award-winning journalist and freelance writer. Based in Johnson City, Tennessee, and a current Bristol Herald Courier reporter, he has contributed to numerous publications and is the author of regional history books. He is also the recipient of the Award of Distinction from the East Tennessee Historical Society.