Walk around Lebanon's Public Square after dark and the building with the bright vertical sign is the Capitol Theatre. It's one of Wilson County's few real cultural anchors — and the only reason it's still standing is that a local couple bought it as a passion project in 2009 after it had been sitting empty for almost 30 years.

A night out in downtown Lebanon, for most residents, starts at this theater. The Capitol's programming — classic films, concerts, musicals, private events — defines the evening rhythm of the Public Square more than any single restaurant or shop.

Quick Facts

• Address: 110 W Main St, Lebanon, TN 37087
• Opened: December 9, 1941
• Closed / Restored: Closed 1980; reopened early summer 2013
• Restoration: 2009–2013, led by Bob and Pam Black
• Programming: Films, concerts, musicals, private events, weddings
• Parking: Free street parking around the Public Square
• Website: capitoltheatretn.com
• Ticketing: capitoltheatretn.com and ticketsnashville.com

Source: Capitol Theatre official site, Cinema Treasures. Retrieved April 2026.

A Brief History

The Capitol Theatre opened December 9, 1941 — two days after Pearl Harbor — as Lebanon's premier movie house, seating around 1,000 people. It closed in 1980 and sat empty for almost 30 years. When Bob and Pam Black bought it in 2009, holes in the roof had caused significant interior damage. The restoration took four years; the theater reopened in early summer of 2013.

The Capitol remains one of the few privately-owned historic theaters still operating in the US. The restoration preserved original 1941 architectural detail: the proscenium arch, decorative plasterwork, period lighting fixtures. The result isn't a museum reproduction — it's a working mid-century movie house that happens to be 80+ years old.

What You Can See Here

• Classic film nights — older films shown on a proper theater screen
• Concerts — local and regional acts, occasional national tours working the small-venue circuit
• Musicals and stage productions — community and touring productions
• Private events — weddings, corporate events, fundraisers

Check capitoltheatretn.com for the current calendar before planning a visit. Programming rotates — there's no reliable everyday experience.

How to Visit

Best approach: pick a film or concert night from the calendar, park on the Public Square, grab dinner at one of the downtown restaurants, and walk over. Street parking is free around the Square; spaces fill within two blocks for popular events. Tickets sell online through the Capitol's site or ticketsnashville.com. Walk-up availability varies by event — not reliable for popular concerts.

Getting There from Wilson County

Source: Google Maps. Retrieved April 2026.

Best Times to Visit

Fall and spring are the busiest programming seasons with the highest density of concerts, musicals, and community events. Summer tends to feature classic-film series. Winter holidays bring seasonal programming including Christmas concerts. For first-time visitors, a Friday-evening classic-film event is the most representative starting point — shorter runtime, lower cost, comfortable seating, and enough restored architectural detail to make the building part of the experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did the Capitol Theatre in Lebanon open? December 9, 1941. It seated approximately 1,000 in its original configuration.

Who owns the Capitol Theatre? Bob and Pam Black bought the theater in 2009 and led its four-year restoration. The Capitol remains privately owned — unusual among historic theaters of its era.

Is the Capitol Theatre a movie theater or concert venue? Both, plus a wedding and private-event venue. It functions as a multi-purpose historic venue.

How do I get tickets? Most events sell online through capitoltheatretn.com or ticketsnashville.com. Walk-up availability varies by event.

Can you rent the Capitol Theatre for a wedding? Yes. The Capitol hosts weddings, corporate events, and private functions. Inquire through their official site for current availability.

A Local's Take

A town of 44,000 shouldn't necessarily have a 1,000-seat historic theater running live programming on the Public Square. That Lebanon does — and that it's there because a private couple decided not to let it die — tells you something about how this town actually operates. For anyone visiting Wilson County to decide whether it's a fit, timing a trip around a Capitol event is the single best way to test whether downtown Lebanon's evening life matches your life. Go see a classic film on a Friday night, walk the Square, grab dinner beforehand.

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Written by Jacob Armbrester, Real Estate Broker with Compass. Published 2026-04-30. Last updated 2026-04-19.