Downtown historic theatre roof fund
Donation protected
Historic Capri Theatre "Capri on Main" in downtown Gaffney has reached its 80th year of continuous operation and hopes to keep on going to hit its 100 year anniversary but needs your help with getting there. This fall/winter season with high winds and heavy rains was brutal on the aging roof and needs some TLC. The Capri Theatre opened in 1936 and operated as a movie theatre for 72 years. Single-screen movie theaters are difficult at best to find today and very few exist in their original downtown setting. It is believed to be one of the oldest theaters still in operation in the Southeast. During it’s early years, it hosted artists from the Grand Ole Opry. Also, U S O shows were held here during World War II.
Clyde and Mary Hudson have owned and operated the movie theatre since 1969. In 2008, the family decided to change over to a performing arts venue. This began giving local and regional singer, songwriters and comedians a venue to perform in and independent film makers a big screen to show their films on. The family got together laboring long hrs and weekends on the renovation and reopened in 2009 hosting community fundraising events, live music events, movie documentaries, trivia nights, private events, and serving as an alternate location for political and city functions. The Capri theatre has been praised as a cornerstone of downtown for almost a century. The Capri has been featured in state magazines, local newspapers and theatre enthusiast websites.
Clemson Small Business Development and many other Downtown research and development groups all agree that the Capri Theatre has been a driving force, a “Catalyst” that has been vital for the city’s downtown revitalization effort. Many local, touring musicians and comedians have performed here including recent American Idol contestant Ali Henderson. The theatre has been a huge part of the community and remains to be a great source of family and community entertainment.
Money donated will go towards a new roof to get us through to our100th year anniversary and beyond. We hope to have the roof installed by early summer, possibly the beginning of June 2016.
For over 80 yrs the theatre has been a location downtown for many to go on their first dates, take their families out for movies and music shows and for local musicians to perform on a real stage for friends and family. Efforts to bring the downtown economy back are a work in progress. For everyone wishing to invest/support into the theatre, be assured that all donations even if we go over will continue to help drive the downtown revitalization effort.
It has been a great struggle, but yet a labor of love, we just cannot give up now! We would be forever grateful to each and everyone that contributes to this fund that will help us to continue to preserve this rare and Historical Theatre.
Here is a recent article about the theater and the family background.
http://www.goupstate.com/article/20160317/ARTICLES/160319737/1180?Title=Capri-movie-theater-turned-music-venue-hosting-regional-national-artists-
http://www.scmovietheatres.com/capri_feature.html
http://caprionmain.com/
Clyde and Mary Hudson have owned and operated the movie theatre since 1969. In 2008, the family decided to change over to a performing arts venue. This began giving local and regional singer, songwriters and comedians a venue to perform in and independent film makers a big screen to show their films on. The family got together laboring long hrs and weekends on the renovation and reopened in 2009 hosting community fundraising events, live music events, movie documentaries, trivia nights, private events, and serving as an alternate location for political and city functions. The Capri theatre has been praised as a cornerstone of downtown for almost a century. The Capri has been featured in state magazines, local newspapers and theatre enthusiast websites.
Clemson Small Business Development and many other Downtown research and development groups all agree that the Capri Theatre has been a driving force, a “Catalyst” that has been vital for the city’s downtown revitalization effort. Many local, touring musicians and comedians have performed here including recent American Idol contestant Ali Henderson. The theatre has been a huge part of the community and remains to be a great source of family and community entertainment.
Money donated will go towards a new roof to get us through to our100th year anniversary and beyond. We hope to have the roof installed by early summer, possibly the beginning of June 2016.
For over 80 yrs the theatre has been a location downtown for many to go on their first dates, take their families out for movies and music shows and for local musicians to perform on a real stage for friends and family. Efforts to bring the downtown economy back are a work in progress. For everyone wishing to invest/support into the theatre, be assured that all donations even if we go over will continue to help drive the downtown revitalization effort.
It has been a great struggle, but yet a labor of love, we just cannot give up now! We would be forever grateful to each and everyone that contributes to this fund that will help us to continue to preserve this rare and Historical Theatre.
Here is a recent article about the theater and the family background.
http://www.goupstate.com/article/20160317/ARTICLES/160319737/1180?Title=Capri-movie-theater-turned-music-venue-hosting-regional-national-artists-
http://www.scmovietheatres.com/capri_feature.html
http://caprionmain.com/
Organizer and beneficiary
Beau Hudson
Organizer
Gaffney, SC
Mary Hudson
Beneficiary
