The Challenge
Originally built in 1934, the Capitol Theatre was the center of entertainment in Greeneville, TN, housing movie-going crowds and hosting other entertainment events of the time. Alive with beautiful architectural bones and an air of authenticity not always found in buildings of today, its ownership has changed hands over the years, with the property eventually being purchased by a local businessman. Now a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, private donors have begun restoring the building to its original movie house roots as the demand for an authentic, in-theatre movie-watching experience has returned the area.
Choosing to now focus on unique feature showings that aren’t first run, and serving as a beautifully-historic location for live events, productions, field trips and parties, the Capitol Theatre recently underwent a technology upgrade as part of its restoration. Seeking technology enhancements and a quality on-screen experience to serve the growing demands of its patrons, the team at the Capitol Theatre sought to upgrade its audio and projection technologies to provide a state-of-the-art, modern viewing experience within its historic walls.
The Solution
In addition to building out a new sound box, the Capitol Theatre team looked to the Optoma ProScene ZU850 projector to bring spectacular image quality and high brightness to its big screen experience. A laser projector featuring 8000 ANSI lumens and a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, the ZU850 offers enhanced colors with a wide color gamut, built-in edge blending and image warping and extensive connectivity to provide an easy to use, unforgettable on-screen experience. Boasting 20,000 hours of virtually maintenance-free projection – no lamps or filters to change – the ZU850 also offers ease of use and low total cost of ownership.
The Results
Equipped with a new sound box and the reliable and bright ZU850, the Capitol Theatre successfully introduced an upgraded viewing experience to its audiences. Continuing to serve local needs for unique movie showings, the upgraded environment has also been ideal for use during field trips by local schools, live stage productions and even birthday parties. Offering versatility for background imagery or the main event, the ZU850 enhances every experience as the Capitol Theatre brings big screen entertainment to the lives of every visiting patron.
“The new projection system has quite a reputation,” added Humbert. “We’re selling out the theatre all of the time.”
To learn more about the Capitol Theatre or to donate to this historic venue, visit capitolgreeneville.org.
