The Historic Canton Theatre: A Century of Stories, Stars, and Small‑Town Magic

May 15, 2026

As you make your way down East Main Street in Downtown Canton, it's almost impossible to miss the striking art deco facade of the Historic Canton Theatre.

The only remaining historic theatre in Cherokee County, The Canton Theatre's story is one of decades of change, reinvention, and innovation.

The Very Beginning: Slides, Silents, and a Vision (1911)

The Canton Theatre's story begins back in 1911, when local entrepreneur, N. H. Garrison, rented a vacant space once occupied by the Thomas 5 & 10 Cent Store in Downtown Canton. Here, he set up a basic projection machine. A simple operation, early audiences didn't even see true motion pictures at first. For about a nickel, they watched slide films projected onto a blank bedsheet hung against the wall.

It was not long before Garrison installed a player piano, whose music accompanied the silent images flickering on the makeshift screen. Romantic serials set in the Wild West, featuring Ruth Roland and Pearl White, played four times a week. As the piano thundered accordingly, and the audience clapped so loudly "the building would all but fall in," according to the North Georgia Tribune. After about a year in that first location, Garrison moved his operation to a room over the McClure Book Store, which is in the location the current theatre stands today.

East Main St, Downtown Canton ~1911

A New Name and a Growing Audience: The Bonita Era (c. 1914–late 1920s)

By the mid-1910s, the theatre had changed hands and taken on a new identity as The Bonita Theatre. Newspaper advertisements from 1917 show the Bonita advertising films starring Theda Bara, then among the biggest stars in the world, at 10 and 20 cents admission.

Keystone comedies, serials, and patriotic wartime pictures drew enthusiastic crowds during the first World War.

Bonita Theatre in Downtown Canton, GA

The Bonita changed hands multiple times, most notably in 1916 when it fell under the ownership of Geo. Johnston. Under Johnston, the Bonita was celebrated as Canton's own "clean, up-to-date movie house." It underwent a fresh coat of paint inside and out, and the manager made regular trips to Atlanta to book the best available films for Canton audiences.

The Bonita showed the great silent stars of the era: Rudolph Valentino, Mary Pickford, Harold Lloyd, Fatty Arbuckle, Tom Mix, Betty Bronson, Colleen Moore, and Charlie Chaplin. It truly was THE place to see Hollywood's latest and greatest offerings.

Cherokee Advance - July 14, 1916

(Yet Another) New Name, and a New Sound: The Haven Theatre (late 1920s–late 1930s)

In the late 1920s, Preston J. Henn purchased the theatre and oversaw a major renovation and expansion. While the remodeling was underway, Henn held a naming contest. Hundreds of suggestions poured in, with the ultimate winner being The Haven. The newly renovated Haven featured an improved seating arrangement, updated facilities, and most thrillingly, the very latest in sound technology. In 1928, the Haven presented Canton's first talking motion picture: "The Singing Fool," starring Al Jolson. It was a landmark moment for the Theatre, and the community. No one had ever seen (or heard) anything like it!

The Haven continued to screen "first-line shows" through the 1930s, and continued to grow in popularity. At this rate, another expansion would be needed, and soon!

Advertisement for The Haven, November 1939

"North Georgia's Theatre Beautiful": The New Canton Theatre Opens (1940)

By the late 1930s, the Martin-Thompson Theatre Company, a regional chain operating dozens of houses across Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, acquired the Haven. What followed was the most dramatic transformation in the building's history.

The old Haven was torn down and rebuilt from the ground up. During this time, the theatre was temporarily moved outdoors, to what was known as the "Airdome." The Airdome, which was located where the Panera Bread is today, had a seating capacity of about 500, and would feature the first actual projection screen in Canton (no more white bedsheets!) Finally, on September 30, 1940, the "New Canton Theatre" opened its doors for the first time, billed as "North Georgia's Theatre Beautiful."

"The New Canton Theatre," September 1940

The new Canton Theatre was a true leap forward, featuring:

• An iconic Art Deco design and neon lighting throughout, with custom colors described as so unique they "haven't ever appeared on a color chart"

• Seats for 900 people, with innovative "loveseat" double seats, and a staggered floor pitch

• Fully fireproof walls and a sprinkler system

• Air conditioning and heating throughout the building

• State-of-the-art sound and projection equipment

• A candy bar (concession stand) with modern neon display case and a new popcorn popper

In many ways, this was the defining era for the Canton Theatre and what it would become today.

The first film shown was Judy Canova in "Scatterbrain," followed that same week by "The Mortal Storm" starring Margaret Sullavan and James Stewart.

Within weeks, Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard arrived on screen in "Ghost Breakers."

Audiences were thrilled by the new amenities and headlining attractions, but even with this total overhaul, the theatre's roots were still important to the Martin-Thompson company. The manager of the old Haven, W. B. "Willie" Smith, stayed on as manager of the new Canton Theatre.

Decades of Movies and Cultural Change (1940s–1970s)

Through the 1940s and into the post-war era, the Canton Theatre was where the community assembled. For many years, it hosted movie screenings of every genre, from westerns and dramas to comedies and wartime films, to full houses.

But like so many historic theatres across America, Canton's jewel would eventually struggle to fight the tide of cultural change. By the 1970s, convenience-oriented options such as drive-in theatres, television, and multiplex cinemas drew audiences away from traditional theatres. The Martin-Thompson Theatre Company had even opened their own drive-in theatre a short drive away, on Riverstone Parkway. The Canton Theatre's technology fell increasingly out of date; it simply could not compete. Eventually, it closed, and sat vacant for more than two decades.

Drive-In Theatres proved to be tough competition leading up to the 1970s (Howell's Drive-In shown) - Credit: History Cherokee

Rescue, Restoration, and Revival (1994–2000)

Things were looking bleak for this once thriving community hub, and locals had all but given up on the theatre's re-opening. But that all changed in 1994, when an individual purchased the Theatre with restoration in mind. Then, in 1997, the City of Canton acquired the property through a land swap, and restoration work began in earnest.

The restoration honored the Theatre's 1940 Art Deco character, the signature styling that still defines the facade today. On May 26, 2000, the Canton Theatre officially reopened, reclaiming its place as a cultural landmark in Downtown Canton.

Canton Theatre in the mid-2000s

A New Life as a Performing Arts Venue (2000–Present)

With its reopening in 2000, the Canton Theatre reinvented itself yet again. It would no longer exclusively be a movie house, but rather, a full-service performing arts venue.

The Theatre now stages a rich and varied calendar: Broadway-style productions, concerts, comedy acts, and other local productions. That said, the theatre has not abandoned its roots in cinema, and hosts special film screenings throughout the year and is also home to the Peaberry Film Festival!

In fact, the theatre has even found itself on the big screen in recent years, having appeared in "The Founder" (2016), starring Michael Keaton, and in the Apple TV+ series "The Big Door Prize."

Recent Renovations: Honoring the Past, Building for the Future

Fox Gives Exterior Renovation (2024–2025)

To this day, the Canton Theatre continues to modernize and innovate, while honoring its storied past. In November 2024, the Canton Theatre was awarded a $20,000 grant from the Fox Theatre's "Fox Gives" program, which would be used for exterior renovations. This included a fresh coat of paint, and the replacement and restoration of signage, windows, doors, and trim. Additionally, the iconic marquee's lighting was revitalized, and now shines brighter than ever.

Shortly afterwards, in a separate project, the theatre was also equipped with an all-new projector and sound system.

Theatre Events and Facilities Director, Kristin Norton Green, accepts a $20,000 check from Fox Gives

Restroom Renovation (2026)

Early 2026 held yet another exciting chapter in The Canton Theatre's story. Just completed in the weeks before this writing, the Canton Theatre's restrooms have been fully renovated at a cost of approximately $50,000. The work required a roughly three-week temporary closure of the Theatre.

The result is stunning. The new restrooms are clean, and accessible, brought fully into compliance with ADA standards, while calling back beautifully to the Theatre's Art Deco aesthetic. For guests attending productions at the Theatre today, stepping into these freshly renovated spaces is its own little time-travel experience - both forward and backward at the same time.

A Century of Stories, Still Unfolding

From N. H. Garrison's bedsheet screen in 1911 and the first talkies, through its Art Deco heyday, decades of decline, and a dramatic resurrection, the Historic Canton Theatre has outlasted decades of cultural change in a rapidly evolving Downtown area.

Today, it stands proudly on East Main Street, hosting live performances, film festivals, community events, and the occasional Hollywood film crew. Its marquee lights continue to shine just as brightly each night just as they did in 1940.

"Over the years, the Canton Theatre has been such an important gathering place for our community. As the City of Canton continues to invest in its preservation, it is exciting to see new generations discovering the Canton Theatre and everything it has to offer." - Kristin Norton Green, Theatre Events and Facilities Director, who lovingly oversees the Canton Theatre's operations today.

Want to be a part of this Theatre's iconic history? Click here to see what's coming soon to the Canton Theatre, and reserve your tickets today!

Author

Michael Loizou

Digital Content Specialist; City of Canton, GA

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