Guided Tour Booking Required
Performance at the Tivoli
Catch a performance in the restored 1921 'Jewel of the South' movie palace — operatic concerts, touring shows, and the Chattanooga Symphony all use the venue.
- Duration:
- 2 hr
Photo coming soon
Theater / Performance Venue
Tivoli Theatre
1921 Beaux-Arts movie palace nicknamed 'the Jewel of the South,' with local tour lore crediting three resident spirits — a musician, a dancer, and an old stagehand.
709 Broad St, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Wheelchair Accessible
Research-Backed · 3sources
Age
All Ages
Cost
$$
Ticket prices vary by event; tours by arrangement through Tivoli Foundation.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Renovated 1921 theater with ADA-accessible orchestra seating and restrooms
Equipment
No Photos
Est. 1921 · National Register of Historic Places (1973) · Designed by Rapp and Rapp · Among the first air-conditioned public buildings in the US · Chattanooga's flagship performing-arts venue
The Tivoli Theatre opened on March 19, 1921 as one of Chattanooga's grand entertainment venues during the silent-film and vaudeville era. Designed by the prolific Chicago theater firm Rapp and Rapp in collaboration with local Chattanooga architect Reuben Harrison Hunt, the building combined a Beaux-Arts limestone facade on Broad Street with an ornate Renaissance Revival interior featuring a domed auditorium and richly decorated lobby spaces.
The theater seated more than 1,750 across a tiered configuration — 1,012 in the orchestra, 312 each in the upper and lower balconies, 78 in the loge, 48 in upper boxes, and 104 in the removable orchestra pit. The Tivoli was distinguished by being among the first air-conditioned public buildings in the United States, an attraction in itself in the pre-air-conditioned South.
Through the 1920s, '30s, and '40s the Tivoli operated as a first-run movie palace and live-entertainment venue. As suburban multiplexes drew away movie audiences in the postwar era, the Tivoli's fortunes declined, and by the mid-1970s its future was uncertain.
The city of Chattanooga purchased the building in 1976 and undertook a major restoration. The Tivoli was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 11, 1973. Today the theater is jointly managed by the city's Department of Education, Arts, and Culture and the Tivoli Foundation, hosting touring Broadway, the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra, and concert acts. The theater is nicknamed 'the Jewel of the South.'
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tivoli_Theatre_(Chattanooga,_Tennessee)
- https://www.visitchattanooga.com/listing/tivoli-theatre/1279/
- https://tivolichattanooga.com/
Figures glimpsed backstageUnexplained sounds during performancesApparitions near orchestra pit and dressing rooms
The Tivoli Theatre's haunted reputation is primarily carried by local ghost-tour operators rather than the venue itself. According to tour materials referenced by Chattanooga Rydables and recurring features in Chattanooga seasonal coverage, three recurring spirits are described:
The Musician — a former performer reportedly heard or glimpsed near the orchestra pit and balcony, sometimes associated with brief unexplained snatches of music or audible cues during rehearsals.
The Dancer — a female figure said to appear backstage and in dressing-room mirrors, particularly during dance performances and rehearsals.
The Stagehand — described as an older male figure who 'never left the building,' seen near the fly system and back-of-house catwalks. Crew accounts describe brief sightings followed by an empty corridor.
None of these stories has been independently documented by historians or in newspaper archives examined for this entry — they trace primarily to local oral tradition and ghost-tour narratives, and theater management does not officially endorse the reports. Because the entity claims rest on a single tradition, this entry is shipped as needs-review.
Notable Entities
The MusicianThe DancerThe Stagehand
Plan Your Visit
2 ways to experience Walking Tour
Chattanooga ghost-tour stop
The Tivoli is a regular stop on Chattanooga ghost walks, which recount the three-spirit legend (musician, dancer, stagehand) from the sidewalk on Broad Street.
- Duration:
- 20 min
Sources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
Similar Destinations
Photo coming soon
Theater / Performance Venue
The Egyptian Theatre
Boise, ID
The Egyptian Theatre opened April 19, 1927 at the corner of Capitol Boulevard and Main Street, designed by Frederick C. Hummel of Tourtellotte and Hummel during the King Tutankhamun-driven Egyptian Revival craze. The 700 W Main address has operated as Fox Egyptian, the Ada Theater, and now the Egyptian, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 21, 1974. Today it hosts film screenings, concerts, and Opera Idaho performances.
$$ All Ages
Family: High
Photo coming soon
Theater / Performance Venue
The Fabulous Fox Theatre
St. Louis, MO
The Fabulous Fox Theatre opened in January 1929 as one of five 'Fox' picture palaces commissioned by film magnate William Fox. Designed by C. Howard Crane in a 'Siamese Byzantine' style, the 4,500-seat auditorium was the second-largest in the United States at its opening. After decades of decline the theatre closed in 1978 and was restored by the Fox Associates beginning in 1981, reopening in 1982 as the centerpiece of Grand Center.
$$ All Ages
Family: Moderate
Theater / Performance Venue
Hutchinson's Historic Fox Theatre
Hutchinson, KS
Hutchinson's Fox Theatre opened on June 8, 1931, designed by the Boller Brothers as a 1,221-seat movie palace and vaudeville house. After closing in 1985 and standing empty for five years, it was purchased by Hutchinson's Historic Theatre, Inc., a non-profit, and reopened in 1999 after a $4.5 million restoration.
$$ All Ages
Family: High
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tivoli Theatre family-friendly?
Active performing-arts venue; family-friendly. Ghost lore is mild and theater-specific. Overall family fit: High.
How much does it cost to visit Tivoli Theatre?
Ticket prices vary by event; tours by arrangement through Tivoli Foundation.
Do I need to book in advance?
Yes, reservations are required.
Is Tivoli Theatre wheelchair accessible?
Yes, Tivoli Theatre is wheelchair accessible. Terrain: Renovated 1921 theater with ADA-accessible orchestra seating and restrooms.