As restoration work continues at Elizabethton’s Bonnie Kate Theater, the old theater’s history is slowly, but surely being uncovered, and a local art gallery owner is seeing to it that at least one old treasure — dating back to the 1940s — is restored to its former glory.
John Huber, who is spearheading the Bonnie Kate Theater restoration project, recently uncovered a piece of nostalgia as he worked in the upstairs rooms over the theater.
There, he discovered an ornate plaster plaque, awarded to the theater in honor of its patriotic efforts during World War II. Its inscription reads, “This plaque is awarded to the Bonnie Kate Theater, a member of the War Activities Committee of the Motion Picture Industry, for Outstanding Service in World War II.”
Huber says he can only guess that it was given as thanks to the theater for showing war clips and perhaps selling war bonds during World War II.
“I don’t think those rooms upstairs had been used in a long time,” he said. “I was working to clean out those spaces and I found this. I am assuming it probably hung in the lobby a long time ago.”
Whatever its story, the piece has been tucked away for quite some time, Huber says, and now it is time for it to be restored and admired by future patrons of the theater once work is complete.
“I think it’s important that the war department would honor the Bonnie Kate Theater for the service they did during the war,” Huber said. “I don’t know exactly what the award was for but I’m assuming the Bonnie Kate, in some extra fashion, had something to do with supporting the war efforts.”

The bronze colored 18”x20” molded plaster plaque is currently a little rough around the edges — literally. The piece is chipped around its perimeter and has a small crack down the back — undetectable to the eye, but evident to the touch.
And that’s where Karen Hitchcock, owner of downtown Elizabethton’s new Blue River Studio, comes in.
Hitchcock will be working to bring the piece back to its original beauty, using her 13 years of experience in working with glass and her many years of experience as an artist.
“First, we have to thoroughly clean the plaque,” Hitchcock said. “Then, we will remold plaster into the corners and on the top to fill in the chipped areas.”
After that work has been completed, she says she will carefully match paint to the original and reattach the plaque to a backer board to give it support.
The plaque is very detailed and includes military vignettes including that of the Marine Corps’ raising of the flag at Mount Suribachi, various military figures, men and women saluting the flag and a woman watching a plane fly over. It also has depictions of theater emblems such as the reel-to-reel.
After doing a rubbing to help make out some of the more illegible writing on the plaque, Hitchcock also uncovered the faint signatures of Fred M. Virson, Motion Picture Industry, and James Forrestal, Dept. of the Navy.
The piece is also emblazoned with the initials OWI-WAC, abbreviations for the Office of War Information, a new office created by executive order; and “(Hollywood’s) War Activities Committee.” According to the Directors Guild of America website, the OWI-WAC distributed regular studio features in 16mm for screens on military bases, battleships, command posts and other sites. By 1943 the OWI-WAC distribution network was operating smoothly and that year the studios delivered 218 features to the War Department, some far ahead of their theatrical release.
This weekend, Sunday, Nov. 13, from 1-5 p.m., the Bonnie Kate Theater will be participating in Downtown Elizabethton’s Holiday Open House, giving the public the opportunity to see the progress being made to restore the city landmark. Blue River Studio and many other merchants will also be participating in the popular annual event which features shopping, festive refreshments and music.