The Tivoli opened in 1921 as a silent-movie palace with full classical Beaux-Arts trimmings — marble lobby, painted ceiling, gilded plasterwork, a Wurlitzer organ in the pit. It survived the conversion to cinema decline and was restored in the 1980s as a city-owned performing arts venue.
The Chattanooga Symphony, touring Broadway shows, and headline concerts use the 1,762-seat hall. Even without a show, the lobby is worth looking into during box-office hours.