Benjamin T. Pitts

Benjamin Thomas Pitts (died July 21, 1964) was an American politician and movie theater owner from Virginia.

[2] Pitts started in the movie theater business by running shows at the Opera House in Fredericksburg by renting the building for US$1 a night.

[1] In 1914, Pitts opened a movie theater on Main Street in downtown Fredericksburg called The Leader with a capacity of 600 seats.

In 1920, he also operated theaters in Kilmarnock, White Stone and Bowling Green for about three years before abandoning them.

In November 1937, he opened a third theater in Fredericksburg called the Victoria, named after his mother.

By 1939, he had expanded from Fredericksburg to a number of Virginia cities, including Richmond, Suffolk, Emporia, West Point, Orange, Culpeper, Warrenton, Leesburg, Manassas, Front Royal, Berryville.

[3] At the time of his death, his chain had reduced to 19 theaters, including the Pitts Theatre in Culpeper.

[1] He started the Ben T. Pitts Foundation, which distributed college scholarships to high school seniors in the region.

[3][8] He was a member of the Elks in Eastern Virginia, at one point serving as an exalted ruler and district deputy.