Franklin Cinema

Here's a recent photo of the Franklin: http://www.flickr.com/photos/92318075@N00/20785085/in/photostream/

Here is another photo of the Franklin Cinema.

They all go to the carmike thoroughbred 20 more, used to see them there all the time, so whats the big deal? Ashley will always be a bitch, and nothing will change.
Norelco

Lost Memory: Couldn't bring up your photo site posted 11/2/05.

Very nice town and blessed to have that theatre. Dont Mess it up!
Cut him a break!

The Franklin's days are numbered. Unless the current management is given a break on the lease, the theatre will close in December 2006. This will be most unfortunate in that the theatre is one of the major attractions in the downtown Franklin area.

I would be willing to pay more for tickets. I grew up in Franklin, I live there now. People there will pay more for something if they really want it. Hell most of the people in Franklin (including me) could buy the same house in another city for thousands less, but they want to live in Frankin so they pay more. The Franklin Cinema offers things that the Carmike Thoroughbred 20 would never offer. You can order pizza or a burger and they will bring it to you, not to mention the best popcorn anywhere. Oh, and if you want a picture of beer or a bottle they have that too. At the thoroughbred 20 you can barely get through the line and all they offer is soda and nasty stale popcorn. At the Franklin Cinema almost all seats have a table in front of them and you do not feel crammed in. I hate the fact that out of town transpants are buying up Main Street and running out out history. I knew it would all fall apart when the corner Soda Shop was replaced by a starbucks! Please save our theater, where else can I go see a late show in my jammies and not get looked at funny!!!

Preach it Girl! If this city can afford to shelf out the bucks to buy a Pizza Hut and a country club and convert them into historic parks it has more than enough reserve to at lease give the theatre a tax break.

This is a recent photo of the Franklin Cinema.

The Franklin may close at the end of 2006 because the new landlord needs to increase the rent to recoup his investment. Loyal fsns of the theater are looking at ways to prevent the Franklin's demise. Franklin is one of the richest cities in the country, both finanacially and historically, so let's hope the Franklin will survive.

This is an article dated 11/13/06 about the Franklin Cinema.

Here is the online petition to "Save the Franklin Cinema".

we would be willing to assume the lease on theatre, and bring in live entertainment as well as keep movie s running....mostly classics....help me get ahold of who i need to...my local phone is 785-577-5038, ask for James

This telephone number will put you through to the group which is heading the campaign to save the theatre: (615) 591-8500.

Has anyone checked with the owners of The Belcourt Cinema in Hillsboro Village (Nashville)? I don't think they make a killing, but they show amazing indie films and documentaries. They also have art shows, music, etc.
Hopefully there is a solution. Would be shameful of our town to begin losing its eclectic feel downtown. We certainly don't need anymore lawyer's offices or overpriced home decor stores down there.

This question was somewhat addressed a few months ago in an article in the Tennesseen on what was being done to try to save the theatre. This article implied that a group would be meeting with the proprietors of the Belcourt and other similar operations such as the Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville and the Tivoli Theatre in Chattanooga to get some suggestions on how to both save and sustain the Franklin. No word on the outcome. All that is sure at this point is that the FRANKLIN THEATRE WILL CLOSE IN DECEMBER 2006.

how much cash are we talking about?

I do not know.

This is an article dated 01/02/07 about the Franklin Cinema closing.

20 -25 FT THEATER IS DONE..........

Lost Memory: Excellent article! Thank you for sharing it.

Here are photos from the Franklin’s last day of operation: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8

Thanks Jack! That is a great set of shots.

There was another Franklin Theatre that predates this one and was located just up Main Street. The seating for the original theatre was around 300. When the current Franklin Theatre at 419 Main Street opened in 1930 it had a seating capacity of approximately 730 (600 in the stalls and 130 in the balcony). There is a great effort being made to reopen and restore the Franklin and I have a good feeling that it is going to come back better than ever.

Check out the Franklin Cinema in Franklin, TN. There is a big community effort underway to get this theatre up and running again as a venue for both live performance and film.

I keep getting notification of entries about this theatre. Please remove my name from this theatre's list. Thank you.

Tom....To turn off the the email notification for this theater, click on the second link in the email that you received. "To remove yourself from receiving further notifications from this
thread, click here:" There is a link right below that text.

I have, many times, including this last posting and it still comes through. Arrgggg!

In that case, you should make Patrick aware of the problem. Try posting a message about the email notification problem here.

Just realized no one has yet posted anything about this- but there's great news about the effort to save the Franklin Cinema.

The Heritage Foundation of Franklin has secured a one-year interest-free loan as a first step in rasing funds to own and renovate the old cinema into a muilti-use entertainment complex featuring movies, live music, special events, corporate events, etc. The expected close date is late October, 2007.

Visit www.historicfranklin.com for more info & the official press release.

Not especially timely, but here is a June 2006 article about the theater from a local perspective:
http://tinyurl.com/37x3jp

This is an updated link for the photo that I posted on Nov 2, 2005.

It is forbidden.

The link that I just posted is forbidden? Thats strange because it works for me.

It must be me, then. I knew I should have taken a shower this morning.

A great effort is underway to not only save the Franklin, but make it a greater venue than it was before. Check out the Save the Franklin Theatre website.

They are going to trash everything that was ever good about the Franklin Cinema. Pizza, beer, a place to prop your feet up, and a place to watch a MOVIE! Not to mention a draw to shop downtown beforehand and get dinner afterward.

Is the Boiler Room straining to keep up with demand or something?

What did I expect from a town that demolished a historic Raymond Loewy building to build a dirt lot?

What do you mean by "trash it"? What plans are you aware of?

"FranklinBlah" I am not quite sure what you are talking about- or if you know what you are talking about. The restorations plans are in place and nothing is being 'trashed'. The Heritage Franklin stepped in and purchased the Theatre so that you will be able to return there and watch a movie and drink a beer! The thing to remember is that the previous business model was bad- clearly- since they went out of business. So restoring the theatre to its original glory and reopening it as a multi-use entertainment venue that shows movies, concerts, etc. is simply making better use of the facility while having a viable business model. visit www.savethefranklintheatre.org

This is a 2008 photo.

Another June 2008 photo can be seen here.

So are we saving this gem?? What is the latest?

1980 photo of the Franklin Cinema.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c42%2c3%2c-1&catpagesize=25&ProductID=29669

1986 photo of the Franklin Cinema. Hardly looks like the same theatre as in 1980.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c42%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=3&catpagesize=25&ProductID=33570

The Franklin Cinema can be seen in this photo.

Are there any interior photos of this art deco theatre? The Save the Franklin site shows the original art deco marquee that needs to be returned to this theatre exterior, imo. As a sidenote, I think there is a recording studio near Franklin called Dark Horse?

"The enduring romance with the Franklin Theatre began in the summer of 1937. The marquee spilled brilliantly onto Main Street inviting citizens countywide to see "Night Must Fall," starring Robert Montgomery and Rosalind Russell. And they came -- young and old, black and white, rich and poor. They laughed, they cried, they dreamed. And, together, within the illuminated walls of the Franklin Theatre, unforgettable moments occurred and memories were made."

Here are a couple of photos of the interior made during it’s final days of operation: 1, 2

I ran movies here once in awhile to help them out, what a nice theatre and yet was kind of strange to see it go so fast, and in the midst of all the money floating around the area.Bitch all you want,you did nothing to save it.

Thanks Jack and a post from norelco! Where have you been? And if this theatre ever gets restored the original marquee that is shown on their Save the Franklin website needs to be reinstated!

Here is another 2009 photo of the Franklin Cinema.