Melrose Theatre

Here is a current photo of the former Melrose. Note its striking resemblance to the Belle Meade: http://www.flickr.com/photos/92318075@N00/20500637/in/photostream/

This hall operated as the Loew's Melrose during the 1960's. Gone is the tall pylon which stood on top of the marquee. Wasn't there was a bowling alley at the other end of the shopping center. I particularly remember a donut shop next door. Went to see "The AristoCats" here with mom as a little kid. When I was old enough to go to the movies on my own, it was closed.

The Melrose centre was purchased recently and plans are underway to redeveloped it as an upscale retail centre. Although these plans to do not include the bowling alley, nothing has been said about the old theatre. It would be great to see it in operation again.

If I'm not mistaken, the Melrose wasn't a "twin" but a "triplet" to the Belle Meade and the Inglewood Theatre on Gallatin Road. They all had the same exterior design. I was a teenager in the 60s and saw several films there, including "Bullitt" and "The Love Bug." In the 1970s, the Inglewood became Joywood Salvage and sold used appliances. It was demolished and an Eckerd Drugs now stands on the spot.

Thanks for the update. I haven't had any luck locating any photos of the Inglewood either via the WEB or at the main library in downtown Nashville. Please let us know if you happen across a photo of the Inglewood.

The Melrose is currently being renovated and is slated to reopen in 2006 as an art gallery and ballroom. The art gallery will reside in the former theatre lobby with the ballroom with a seating capacity of 500 to 600 situated in the former auditorium. Here is an article from the Nashville Scene with more details and pictures of the development.

If you find any photos please email me!!! pinslasher@yahoo.com

Melrose lanes will be reopening in Antioch, just off I-24 exit 62. They are at the Old Watsons Pools building. The new place will have the same equipment as the old place. But there will be the legendary BARN DOOR LOUNGE, 30 LANES, A SNACK BAR, PRO SHOP, AND A ARCADE. The new place is going to be great. and also the 30 lanes sign is not going to the new building. sorry. but there will be a great new neon sign. (EVEN NICER)

Just to add on... this theatre was build by Crescent Amuseument Company as was the bowling alley on the other end. Crescent got out of the movie theatre buisness and now operates bowling centers.
Donelson Bowl- www.geocities.com/pinslasher
MADISON BOWL
Crescent Bowl

Saw The Graduate here and Dr. Zhivago and, as a kid, The Man with X-Ray Eyes. One of Nashville's more respectable movie venues. There was an ice cream parlor in the same complex.

The Melrose was very familiar to me. I attended many a movie there.
Indeed there was an ice cream shop either adjacent to or just a couple doors down from the theatre.
Melrose Bowling Lanes were at opposite end of the shopping center.
That part of the complex has been demolished.
Many Friday nights friends and I would watch a movie at the Melrose, then go to the ice cream parlor afterwards.
I bowled in a league at Melrose Lanes during high school. The place had lanes both upstairs and downstairs. At one time there was the "Melrose Grill" adjacent to the lanes. One could actually enter the bowling lanes from the restaurant. When I was small my family often had Sunday lunch at Melrose Grill..to the accompaniment of falling pins!

I heard that Scene 3 was tied up with the IRS. Melrose Bowl is already gone. Does anybody know the current plans for this theater?

Here is a recent photo of the Melrose Theater building.

And from the Tennessee State Library and Archives, here's a vintage shot of the Melrose:

http://tnsos.org/tsla/imagesearch/images/3403.jpg

This is another photo of the Melrose.

Like the Belle Meade, its twin, the Melrose Theatre was an Art Moderne house designed by the Nashville architectural firm Marr & Holman. The Melrose opened on July 1, 1942, according to the July 11 issue of Boxoffice Magazine. Marr & Holman also designed the adjacent shops and bowling alley.

Marr & Holman partner Joseph W. Holman was also a partner in the Crescent Amusement Company, and according to his obituary in the October 25, 1952, issue of Boxoffice Magazine, designed all the circuit's major theaters. The obituary said that he had designed about 100 theatres altogether, for Crescent and other exhibitors.

1984 photo of the Melrose Theatre
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c42%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=8&catpagesize=25&ProductID=33734
1984 photo Box Office & Entrance Melrose Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c42%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=8&catpagesize=25&ProductID=33735
1982 night photo of the Melrose Theater.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c42%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=8&catpagesize=25&ProductID=33737
1982 night photo of the Box Office, Melrose Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c42%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=8&catpagesize=25&ProductID=33738

I was the manager of this theatre when it was a Loews house I was transfered to there from my job at the Loews Crescent,Asst.Manager. Any pitctures of when it was a Loews house would be great. If fact My first real job was as a doorman at this house when i was 15.I also worked at the Loews Madsion at times, it is a church now.

This theater should be listed aka Loews Melrose. Loews ran this house for a long time.