Donelson Theatre

I can remember seeing the 1951 movie THE MAGIC CARPET with Lucille Ball at the Donelson at a Saturday matinee sometime in the 1960s. Occasionally, local theatres would book an older movie and charge 10¢ admission. The building was on Lebanon Pike near the intersection of Donelson Pike. It still stands but was stripped down to the bare walls and converted and bricked over into an office building in the late '60s or early '70s. A casual passerby would never dream it once housed a movie theatre.

Here are a couple of recent photos of the Donelson Theatre. Danny52 is right on the mark in his comment that a casual passerby would never dream it was once a theatre.

Jack, are you sure about that photo? I know the Donelson was converted to office use and it certainly doesn't look anything like a theatre now, but this doesn't look quite right. Next time I go visit mom I'll double check. Also, the address doesn't match. The building in the photo says 2812/2816. As a little kid I went to the movies here, but can't remember anything of the interior at all. (We moved away from Donelson when I was 5.) What I do remember was driving by one day and seeing it being remodeled into office space and thinking it was sad to see the theatre gone.

As an aside to anyone who doesn't know: Donelson is the name of the town that is the eastern suburban community from Nashville. It is now part of Metro Nashville. The name Donelson comes from Andrew Jackson's wife - Rachel Donelson Jackson.

Take another view of the photo. The 2815 is listed vertically in the upper right of the building between the Allstate and the Cell C signs. I can't say with absolute certainty that this is the theatre, but can give you what I know of this building:
It was built in 1950 and initially listed as the Donelson Theatre Building. I haven't seen any record to date stating that this structure was ever demolished. One individual informed me that the theatre was gutted and the entire structure remodeled and rezoned from a theater/auditorium (54) to an office building (non medical/low-rise) (32) sometime between 1974 and 1979.
Please check it out and let me know your findings. It would be really great if someone could post a photo of the building when it was a theater.

Jack, yes, everything you say agrees with what I remember of the building also. I was in Donelson last week and noticed it still standing and occupied (as an office). The photo just didn't look quite right: similar, but somehow, different. I'll follow up - at some point. Best wishes, Will

This theatre was build by Crescent Amuseument Company. The company also build the Donelson Bowl which is right next to it. (up the hill) The theatre was sold and converted into an office building.

Crescent Amuseument Company build a bowling alley near their theatres.
Inglewood Theatre- Inglewood Bowl
Melrose Theatre- Melrose Lanes
Donelson Theatre- Donelson Bowl

I think it is the old Donelson. I am intrigued how buildings learn, how often times they do not resemble what that were built as. One personal favorite is The Mall at Green Hills, which looks very modern, but is, in fact, built around a fifty year old structure.

Anyway, the Donelson, Inglewood and Green Hills [now Garce's Plaza] were fine examples of Cresent Amusement's adroit move into the suburbs. Only the Green Hills did really well. [See separate entry.]

The entrance to the Donelson was catty-cornered to the intersection. I don't remember much of the outside walls. Anyway, the theatre was a dump. Saw Georgy Girl there in the 60s. Made a mental note to make sure to check that a movie was playing somewhere else if it was playing at the Donelson. I didn't live in Donelson, I lived off Murfreesboro Road, but we'd hit the Donelson's Shoney's when I was a teenager.

This building was the Donelson Theater. It is an office building now.The bowing alley is still going I think.