Melrose Theatre

2600 Franklin Road,
Nashville, TN 37204

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Loews

Architects: Joseph W. Holman, Thomas Marr

Firms: Marr & Holman

Functions: Restaurant

Styles: Streamline Moderne

Previous Names: Loews Melrose Theatre

Nearby Theaters

Sinema in the old Melrose Theatre building

The Melrose Theatre opened July 1, 1942. Although it is almost identical to the Belle Meade Theatre, the Melrose Theatre never attained the respect and reverence bestowed upon its twin sibling. Hopefully, that might change soon. With the Belle Meade Theatre slated to become a grocery store and upscale developers eyeing the Melrose shopping centre, maybe some benevolent enterprise or theatre chain (say Landmark) could restore the theatre to the status the Belle Meade Theatre enjoyed during it’s heyday. It has been converted into a restaurant.

Contributed by Jack Coursey

Recent comments (view all 112 comments)

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on May 9, 2011 at 9:01 pm

No I had the chance to open the Loews Park Central a new quad in Dallas in 1977,but turned them down to stay in Nashville.That theatre is already gone also.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on May 10, 2011 at 3:28 pm

Yeah, i don’t blame you even then the theatre business could be fickled,Move out there and end up moving back when you get a “pain the Butt D.M.”.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on May 10, 2011 at 6:45 pm

Well both theatres did have the same D.V.I just did not want to move to Dallas.I did get promoted to Manager of this theatre about a year later.So they did not give up on me.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on May 13, 2011 at 12:10 pm

I had chances to manage,but as much as I loved the Business I had Bills to pay,moving to Athens for several months was enough,sorta find out real quick there is no family there if problems arise with say, your car and living off 99 cent Kroger pizzas after work got real old soon.Even with bonuses for selling discount tickets,it still wasn’t enough,being an Electrican pays alot better.But I often thought I should have moved to Columbia,S.C. which is certainly no Dallas and worked a Columbia MAll GCC i would have ended up somewhere in our circuit or divison.They never gave up on me either, when they see two theatre guys like us come up through the ranks you know plans are already being made down the road.At least a good manager should spot it I would think.

mpotts
mpotts on December 16, 2012 at 2:53 pm

I saw many movies at this theatre. It was at N end of the Melrose Shopping Center; bowling alley at the S end. In later years there was an ice cream shop either next to or just couple doors down from the theatre.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on May 15, 2013 at 8:39 pm

Rode by there today all the storefronts have been gutted out and work has began on building the apartments.Taked to a guy who was working there said all the seats have taken out at some time but the auditorium will be left as is because it is in his words historical.The lobby area is to be a food place and the apartments will be built behind the buiding.The pool hall in the basement will remain there as long as they want the management said.The street marquee has new signs says The Melrose.Took some photos and will post soon.

Danny Proctor
Danny Proctor on June 5, 2014 at 6:27 pm

New restaurant is opening in the old theatre, after some restoration:

http://nashvilleguru.com/34029/restaurants-openings-nashville#ixzz33nyxVbmV

rivest266
rivest266 on February 14, 2016 at 12:23 pm

December 25th, 1966 reopening ad as a Loew’s in photo section.

rivest266
rivest266 on March 7, 2016 at 6:24 pm

July 1st, 1942 grand opening ad also in photo section.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on April 24, 2017 at 12:32 pm

12/1/66 & 12/21/66 photos added credit The Tennessean Newspaper.

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