Tennessee Theatre

535 Church Street,
Nashville, TN 37219

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Crescent Amusement Co., Martin Theatres

Architects: Joseph W. Holman, Thomas Marr

Firms: Marr & Holman

Styles: Streamline Moderne

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Tennessee Theatre

The Tennessee Theatre was opened on February 28, 1952 by the Crescent Amusement Co. The theatre was constructed inside an unfinished shell of a store & office building which was built in 1932, but due to Depression & war had not been fitted out. The Tennessee Theatre had a screening room, fully rigged stage and spacious lobby. Interior decorations were carried out by the Rambusch Decorating Co. There was a single large balcony with 278-seats and edge-lit signs saying ‘Smoking Loge’.

Located on Church Street in the 11 story, Art Deco style Warner Building, the theatre sign was nine stories high. Both the theatre and Warner Building were razed in the late-1980’s to make way for a new highrise. It was Nashville’s last grand old theatre.

Contributed by Will Dunklin

Recent comments (view all 92 comments)

Patsy
Patsy on November 4, 2012 at 2:23 am

It’s a shame that Nashville doesn’t still have this theatre!

Will Dunklin
Will Dunklin on March 30, 2014 at 12:16 am

Very nice article on the back story of the Tennessee Theatre is here:

http://nashvillehistory.blogspot.com/2013/06/tennessee-theater-and-sudekum-building.html

jdftn1947
jdftn1947 on September 19, 2014 at 1:20 pm

does anyone remember the last movie playing

Patsy
Patsy on September 19, 2014 at 4:55 pm

I don’t, but it bears repeating that “It’s a shame that Nashville doesn’t still have this t theatre!”

bdeen
bdeen on May 30, 2015 at 11:03 pm

I just saw a picture of the building this theater was torn down for. What a crime!! Theres open space all around where the ignorant developer could have built his project. And cheaper! and he would now be right next to (and we’d still have) an 11 story Art Deco bldg and 2000 seat theater. What a loss for everyone when we allow folks with more money than brains to get away with criminal acts.

rivest266
rivest266 on February 14, 2016 at 12:40 am

February 24th, 1952 grand opening ad in photo section.

rivest266
rivest266 on February 14, 2016 at 12:41 am

The grand opening ad had 24 pages.

rivest266
rivest266 on February 14, 2016 at 4:44 pm

Martin theatres takes over from Crescent Amusements. February 5th, 1961. another ad in photo section.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on March 14, 2017 at 4:30 am

11/85 photo added, credit Metro Nashville Archives Facebook page.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on April 22, 2017 at 1:15 am

Two 2/22/74 marquee photos added, credit The Tennessean Newspaper.

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