Loew's Vendome Theatre
615 Church Street,
Nashville,
TN
37219
615 Church Street,
Nashville,
TN
37219
2 people
favorited this theater
The Vendome Theatre was built as an opera house with two balconies and sixteen boxes. The main curtain featured scenes from the Paris Place Vendome. The first performance was October 3, 1887 featuring Emma Abbott in “Il Trovatore”.
Loew’s took the hall in the mid-1920’s providing vaudeville and movies. The last movie was “The Dirty Dozen” seen on the evening of August 8, 1967. Patrons that night reported smelling burning rubber. After the last show a thorough search of the theatre found nothing. Later the janitors discovered the upper balcony ablaze. The ceiling and roof then caught fire and collapsed into the auditorium bringing both balconies to the floor.
The Vendome’s lobby survived as retail space until 1986.
Contributed by
Will Dunklin
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Recent comments (view all 62 comments)
Oh God, tisloews, don’t tell me you follow football.
Marcus Loew was born on this date in 1870.
DavePrice….I agree with you! I was searching for a page devoted to the Orpheum & was shocked that I could not find it here!! Maybe they would let you make that contribution! BTW…..I have a “Quarterly Pass” that was issued to my grandfather, Nashville Tennessean writer T.H. Alexander (1891-1941). This pass states that the Orpheum was the place for Photo-Plays. This one expired July 1, 1915 and was signed by the Manager at the Orpheum: Ray Shelton! If I had your email, I would send you a scan of this pass. I enjoy reading your comments, Dave!
Hudson Alexander
Franklin, Tennessee
email:
Interesting bookman. I think a number of theatres, and information from the former site, are not here > which is unfortunate.
Hello, maybe someone is able to help me: I have an old booklet from “Phantom of The Opera” (the silent movie). On the back there is stated: “Loew’s Vendome, Feb. 1st”. So I guess, this booklet is from the Loew’s Vendome, showing the movie. Does someone know the year ? I tried to find this information in the net, but sadly was not able to.
Thanks for any help!
Dragon013
“Phantom of the Opera” was first reviewed in the trade press in September, 1925, so the ad might have beeen on February 1st, 1926.
There’s an old Nashville story of which several versions have been told. Put simply it has been said that when Emma Abbott (mentioned above) was here to open the new Vendome, she went to Sunday service at McKendree Methodist in the next block and was shocked to hear the minister attack the opening of the new theater and the acting profession in general. The story goes that Miss Abbott rose to her feet and defended her profession and the people in it. Varying reactions from the congregation have been reported. Some claim that when the closing hymn was sung, everyone else remained silent so they could hear Miss Abbott’s voice.
Thats a good story Dave.
@Tinseltoes: That could be possible. Thanks.
From what i have read Loews bought this theatre in 1920 and ran it till it burned in August 1967.