Melrose Theatre

THE SAFE STORY: One morning I got a call from our clean up man Orlando who told me when he came in the clean that day he found the theatres safe on the back of the lobby,it had been prided open and all the money was bank money was gone,not the deposits just the money used for the boxoffice and concessions.I of course called of city manager to let him know.The police were there when I arrived and the office door had been kicked in and the closet where the safe was had been broke open too, tickets were scatter everywhere but after checking them none were missing. The police thought it was an inside job because they knew where the safe was.Of course many people had worked in the theatre over the years so many knew where the safe was. The funny thing is this safe was pretty small about 3ft x 3ft.I had to borrow money from the Crescent to have funds to open with that night until they replaced the money. About 2 days later I came to work and Loews had another safe shipped in from an old theatre that was about the size of a refrigrator, I thougth that was strange because we only had a small metal box to keep the bank money in in the huge safe.

Thanks Mike,It is interesting that in my history of this theatre as I know or remember it that there was a Rest Room next to the office that even had a shower in it,this room was “Off Limits” I only saw it maybe 2 or 3 times. No one was allowed to use it,this is where Mr.Bowen did himself in as the story goes.

ANOTHER GHOST STORY. Its seems many old theatres are haunted,this one included.It even had a name “Mr. Bowen” Story has it the he was an old time manager there who had a drinking problem,and one night after closing he killed himself in the theatre.Several older employees told me of strange sites and noises when they in in the theatre after hours, I was there many times alone after of before hours but never saw anything myself,but several of the cleaning folks who worked there over the years would swear the the house was haunted.One of these guys even played me an audio tape of strange sounds he said he recorded in the theatre while cleaning up one night, I admit it was a strange tape,but knowing this guy I think the he was just pulling my leg,but you never know.

From one Dawg to another.The great thing the this theatre is still there.And not far from my house.

Thats funny Mike now that I look at the Officer and a Gentelman photo, the Silver Nova parked near the box office was my car. I was not working there then, I was managing apartments by then, but I would still hang out at the complex at the pool hall or the bar that was in the center.1977 Nova was a pretty cool car,wish I still had it.

Tlsloews has made 21 posts on this theatre!What was he a MANAGER?lol.

Saw today on another site a 1967 Loews Annual Report that listed this theatre as one of their Tennessee theatres, oddly the Loews Vendome was not listed although it was open until the fire in August 1967. This theatre may have took its place or was already operated by them then.In Memphis the Loews State was listed on this report but not the Loews Palace which must have closed already.Of course Loews took over the Crescent to repalce the Vendome and aquired the Madison theatre in the late 60,s or early 70,s.

More history of the Melrose Theatre,the lobby had mirrors on the ceiling and mirrors ont the exterior over the three sets of double doors at the entrance.There was a curved staircase to the right of the entrance that went to the balcony of course,the balcony was closed most of the time unless we were very busy to keep from having to clean it.The was another set of stairs on the back side of the balcony they came down by the office that was in the back left hand side of the building.There were serveral rooms also in in the back,one was the ushers room with lockers,another room for storage of concessions, and one large room on the end for storage of the marquee letters,and latters.There were no restrooms in the balcony,the ladies room had a “Powder Room” that was curved with vanities and seats before going into the restroom itself.There was a room behind the concession stand that was in front of the front stairway,that had an ice machine and the popcorn machine,and the breaker box to turn on all the lights and the marquees,quite a nice set up.Employees were allowed to sit in the balcony during shows as long as they cleaned up after themselves,or course the booth was in the back of the balcony.

I like Woody Allen, have his address.been tempted to write and get him to sign a “ANNIE HALL” 8 by 10. I read where he is a good signer. Did you get to show patsy the theatres you worked.

How did the tour go?

Sure,let me know when you are comming.

Hello Patsy,no I am not retired,I play music for a living now,I wish I was back in the theatre business but it is just not the same anymore.By the way I only live about 5 minutes from the Melrose Theatre,hope you get to come and see it again.

No Patsy when I went bowling there they had machines to reset the pins.I think that you would enjoy seeing the old shopping center, looks very much the same as I can remember,just that were the bowling alley was is a vacant spot now.The bowling alley moved to Anitioch and is still open, and still called Melrose Lanes even though it is nowhere near Melrose.I had much fun working at the theatre and going bowling,or playing pool in the basement or drinking down at one of the storefront bars that was there at one time it was a good place to hang out.Thanks for your stories.