Comments about Oldham Theater in Sparta, TN

SethG on July 1, 2021 at 10:16 am

Looks like the address on Google may be wrong. The church next door is also listed as 13. Not sure if this would be 11 or 15, and the city website has no number in the address. There is no East or West on the square. The odd numbers are on the west, evens on the east.

SethG on July 1, 2021 at 9:35 am

The 1921 map shows that this side of the square was vacant except for a garage/dealership about where the church is now, so this was not a remodel of an older building. The lobby has a nice terrazzo floor, and appears to have the original doors into the auditorium.

SethG on July 1, 2021 at 9:28 am

Correct address is 13 Liberty Sq. It appears to be owned by the city and can be rented for events. Since tables are available, I assume the interior has been stripped of the seats.

Mike Rogers on August 3, 2010 at 5:47 pm

Okay It was a Cumberland Amusement Company theatre.Located in McMinnville,Tenn. The owner/President was Cowan Oldham.Wonder if that is how the theatre got its name?

vickeylynn on November 9, 2008 at 8:46 am

sorry for the typo 1970’s

vickeylynn on November 9, 2008 at 8:44 am

I used to go to the movies at Oldham’s Theater as a child in the 1070’s .The whole front section of seats were missing .They had it roped off so no one could go toward the screen and they also roped off the balcony .It was never used .So I doubt if there were over 600 seats by the 1070’s .I had asked about the missing seats and was told due to a previous fire .I don’t know that for sure .

unearthlygrace on March 7, 2007 at 6:26 am

~I’m sad to hear this will not be restored as a movie theater. I just moved here and was immediately drawn to the building and was hoping beyond hope to take my 3yr old to a great old Deco theater (and myself for that matter). I think a true restoration (expensive, I know) would have drawn a great crowd. Alas this seems the fate of many great and historic structures. The restoration is bittersweet.~

kencmcintyre on February 1, 2006 at 4:39 pm

Here is a 1999 link describing one family’s efforts to restore the theater:
http://www.sparta-chamber.net/libertysq.htm

JackCoursey on March 25, 2005 at 5:27 pm

I’ve haven’t been able to locate this theatre in either the Flim Daily Yearbook or IMPA. Does anyone know what year the Oldham opened and how many it seated?

RobertR on March 24, 2005 at 9:16 am

This is a true neighborhhod house. Think how common they were and almost all of them are gone.

Oldham Theater

13 Liberty Square, Sparta, TN 38583

13 Liberty Square,
Sparta, TN 38583