Tennessee Theatre
535 Church Street,
Nashville,
TN
37219
535 Church Street,
Nashville,
TN
37219
3 people
favorited this theater
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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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
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Recent comments (view all 92 comments)
It’s a shame that Nashville doesn’t still have this theatre!
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
does anyone remember the last movie playing
I don’t, but it bears repeating that “It’s a shame that Nashville doesn’t still have this t theatre!”
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.
February 24th, 1952 grand opening ad in photo section.
The grand opening ad had 24 pages.
Martin theatres takes over from Crescent Amusements. February 5th, 1961. another ad in photo section.
11/85 photo added, credit Metro Nashville Archives Facebook page.
Two 2/22/74 marquee photos added, credit The Tennessean Newspaper.