I had a friend who attended this opening and he said he was pushed against the ticket window so hard by the crowd that he couldn’t get away from the window to go inside.
The Adelphi (legit)Theater was built about 1850 on Summer-later 5th Ave- below Cedar- later called Charlotte. IT changed names several times and by the tine it burned in about 1900 it was being called the Grand. The stock company that had been playing there then moved to the “Masonic” on the north side of Church between Cherry (4th) and Summer (5th) and at first began to be called the “Little Grand” and then simply the Grand.
Will: Wassman built the Knickerbocker which extended thru from Capitol Blvd (then so called) to 6th Avenue- Later Crescent bought it. When the theater was being torn down Wassman’s name could be seen on the main beam of the building.
The SE corner of 6th and Church was – I believe- OWNED by the Odd Fellows. When the old Capitol building was replaced with what was then called the Warner Bldg, they had a Lodge on the top floor. I don’t know what arrangements were made when the new building was erected.
Back to my wondering about the recent business about whether or not to keep the park where several buildings burned several years ago. This may have been the planned structure that all the fuss was about and if so wasn’t it called off?
We’re looking at different pictures, the view that your link brings up for me shows the tower across Church from the Library and specifically states “between Sixth and Anne Dallas Dudley Boulevard.”
The way I see that rendering, the new building will not be on the Paramount site but rather across Church from the old Loew’s Vendome, in fact it appears to be on the very spot that a recent squabble arose regarding the city selling off the small park between Sixth Avenue and what I have always called Capitol Boulevard but which is referred to here as “Anne Dallas Dudley Boulevard.” I wonder if this announcement is now outdated by the decision to leave the park alone.
Years ago I was on a tour bus that drove by this place and the driver said, “If you look closely, you can see the image of a pea fowl” but I never did see it- Has anyone out there been by to inspect the building for this image?
The Princess (at both locations) had always been a Crescent house since opening in 1912. The first manager was Will Ready, who had formerly managed their Crescent Theater on Fifth Avenue. The firm had used the name Crescent on several other theaters including a drive-in (Nashville’s first).
The Princess, after being a Cinerama for several years, was called the Crescent Downtown in its late days. After the Loew’s Vendome burned in 1967, Loew’s leased two of the Crescent theaters: the Melrose (thereafter Loew’s Melrose) and the Princess (as “Loew’s Crescent”). I am an old man and can barely see the screen so may have misspelled something here.
I don’t know how many of you remember “Spook” shows that used to play after the late movie- they consisted of some magic tricks and then something scary like cutting off the head of a volunteer from the audience or the creation of a Frankenstein monster. Usually there would be a frightening movie on that night.
When these shows played the Crescent houses they would often play the drive-ins too and do the show on the top of the concession building. People would just stand around and watch. Such shows played the Bordeaux several times.
Thanks for reminding me- hard to believe the fire was fifty years ago. Wait a minute! That must mean I was fifty years younger! Where did all those years go?
Judith: Very interesting and many thanks. From your name I wonder if your father was one of the Starrs mentioned in the case and also mentioned on this site.
If so, would you tell us if Bijou Amusement Co still exists and still operates other theaters.
Joe: You must be correct- the article about the stores in the long building says it is at the corner of Meridian where the Roxie entrance was by the time I used to go there.
Thanks, Joe. I had forgotten that. One W R Carnahan is listed in the 1928 City Directory as manager. Only listed that one year. Many of these short-time houses have been forgotten or overlooked. Dave
Chakra7: That’s a very interesting site. They mention the Imperial which was at 307 Wilburn, next door to where the Roxy was later built. It was only open a few years and by about 1920 the owner Mr M E Hutton went into the drug store business.
I don’t find the Ace listed here but I remember it. It was built by Bill James and managed by the Starr brothers- Alfred and Milton. After it closed the building sat unused for years, overgrown with vines and bushes.
When I was a boy the street was called Cedar downtown and changed to Charlotte as you got farther out. I don’t know why the entire street was later changed to Charlotte. I think that was during the 1970s.
I want to go back to the subject of the twin theaters which were merged to form this Crescent Theater at 215-217 Fifth Avenue.
I mentioned above that I believed the this Crescent was the result of a merger of twins called the Ruby and the Rhinestone. I have googled this matter and cannot any reference to these two names except for my comment here.
My father had an old timer friend named Delmas Jenkins who remembered many things about the Nashville theaters before my day and I used to pick his brain. The Ruby and Rhinestone story had been told him years before by an even older timer Mr James Dale of Dale Machinery, who remembered theaters before Delmas' day.
I have found in a January 1908 periodical called the Conjurer’s Magazine, for magicians that “King the Slight-of-hand King was playing the Rhinestone in Nashville. This would indicate that at least one of the twins had a stage.
Some of you may be familiar with the Crescent Amusement Company’s 1957 publication – just a folder really- honoring Mr Tony Sudekum and the fiftieth anniversary of moving pictures in Nashville. I quote the reference to the twins. “The company (Crescent Amusement) took this name from a theater on Fifth Avenue, which "Mister Tony” had acquired. Earlier it had been the Twin Theaters- two theaters served by one ticket office. “Mister Tony” removed the partitions. He changed the name to ‘Crescent’ and gave the new name to his company."
Can anyone come up with a reference to the names Ruby and Rhinestone in Nashville? I have looked (through some but certainly not all) newspaper microfilms prior to the merger and found zip.
I don’t remember Frank Bobo but I remember Bob Luck or Lux who played it in the late 40s. Delmas Jenkins was at the Paramount opening night and said the organist was named “C. Sharp Minor.” This info may be in an earlier post.
You’re confusing two Princesses. The old Princess was in the next block just east of McKendree Church; it opened in 1912 and closed early 1950.
The NEW Princess opened in early 1951. Was later called Crescent Downtown (that must be your ad) then became Cinerama about 1961. Loews Crescent name wasn’t used until after Loews (Vendome) burned in 1967 and Loews Corp bought the Cinerama aka Crescent Downtown aka Princess.
All of this took place on Church Street and none of this relates to the Crescent at the top of this page and which was on Fifth Avenue.
I had a friend who attended this opening and he said he was pushed against the ticket window so hard by the crowd that he couldn’t get away from the window to go inside.
The Adelphi (legit)Theater was built about 1850 on Summer-later 5th Ave- below Cedar- later called Charlotte. IT changed names several times and by the tine it burned in about 1900 it was being called the Grand. The stock company that had been playing there then moved to the “Masonic” on the north side of Church between Cherry (4th) and Summer (5th) and at first began to be called the “Little Grand” and then simply the Grand.
There was a comment on the Paramount page about the Capitol.
Sudekum – daughter of “Mister Tony” Sudekum who started with the Dixie on 5th Ave and built it into the Crescent Amusement Company.
Marie Sudekjum married Porter Woolwine- the lady’s name when I knew her was Marie Woolwine. See top entry here.
Will: Wassman built the Knickerbocker which extended thru from Capitol Blvd (then so called) to 6th Avenue- Later Crescent bought it. When the theater was being torn down Wassman’s name could be seen on the main beam of the building.
The SE corner of 6th and Church was – I believe- OWNED by the Odd Fellows. When the old Capitol building was replaced with what was then called the Warner Bldg, they had a Lodge on the top floor. I don’t know what arrangements were made when the new building was erected.
Nor could I find anything current but here’s a February story which explains the fuss.
https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2019/02/11/nashville-church-street-park-downtown-homeless-tony-giarratana/2711899002/
Back to my wondering about the recent business about whether or not to keep the park where several buildings burned several years ago. This may have been the planned structure that all the fuss was about and if so wasn’t it called off?
We’re looking at different pictures, the view that your link brings up for me shows the tower across Church from the Library and specifically states “between Sixth and Anne Dallas Dudley Boulevard.”
The way I see that rendering, the new building will not be on the Paramount site but rather across Church from the old Loew’s Vendome, in fact it appears to be on the very spot that a recent squabble arose regarding the city selling off the small park between Sixth Avenue and what I have always called Capitol Boulevard but which is referred to here as “Anne Dallas Dudley Boulevard.” I wonder if this announcement is now outdated by the decision to leave the park alone.
Years ago I was on a tour bus that drove by this place and the driver said, “If you look closely, you can see the image of a pea fowl” but I never did see it- Has anyone out there been by to inspect the building for this image?
The Princess (at both locations) had always been a Crescent house since opening in 1912. The first manager was Will Ready, who had formerly managed their Crescent Theater on Fifth Avenue. The firm had used the name Crescent on several other theaters including a drive-in (Nashville’s first).
The Princess, after being a Cinerama for several years, was called the Crescent Downtown in its late days. After the Loew’s Vendome burned in 1967, Loew’s leased two of the Crescent theaters: the Melrose (thereafter Loew’s Melrose) and the Princess (as “Loew’s Crescent”). I am an old man and can barely see the screen so may have misspelled something here.
I don’t know how many of you remember “Spook” shows that used to play after the late movie- they consisted of some magic tricks and then something scary like cutting off the head of a volunteer from the audience or the creation of a Frankenstein monster. Usually there would be a frightening movie on that night.
When these shows played the Crescent houses they would often play the drive-ins too and do the show on the top of the concession building. People would just stand around and watch. Such shows played the Bordeaux several times.
Thanks for reminding me- hard to believe the fire was fifty years ago. Wait a minute! That must mean I was fifty years younger! Where did all those years go?
Judith: Very interesting and many thanks. From your name I wonder if your father was one of the Starrs mentioned in the case and also mentioned on this site.
If so, would you tell us if Bijou Amusement Co still exists and still operates other theaters.
Thanks again, Dave
Oops- Roxy!
Joe: You must be correct- the article about the stores in the long building says it is at the corner of Meridian where the Roxie entrance was by the time I used to go there.
Thanks, Joe. I had forgotten that. One W R Carnahan is listed in the 1928 City Directory as manager. Only listed that one year. Many of these short-time houses have been forgotten or overlooked. Dave
Chakra7: That’s a very interesting site. They mention the Imperial which was at 307 Wilburn, next door to where the Roxy was later built. It was only open a few years and by about 1920 the owner Mr M E Hutton went into the drug store business.
I don’t find the Ace listed here but I remember it. It was built by Bill James and managed by the Starr brothers- Alfred and Milton. After it closed the building sat unused for years, overgrown with vines and bushes.
When I was a boy the street was called Cedar downtown and changed to Charlotte as you got farther out. I don’t know why the entire street was later changed to Charlotte. I think that was during the 1970s.
I want to go back to the subject of the twin theaters which were merged to form this Crescent Theater at 215-217 Fifth Avenue.
I mentioned above that I believed the this Crescent was the result of a merger of twins called the Ruby and the Rhinestone. I have googled this matter and cannot any reference to these two names except for my comment here.
My father had an old timer friend named Delmas Jenkins who remembered many things about the Nashville theaters before my day and I used to pick his brain. The Ruby and Rhinestone story had been told him years before by an even older timer Mr James Dale of Dale Machinery, who remembered theaters before Delmas' day.
I have found in a January 1908 periodical called the Conjurer’s Magazine, for magicians that “King the Slight-of-hand King was playing the Rhinestone in Nashville. This would indicate that at least one of the twins had a stage.
Some of you may be familiar with the Crescent Amusement Company’s 1957 publication – just a folder really- honoring Mr Tony Sudekum and the fiftieth anniversary of moving pictures in Nashville. I quote the reference to the twins. “The company (Crescent Amusement) took this name from a theater on Fifth Avenue, which "Mister Tony” had acquired. Earlier it had been the Twin Theaters- two theaters served by one ticket office. “Mister Tony” removed the partitions. He changed the name to ‘Crescent’ and gave the new name to his company."
Can anyone come up with a reference to the names Ruby and Rhinestone in Nashville? I have looked (through some but certainly not all) newspaper microfilms prior to the merger and found zip.
I don’t remember Frank Bobo but I remember Bob Luck or Lux who played it in the late 40s. Delmas Jenkins was at the Paramount opening night and said the organist was named “C. Sharp Minor.” This info may be in an earlier post.
You’re confusing two Princesses. The old Princess was in the next block just east of McKendree Church; it opened in 1912 and closed early 1950.
The NEW Princess opened in early 1951. Was later called Crescent Downtown (that must be your ad) then became Cinerama about 1961. Loews Crescent name wasn’t used until after Loews (Vendome) burned in 1967 and Loews Corp bought the Cinerama aka Crescent Downtown aka Princess.
All of this took place on Church Street and none of this relates to the Crescent at the top of this page and which was on Fifth Avenue.
rivest266: I assume this must have been the one at 233
Fifth Ave North. Thanks for the into.
Does TLSLOEWS still belong to this great site?