Loew's Crescent Theatre
415 Church Street,
Nashville,
TN
37219
415 Church Street,
Nashville,
TN
37219
2 people
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Loew's Inc., Martin Theatres
Previous Names: Princess Theatre, Crescent Theatre, Crescent Cinerama Theatre
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News About This Theater
- Nov 18, 2009 — Happy 50th, "Ben-Hur"
Opened in 1919 as the Princess Theatre at 611 Church Street, when the seating capacity was 1,602. It was forced to move when Cain-Sloan took over the property.
The theatre moved to 415 Church Street in 1949. Crescent Theatres upgraded and remodeled it in 1959 and it had a seating capacity of 830. At this time the theatre got a 45 foot screen and six track stereo sound and a new name, it became the Crescent Theatre.
When the Loew’s Vendome burned down in 1967 the Loew’s took over the Crescent Theatre giving it another new name, the Loew’s Crescent Theatre. In 1981 it was taken over by Martin Theatres and they closed it in 1982. The theatre was torn down in 1994 and replaced by a parking lot.
Contributed by
Chuck Van Bibber
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Recent comments (view all 147 comments)
Just read on Historic Nashville that the Princess reopened as the Crescent Cinerama on Christmas Day 1959 with a new 45 foot screen.
This webpage has some details about Cinerama exhibition at the Loew’s Crescent.
Thanks for the link CSWalczac.
December 25th, 1959 grand opening ad as well as the Loew’s ad from November 15th, 1967 in photo secton.
Ads for all the movies that played at the theatre from 01/23/62 to 11/02/67 – http://incinerama.com/crescent.htm
Loew’s didn’t close the Crescent Theater. It was part of the Martin Theatre Circuit from 1981 until Martin closed it on August 26, 1982 as a sub-run discount double-feature house with the awesome “Kung Fu Zombie” playing with “Chinese Connection.” It remained vacant until demolished in 1994 and was demo’d. Also, for what it’s worth, the Princess didn’t move in 1949. It closed on January 2, 1950 in it its old location. It reopened the Princess with its grand opening on March 22, 1951 with “When You’re Smiling” and “Snow Dog. (Of course, the guessy dates and incorrect info is probably fine, too, if it makes for a better story.)
7/20/66 photo added credit The Tennessean Newspaper.
New Showcase Presentations in Nashville article includes mention of the numerous Cinerama, 70mm and roadshow presentations here and at other Nashville area cinemas.
Photos album credit The Tennessean, courtesy of Nashville Then: Controversy at the Crescent Cinerama in 1966.
https://www.tennessean.com/media/cinematic/gallery/87957330/nashville-then-controversy-at-the-cresent-cinerama-in-1966/
1966 article:
18 Jul 1966, Mon The Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee) Newspapers.com