The Franklin Theatre | Where a Show is Only the Beginning

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Where A Show Is Only The Beginning

Attracting thousands of guests every year, The Franklin Theatre actively contributes to the cultural and economic vitality of Williamson County. Its dramatic history began in 1937 with the movie "Night Must Fall". Yet over time, it gradually fell into disrepair and closed in 1989. Through an outcry of community support, it was acquired, renovated, and reopened in 2011 by the Heritage Foundation as an Art Deco-inspired, intimate 300-seat, nonprofit venue that hosts concerts, theatre, cinema, and community events... each an unmatched live experience that creates a lasting impact on and off the stage.

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About The Franklin Theatre

Our enduring romance with The Franklin Theatre began in the summer of 1937 when the marquee first illuminated Main Street and invited Middle Tennesseans to buy a ticket to laugh, cry and dream. Inside the theatre walls, moviegoers enjoyed fresh popcorn, afternoon matinees and first kisses. They walked away with a lifetime of memories.

Over the next 70 years, the world changed a lot - but The Franklin Theatre stood as a testament to a simpler way of life. Yet time eventually took its toll on the venerable movie house, and the doors closed in 2007 under the pressing of rising rents and the trend toward mega-theatres.

Discover the whole story of how it was saved and re-emerged as an Art Deco-inspired gem responsible for cultural and economic vitality in the region.

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