The Franklin Theatre
A Franklin Tradition Since 1937
The Franklin Theatre opened on Main Street in 1937, bringing a little Hollywood excitement to small-town Tennessee. With its bright marquee, Art Deco design, and the smell of fresh popcorn, it quickly became a favorite gathering place. Tickets were just 10 cents for children and 25 cents for adults, making a trip to the movies an affordable treat during the Great Depression.
Over the years, the theater earned the nickname “Home of First Kisses.” Generations of Franklin residents remember Saturday matinees, first dates, and holding hands in the dark. In 1938, it became the first air-conditioned building in Franklin, making it especially popular during hot Tennessee summers. It also had the town’s first public restrooms, a welcome convenience for shoppers downtown.
The theater even stirred up a little controversy in 1940 when town leaders debated allowing movies on Sundays. The measure passed by a narrow vote, but only after the manager promised that movie times wouldn’t interfere with church services. It was a different time, when even going to the movies on Sunday was something the whole town had an opinion about.
For 70 years, the Franklin Theatre was part of everyday life in downtown Franklin. But with the arrival of larger, modern theaters, business slowed, and it finally closed in 2007. Rather than see another piece of Franklin’s history disappear, the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County stepped in to save it. The nonprofit purchased the building and launched an ambitious restoration effort. More than 1,000 individuals, families, and businesses contributed to the project, helping raise over $8 million to bring the old theater back to life. After three years of careful restoration, the Franklin Theatre reopened on June 3, 2011, complete with its beautifully restored Art Deco details and a recreation of its original 1937 marquee.
Today, the Franklin Theatre is often called the “Crown Jewel of Main Street.” It still shows movies, hosts concerts, and brings people together, just as it has for generations. For many Franklin families, it’s more than a theater. It’s where they saw their first movie, went on their first date, or shared a special afternoon with someone they loved. And there’s something pretty wonderful about knowing that nearly 90 years later, it’s still making memories.