The Franklin Theatre

The enduring romance with The Franklin Theatre began in the summer of 1937. The marquee spilled brilliantly onto Main Street inviting citizens countywide to see Night Must Fall, starring Robert Montgomery and Rosalind Russell.

And they came — young and old, black and white, rich and poor. They laughed, they cried, they dreamed. And, together, within the illuminated walls of the Franklin Theatre, unforgettable moments occurred and memories were made.

In the 70 years that followed, until rising rents forced the theater to close in 2007, life changed dramatically. But for the most part, the Franklin Theatre stood timeless, becoming one of the most beloved small-town movie houses in the South. Fresh-popped corn, first kisses and saving pennies for the Saturday matinee became pastimes shared from one generation to the next.

Built in 1937, the Franklin Theatre has a storied history, but had fallen into disrepair and ceased operations in 2007. The Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County, with the support of hundreds of donors, was able to purchase the theater in late 2007 and restored it.

June of 2011 saw the Grand Opening Celebration with the first movie back on the big screen… Gone With The Wind.