Our enduring romance with The Franklin Theatre began in the summer of 1937 when the marquee first illuminated Main Street, invited Middle Tennesseans to buy a ticket - and 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.