A Few Observations
I have a few observations concerning the Howard Theater, after reviewing one of the few interior photos that I can find. Upon careful inspection, you can actually see some of the renovations made in the newspaper photo above. The Nashville News noted in a 1939 edition that the seating area was still being improved and expanded, but you can see the new lighting and decor on the walls. After a few minutes, I began to notice the false ceiling installed and two large boxes.
It’s my theory that the modern day attic photos that I took are actually of the Gem Theater, before it was remodeled into the Howard Theater. Nowhere in the newspaper photo can you see the checkerboard ceiling tiles or the molding and wall design. These tiles can be viewed today back to where I think the movie screen was located. The updated cooling system is described as using the air vent we see pictured, but an opening could have been still there.
The local chamber of commerce later occupied the building and renovated it in probably the 1960’s and then again in 1999. The current false ceiling runs the entire length of the building, but you can see that the tiles do look fairly old.
One other observation made from old fire maps and photos is that this building used to be one large general store and then was separated into two spaces around 1930…we know this today as the Chamber of Commerce and the Elberta Arts Center. Nashville’s Coca-Cola Bottling Company actually got it’s start here at this location. The wall is constructed of about six large wooden posts and bead-board, among other framing and modern drywall constructed over the original (the attic space has broken drywall and allows you to see through to the original wall).
This original wall has something very interested painted on it, a mural. This mural depicts a landscape of hills, water, trees, a house and a boat. No signature or anything to identify it could be found. I went back recently and took better lighted photos of the entire wall mural. I’m positive it was included as part of the Gem Theater’s balcony…as it is located too high for it to have been seen in the lobby. What still perplexes me a bit is that it only existed from about 1930 to the 1939 renovation. I guess it was not deemed as important and covered up, however it’s still really neat that it exists today in 2025. I will have to continue to scan newspaper articles from the 1930s and see if any other information can be found.
Photos by Jonathan Canaday and newspaper research from film of The Nashville News 1939. Please credit photos if you use them.
