By Jay Sheridan

The Franklin Theatre opened on Franklin's Main Street on July 15, 1937. The inaugural movie presentation was the Hollywood thriller Night Must Fall, starring Robert Montgomery and Rosalind Russell. In 1938, it was the first building downtown to add air conditioning. In the early 1960s, after more than twenty-five years of white patrons utilizing the main floor and African American customers being relegated to the balcony, the Franklin Theatre was desegregated.

 

Over the decades, many notable movie stars and celebrities appeared and entertained Franklin residents from in front of the curtain. In later years, the Franklin Theatre would host stars for the premieres of movies such as Elizabethtown and Friday Night Lights. The Franklin Cinema closed as an independent movie theatre in 2007, with the building in terrible disrepair. It was purchased by the Heritage Foundation of Franklin & Williamson County and became the centerpiece of an $8 million campaign, and now hosts movies and live productions in a state-of-the-art performance hall. The legendary marquee, which had been lost to time, returned to the facade and was lit again in 2011, once again becoming a fixture of Franklin's nationally recognized Main Street.

In 1935, William “Doc” Jenkins visited Franklin, Tennessee, from New Mexico and purchased North Brothers Drug Store. He renamed it “Corner Drug Store” and relocated to the corner of Five Points, where Starbucks stands today. It became a popular community spot with a pharmacy, soda fountain, magazines, and snacks. Doc later sold the store, which changed hands multiple times, eventually becoming “Five Points Drug Store” before Starbucks took over the space. The shop's history is remembered for its role as a local hub, famous for its chocolate malts and lively atmosphere.

Since 1925, Early’s Honey Stand has been known for its honey and smoked meats. Starting with just two barrels and a board along US Highway 31, founder Erskine Early sold honey in the summer and meats in the winter. As travelers spread the word, Early’s transitioned into mail-order when a new highway reduced foot traffic. Today, Early’s remains the South’s oldest mail-order business, offering pure, local, unpasteurized honey and a variety of high-quality, authentic Southern products.

From 1922 to 1946, Jim Chapman’s Pie Wagon was a beloved fixture on Franklin’s Public Square. Known for Effie Chapman’s homemade pies, hearty hamburgers, and southern breakfasts, the wagon became a social hub for locals and travelers using the Nashville-Franklin Interurban Railway. Open daily from 6am to midnight, Effie prepared the baked goods and soups, while Jim and his team ran the wagon. Though it left the Square in 1946, Chapman’s Pie Wagon remains a cherished memory in Franklin’s history.