The Early Years
The glamour of Hollywood was recreated in McMinnville on Oct. 18, 1939, when the Park Theater staged its Grand Opening Gala with a crowd of over 5,000 spectators. With movie reels rolling, the Red Carpet Ceremony played host to many celebrities as the Francis Craig Orchestra played well into the evening.
Located on the old Broadway of America Highway, linking New York with Los Angeles, the Park was touted as the grandest movie palace between Nashville and Chattanooga. This multi-use theater was the venture of owner Cowan Oldham, who wanted to promote more than just movies at the Park — it was to become the centerpiece of culture and downtown entertainment for McMinnville. Always the showman, Oldham hosted weddings, recitals, concerts, country music venues, plays, graduations, and even political debates from the stage of the art deco theater. Stage props, starlets, and stuntmen were all a part of the promotions to bring in the crowds and woo the audiences.
Mid-Century Changes
A disastrous fire in 1947 did not dampen the dreams of Oldham and his Cumberland Amusement Company. He vowed to make the theater bigger and better, in a style grander than before. Renovations included new seats, an enlarged stage, the classic medallion lights and the vertical marquee which became a beacon for downtown McMinnville street life.
For years, the Park remained the centerpiece of a small empire of theaters located across Tennessee and Northern Alabama. Oldham died in 1969 in the theater he loved. Sadly, one by one, his prized theaters were sold or closed. The family continued to operate the Park until 1986 when the doors were locked and the lights went dark in the people’s palace on Main Street. It was the end of an era.
Renovations & Future of The Park Theater
The theater lay vacant for several years until a local contractor purchased the property and reconfigured the building into offices and suites. Much of the elegant interior was destroyed, but enough was left to inspire a new group of visionaries.
With encouragement from local activists and the newly formed Park Theatre Group, the City of McMinnville purchased Cowan Oldham’s showpiece and a new quest began to restore the Park Theater to its former glory. After an intense marketing campaign and a successful referendum, the City embarked on a $2 million dollar renovation of this landmark theater. Architects worked to resurrect the original details, including the trademark interior, circular halo lights, and terrazzo floors. The classic marquee was also restored. Modern updates were made to allow for more well-known performers to be booked, in keeping with the Oldham tradition.
Once again, the lights began to shine bright on the Park Theater with a Re-Grand Opening Red Carpet Ceremony in May 2015. We’re extremely proud to be part of this theater’s unique history, and invite you to join us going forward long into the future!
