Printers Alley Historic District - Nashville, Tennessee
Posted by: Groundspeak Charter Member BruceS
N 36° 09.849 W 086° 46.704
16S E 519930 N 4002178
Historic and well known alley in downtown Nashville, Tennessee.
Waymark Code: WMGJ2D
Location: Tennessee, United States
Date Posted: 03/10/2013
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member silverquill
Views: 8

"Printer's Alley is a famous alley in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, between Third and Fourth Avenues, running from Union Street to Commerce Street. The portion of the alley between Union and Church Street is the home of a nightclub district that dates back to the 1940s.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Printer's Alley was home to a thriving publishing industry. The area was home to two large newspapers, ten print shops, and thirteen publishers.

When Printer's Alley first became a nightclub and entertainment district, sale of liquor for on premise consumption was illegal in Nashville (and throughout Tennessee). Restaurants and clubs in the alley served liquor anyway, often claiming it had been "brown bagged" (brought in by customers). Law enforcement agencies normally looked the other way on such sales. Liquor sales in restaurants were finally legalized in 1968.

One famous Printer's Alley club was Jimmy Hyde's Carousel Club, a jazz venue frequented by many Nashville musicians, among them a significant number of studio musicians who loved jazz despite spending their day backing country singers. These players would jam after the sessions were done and the music was often jazz. Among them were Chet Atkins, Floyd Cramer, Boots Randolph, Bob Moore, Brenton Banks, Buddy Harman and Hank Garland. Later, Randolph purchased the Carousel.

In 1998, murder came to the Alley when longtime club proprietor David "Skull" Schulman was murdered by a robber shortly before his club was due to open.

There are currently two live band bars, two karaoke bars, and one adult entertainment bar. Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar, the Fiddle and Steel Guitar Bar, Lonnie's Western Room, Ms. Kellis and The Brass Stables are all found in Printer's Alley today." - Wikipedia
Street address:
Roughly bounded by 3rd and 4th Aves., Bank Alley, and both sides of Church St.
Nashville, Tennessee


County / Borough / Parish: Davidson

Year listed: 1982

Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering - Architecture, Commerce, Entertainment/Recreation, Industry

Periods of significance: 1850-1874, 1875-1899, 1900-1924, 1925-1949

Historic function: Commerce/Trade, Domestic

Current function: Commerce/Trade, Domestic, Recreation And Culture

Privately owned?: yes

Primary Web Site: [Web Link]

Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]

Season start / Season finish: Not listed

Hours of operation: Not listed

Secondary Website 2: Not listed

National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.
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