By: Heather Cope
The Ryman Auditorium is a huge staple in the history of Nashville. Many great artists, musicians, films, speeches and theatrical performances have been done on that historic stage. I have been blessed to attend several shows there and plan to attend many more in the future.
"The most amazing place I've ever sung in..."
-Vince Gill
The auditorium was originally built to be a tabernacle. A tabernacle in the 1800s was a place of worship used by Protestants or Mormons. The auditorium was built by Captain Thomas Ryman at 116 Fifth Ave. N in downtown Nashville, Tenn. Thomas Ryman was a very successful business man and riverboat captain on the Cumberland River. Ryman became very wealthy and established with his 35 riverboats and multiple saloons in the area.
What would inspire a man to build a place of worship when his primary livelihood was drinking and gambling? Ryman and his friends attended a sermon preached by a reverend by the name of Sam Jones. They initially attended to stir up a riot and protest his preachings. Instead, it changed Thomas Ryman's life, and steered him in a whole new direction. It has been said that after that sermon, he dumped every bottle of whiskey aboard his riverboats into the river and never had another drink again. After seven years and an investment of $100,000, the tabernacle was finished in 1892. It opened its doors as Union Gospel Tabernacle. There, Sam Jones preached his sermons for many, many years.
Thomas Ryman passed away on Christmas Day in 1904. He was 63 years old. The Rev. Sam Jones then changed the name of the establishment to the Ryman Auditorium in his memory. Income for the auditorium began to decline. The manager in the early 1900s was a woman named Lula C Naff. She worked extremely hard to keep the Ryman relevant by selling tickets on the streets of Nashville to various shows such as Bob Hope, Roy Rogers, and Katherine Hepburn. Unfortunately, the doors closed, and there was even talk of demolition.
The Grande Ole Opry saved the auditorium by occupying it from 1943 to 1974. The Grand Ole Opry was a broadcast of country music performances on WSM-AM. Here, there were many magical and historical performances by artists including Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Charlie Chaplin, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, and even Harry Houdini. President Theodore Roosevelt even graced the stage of the Ryman. Popular movies such as “The Coalminers Daughter” were filmed there. Also, Johnny Cash's show aired there from 1969 until 1971. Because of all the amazing artists and performances, the Ryman became known as "the Carnegie Hall of the South".
The Grand Ole Opry eventually moved to the Opryland Theme Park, and the Ryman Auditorium was once again vacant and without funds. In 1994, Ed Gaylord purchased Opryland and the surrounding areas, as well as the Ryman. He funded an $8.5 million renovation on the Ryman. Even though it moved to a new location, the Grand Ole Opry still holds special performances there every year during the holiday season since 1999.
Since it was remodeled, even more performances have made history on that stage. The Ryman has been named one of the nations best venues, as well as voted "Theatre of the Year" from 2010 - 2013. Almost all music genres are welcome there, including gospel, jazz, blues, or alternative rock. Even television shows like “American Idol” have been filmed there. Many more current artists have performed there, such as Zac Brown Band, ZZ Top, and Elvis Costello.
"The greatest theatre in the world!"
-Coldplay
I have had the pleasure of attending several shows within the walls of the Ryman Auditorium. I have enjoyed every single one, and I plan on attending as many as I possibly can in the future. There is not a bad seat in the house, and the acoustics are ideal! The first artist that I saw at there was Jack Johnson. Jack is a Grammy-winning singer and songwriter from Oahu, Hawaii. He sings and plays folk rock, surf, and acoustic music. He is one of my all time favorite artists.
Another artist I was lucky enough to see there is Jason Mraz. He is also a Grammy-winning singer and songwriter from Virginia and San Francisco. His genre of music is pop, smooth jazz, and soul.
Attending live shows is my favorite hobby. I collect memories and experiences. The amount of talent that I witness attending shows, not only at the Ryman but also at other music venues in the Nashville area, is amazing to me. I will always have an ever-growing passion and great appreciation for music and the history behind it.
If you are interested in learning more about Captain Thomas Ryman, you can make a trip to The Palace Theatre in Gallatin, Tenn. They are presenting a musical rendition of his life called “The Ryman Diaries”. This play is written by a local author Debbie Mathis Watts in collaboration with noted actor Tom Doland. The performance is an old-fashioned romantic comedy-drama that is suitable for all ages. Show times vary during the fall months. Tickets are $10. Once the Gallatin premier of the show has ended, it will later run in other locations, including Nashville.
If you are interested in learning more about the Ryman itself, the venue offers self-guided and backstage tours. These tours are held daily between 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. The price for Adult admission ranges from $15 to $20. Child admission ranges from $10 to $15.
Contact Information:
Ryman Auditorium
615.889.3060
116 5th Ave North
Nashville, TN 37219
Ticketing: (615) 889-3060
Administration: (615) 458-8700
Box Office Hours
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Seven days a week
The Palace Theatre
(615) 230-0884
146 North Water Avenue
Gallatin, TN 37066
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