This category was developed several years ago, in response to pleas from Scene publisher Albie Del Favero that we include some entries about the good old days in Music City. Behold the Nashville of yesteryear and all its landmarks.
You remember getting your polio cube at Parmer School, roller skating birthday parties at the Hippodrome on West End, the nativity scene at Centennial Park, Fort Nightly, “Combo Parties,” the carnival at Hillsboro High School....
—Ginger Wells, Franklin
You remember the Nashville Vols and Sulphur Dell, and what about the Noel Ice Company on Fourth Avenue North? Street cars running down West End Avenue. Shyer’s Jewelers on Church Street. The Paramount Theater and the Happiness Club on Saturday mornings. The Krystal at Third and Deaderick. “Cain-Sloan” at Fifth and Church. The Bears of Zema Hill. The first escalators in Nashville in Harvey’s Department Store on Church Street.
—Edward Randolph, Nashville
You remember Mayor Beverly Briley, when the Life and Casualty Tower was considered the “Empire State Building” of Music City, [and] you witnessed the awesomely displayed nativity scene as it encircled the Parthenon (and no one complained)....
—Prince Le’VonBell, Nashville
You feel like crying each time you pass the vacant space where The Jacksonian apartments used to be.
—Audrey Summers, Nashville
You remember: “Escalators up and down; Gifts on every floor; Oh what fun it is; To shop in Nashville’s largest store!”
—Paul Melton, Huntington Beach, Calif.
You still call Dillard’s Castner Knott.
—Jackie Hughes, LaVergne
You still call it Candyland.
—Andy Pargh, Nashville
Lester Whitson ever fixed your Volkswagen.
—Elly Brantley, Franklin
You remember Morris Zager’s cheesecake.
—Charles Brantley, Franklin
You know the reason John Hartford wrote “and the drunks are all gone from the Merchant’s Hotel” in the song “Nobody Eats at Linebaugh’s Anymore.”
—Charles Brantley, Franklin
You grew up taking calls on the blue phone at Swim ’n’ Sun.
—Esther Watkins Gulli, Washington, D.C.
You ate at or remember these restaurants: Three Gables, Highland Crest, Flaming Steer, Billy’s Burgers, Cross Keys, Coursey’s Barbecue, Langford’s, Biltmore, Candyland, La Viscaya, Minnie Pearl’s Fried Chicken, and Hooker Burgers.
—George Kesterson, Madison
Richard Fulton went to school with your grandad.
—Nell Ann Carpenter, Franklin
