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Printer's
Alley takes its name from its early connection with Nashville's
printing and publishing industry, then located in the immediate area.
The alley also became the center of the city's nightlife and serviced
the hotels, restaurants, and saloons fronting on Fourth Avenue, which
was known as the Men's Quarter in the late nineteenth century.
Nightclubs opened here in the 1940s, and the alley became a showcase
for the talents of performers such as Boots Randolph, Chet Atkins,
Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams, and Dottie West. This historic
district's architecture includes elegant late Victorian styles,
Nashville's first automobile parking garage, and the city's first
"skyscraper."
| PRINTERS ALLEY IN THE EARLY 60'S |
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Where the Voo Doo Room was, now is world famous Lonnie's Western Room.
Although
the Printers have long since gone, The World Famous Printers Alley
still remains, providing a Flair of Bourbon Street.Located between
Third and Fourth Avenues stretching from Union to Church Streets, the
Alley started before the turn of the century as the location of many of
Nashville's first Publishing and Printing Companies. Without the
Country Musical influences, Nashville could have possibly been known as
the Printing Capitol of the World. As late as the 1960's, Nashville was
home to over 36 Printing Companies and many other numerous Businesses,
whose roles were to support and supply the massive industry.
In
the late 1800's Printers Alley was a part of "The Men's District". Many
Cafes, Saloons, Gambling Halls and Speakeasies sprang up to cater to
the men of Nashville's Print shops, Judges, Lawyers, Politicians and
other Nashville Elite were also known to frequent the Alley.
At the turn of the Century, The Climax Club of Printers Alley was nationally known as Nashville's Premier Entertainment
spot.
Printers
Alley was Nashville's dirty little secret. It didn't matter what you
were looking for, you could find it there. Nashville's Politicians and
Police protected the Alley even after the sale of Liquor was outlawed
in 1909. Hilary House, elected Mayor at the time was quoted by
reporters at the time as saying, "Protect them? I do better than that,
I patronize them" He was Mayor for 21 of the 30 years that the sale of
intoxicants were illegal. In
1939 Nashville repealed prohibition and made it legal to buy Liquor in
stores. For the next 30 years The Alley flourished as the Mixing Bar
came into existence. Although Liquor was legal, you could not buy it by
the drink. Advertisements for the Clubs in the 1960's stated "Bring
Your Own Bottle" and they would then mix your drink for you. People
would bring their choice of beverage tightly wrapped in a brown paper
bag and leave it in a locker or on a shelf behind the bar of their
favorite haunt. Written on those bottles were the names of Nashville's
movers and shakers of the day.
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