Printer's Alley

Printer's Alley is a famous alley in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., 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.[1]

Numerous bars, nightclubs, and restaurants occupy Printer's Alley.
A large sign marks the entrance to Printer's Alley on Church Street.

History

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.[2]

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.

Paul McCartney mentioned Printer's Alley in his song "Sally G.", released as the B_side of Paul McCartney & Wings 1974 single "Junior's farm".

Today

There are currently three live band bars, one karaoke bar, a soccer bar, and one burlesque bar. Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar, Alley Taps, Ms. Kelli's, Fleet Street Pub, Skulls Rainbow Room, and Jane’s Hideaway are all found in Printer's Alley today.[3][4][5]

See also

References
  1. "History of Printer's Alley". The Historic Printer's Alley Website. The Printers Alley Merchants Association. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
  2. Thompson, E. D. (2004). More Nashville Nostalgia. Westview Publishing. p. 7.
  3. "The Printers Alley".
  4. "Fleet Street Pub Opens Today in Printers Alley".
  5. Holt, Lester (November 9, 2014). "Rascall Flatts Interview for The Today Show". today.com. NBCUniversal. Retrieved May 23, 2017.


Statler Brothers song "Pictures" mentioned it when they "met ole what's his name".

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