May 9, 1890 – With the foundations of the Tabernacle completed, a tent was erected across the expanse on May 9, 1890.  Sam Jones held his first daily meeting at the “tented tabernacle” on May 25, 1890 and it continued until June 1.  At the conclusion of Sam Jones’ series of meetings, the tent was removed, construction recommenced, and no further events were held until May 4, 1892.

May 30, 1892 – 4,000 people packed the Tabernacle to hear Rev. Sam Jones preach for the first time in the completed building; but, it was announced right before the program began that there were “circumstances preventing Jones from fulfilling his engagement.” Although very disappointed, most of the crowd stayed to hear Rev. Stewart lead the service.  Rev. Jones did arrive the next day, but that night was remembered as the original “No Show Jones.”

April 14, 1893 – Old Deestrick Skule, a popular satirical 19th century play about a country school teacher Mr. Williams and his “skolars,” featuring students ready to learn takes the stage. Characters include class clowns, a mischievous boy, an inquisitive boy, a girl who always stands at the head of the class, a girl who always cries when asked a question, and a girl who always giggles. The teacher wishes to be rehired as the school director visits. The “School Directors” were famous Nashvillians – sometimes governors, mayors or businessmen, who took part in the show. During the visit, the students are well behaved and sing in unison, “this is the way we wash our hands.” The question of whether or not Mr. Williams will be rehired is given to the audience to vote.

December 8, 1893 – Rev. T. DeWitt Talmage of the famous Brooklyn Tabernacle, the building Tom Ryman said inspired Nashville’s Tabernacle architecturally, came for a lecture.

April 27, 1894 – A mass meeting called the “Law and Order League” formed at the Tabernacle to help crack down on saloons being open on Sunday and gambling.

April 12, 1895 – Rev. Sam Jones addressed during the Easter service and helped to raise money for the recently installed wooden church pews in the Tabernacle.

January 30, 1896 – The Fisk Jubilee Singers performed a concert with The Mozart Society and Raymond Augustus Lawson under auspices of the Ladies Aid Society of First Baptist Church on January 30, 1896.

June 22-24, 1897 – The United Confederate Veterans held their 7th reunion at the Union Gospel Tabernacle from June 22-24, 1897.  As part of the six-month Tennessee Centennial Exposition, the United Confederate Veteran’s Days saw 74,000 attendees visit the exposition’s grounds, exhibits, booths, and buildings. At the conclusion of the convention, the Confederate Veterans, being so moved by the construction of the gallery (which was built in preparation of the event), donated their surplus of $2,500 to the Ryman’s building fund.  As a result of this generous donation, the balcony was officially named the “Confederate Gallery.”

May 23, 1898 – A mass meeting was called by the Ministers’ Alliance, which was inspired by Rev. Sam Jones’ visit 14 years ago. Rev. J. H. Morrison lectured. A committee of 5 was appointed that evening to nominate 25 citizens to form “a plan of action to stamp out lawlessness in city affairs.”

April 19, 1899 – The funeral of famed Architect Col. William C. Smith, who was the architect of the Parthenon and was instrumental in Nashville hosting the AIA National Convention on October 21-22, 1885 and October 20-22, 1895, was held at Ryman Auditorium. Smith was the first architect of the Tabernacle hired by Captain Ryman but was replaced by Hugh Thompson who designed the building.

October 23, 1900 – Students, alumni, and others led a parade from the campus of Vanderbilt University to the Tabernacle to celebrate Vanderbilt’s 25th Anniversary. The first lecture, “The Direction of American University Development” was given by Arthur T. Hadley, President of Yale University, and was followed by an address by Vanderbilt Chancellor J. H. Kirkland titled “Twenty-five Years of University Work.” W. K. Vanderbilt, donor of the newly completed Kissam Hall, officially made the presentation to Vanderbilt University.

September 19, 1901 – The America for Americans memorial service was held for former President McKinley.

December 17, 1901 – Imperial Hand Bell Ringers performed Lyceum No.5, which was composed for a bell quintet, a mandolin, a harp, and a carillon of 110 bells made from the oldest bell foundry in London.

December 29, 1902 – A mass meeting for the Law and Order League against gambling and selling whisky on Sunday was held. The meeting featured speakers including future United States Supreme Court Justice James C. McReynolds, Vanderbilt Chancellor James Kirkland, Ed Baxter, Jordan Stokes, Rev. G.C. Kelly, Rev. W.S. Jacobs, and Rev. W.T. Manning.

December 23, 1904 – Captain Thomas Green Ryman died on December 23, 1904. At his funeral on Christmas Day,  Rev. Sam Jones took a vote to rename the Tabernacle to Ryman Auditorium. The audience responded with a standing ovation.

To read more about Capt. Ryman and his legacy, click here.

September 3, 1906 – The Greater Nashville Celebration, marking the annexation of four new wards to the city which increased the population by 25,000, took place. Nashville Board of Trade President Leland Hume and Mayor Morris gave speeches.

March 8, 1906 – Sarah Bernhardt starred in the performance of Camille, billed as “the farewell engagement in Nashville of the World’s greatest Actress.” Her appearance attracted more attention than any other theatrical event for the past decade.  The stage was widened and squared off.

April 26, 1907 – Due to bad weather, the Hippodrome Circus had to be moved from Nashville’s Athletic Park (Sulphur Dell) to an indoor location.  On April 26, 1907, the production was held at Ryman Auditorium.  With a 2:30 PM and an 8:15 PM performance, Nashville residents could see the wonders of the circus inside the Tabernacle for the steep cost of $0.50 per person.  Children were allowed entry at the discounted rate of $0.25.

February 17, 1908 –  J. Franklin Caveny, cartoonist and entertainer, painted on stage and changed a painting of Shakespeare to Bull Bill to Uncle Sam in a few strokes of the brush.

June 27, 1908 – For the first time in the history of Nashville, election returns were given inside a building that allowed women to attend. In the past, men would gather outside the newspapers offices on 4th and Printers Alley to get returns first. The Ryman opened at 4 PM when polls closed and stayed open until all returns were in.

April 19, 1909 – Emma Eames, the famous Metropolitan Opera star, made her first Nashville appearance at the Ryman.

May 11-12, 1910 – May Music Festival, three grand concerts, was held at Ryman Auditorium. Sir Costa’s Great Oratorio, Eli was performed featuring soloists Mrs. Marie Zimmerman, soprano; Miss Lillian Wooten, alto; Mr. Frank Ormsby, tenor; Mr. Frederick Martin, basso; Mr. Chas. Washburn, baritone; Mr. P.G. Anton, cello; Mr. Fritz Schmitz, violin; as well as a 50-piece Orchestra and a 150-voice Nashville Chorus.

January 25, 1911 – The inauguration for Governor Ben W. Hooper was held on the Ryman stage. Hooper was the first of three Governors to take the oath of office at the Ryman.

December 8, 1911 – Pepito Arriola, age 13 and “the world’s most wonderful boy pianist,” played at Ryman Auditorium. Previously, Arriola played with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Symphony, the New York Metropolitan Opera House, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

July 12, 1912 – A funeral for Dr. Robert Fulton Boyd was held at the Ryman. Boyd was one of the most famous African-American doctors in the country. The Meharry graduate founded the first and oldest African-American Association for Doctors, which still operates today.

October 2, 1913 – Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan Macy take the stage. This was the first ticketed event to sell out at Ryman Auditorium. Keller and her remarkable teacher Anne Sullivan Macy addressed a full house. In her fifteen minute speech, Keller said, “We are successful so far as we help each other. My teacher has given me an opportunity to live and work, and that is what people with five senses should give each other. We can and must help each other. That is why I am a socialist.”

After her 15 minute speech Keller answered questions that were repeated by Macy while Keller touched her lips to understand the words through her motion.

December 8, 1913 – Madame E Azalia Hackley, African-American singer and social activist, and the Fisk Jubilee Chorus of 300 people performed.

December 11, 1914 – The famous Russian ballet dancer, Anna Pavlova, performed.

July 31, 1915 – Thomas Ryman, Jr. was shot and killed on the steamer Jo Horton Fall. That afternoon a fire started in the basement of the Ryman. Fireman destroyed most of the stage to get to the basement to put out the fire. Ryman manager Lula Naff had the water mopped up from the floor and the pews in order to set up the undamaged part of the stage for a mass meeting that evening.

January 1, 1916 – African-Americans celebrated the Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation at Ryman Auditorium. The event featured keynote speaker Rev. J.W.E. Bowen of Atlanta, Preston Taylor, and many other prominent African-Americans.

October 26, 1916 – Legend has it that Lula C. Naff, Ryman manager, took a second mortgage on her house to be able to bring John McCormack, the World’s Greatest Lyric Opera Tenor, to the Ryman.  She was worried that the concert would not sell, so she carried hand-written press releases with her, put up posters, and passed out handbills.  She succeeded so well that three days before the tickets were to go on sale, she found that she had already sold all of the tickets through mail orders and reservations. A block-long line of people waited at the box office for tickets so Lula sold standing-room only tickets and tickets on the stage.  In the end, more than 5,000 people were present that night to hear John McCormack sing.  At the time, McCormack was the most noted name on the American concert stage and Nashville was the only Southern city in which he appeared.

August 3, 1917 – The First Regiment Band held a concert to send off the First Tennessee Infantry to WWI. The First Tennessee Infantry was lead by Col. Harry S. Berry. “Berry Field” at the Nashville International Airport is named after Col. Harry S. Berry.

April 18, 1918 – America’s biggest film star, Charlie Chaplin, visited the Ryman on April 18, 1918 to help the American troops during World War I by selling war bonds. The doors opened at 7:00 p.m., and thirty minutes later, every seat and standing-room-only space had been occupied on what The Tennessean headline later called a “monster crowd.”

Chaplin walked on the Ryman stage looking at the huge crowd in every direction around him. The crowd wrapped around the entire stage on both levels and the seated and balcony areas went all the way to the back stage wall. He nearly stood on his head so he could view the entire crowd, including those under the balcony of the Ryman. He said, “is there anybody hanging on the rafters? I can’t see, there’s so many of you. This is one grand patriotic sight.” He continued to address the crowd and said about being on the stage, “I assure you it is a great pleasure for me to be here, even though it be on a serious mission. I am not a speaker. I am not a politician. I am just a movie actor trying to influence you to buy Liberty Bonds.”

Chaplin led the band who played the popular World War I anthem, “Over There,” and he had them repeat the song because he thought the crowd could sing it even louder.

Chaplin wowed the crowd when he performed his famous “tramp waddle” across the stage every time $10,000 was raised from those in attendance. He went back and forth on the Ryman stage frequently as money continued to pour into the cause. That evening, thanks to Charlie Chaplin’s visit to the Ryman,  $375,000 worth of liberty war bonds was purchased during an evening few who attended would forget.

February 18, 1919 – The Creatore and the Grand Opera Company, a collaboration of the “all-stars” of opera singers including members from the Metropolitan Boston and Chicago Grand Opera, performed Rigoletto and Aida. Some of the great performers included Giorgio Puliti, Alfredo Valenti, Salvatore Sclaretta, Mario Falanto, Louise Darcice, Henrieto Wakefield, Mary Carson, and Riccardo Martin. The Ryman stage was not large enough for the production of Aida, so at a cost of several hundred dollars, it was enlarged.

April 29, 1919 – Caruso is best known as the lead tenor of the Metropolitan Opera of New York City for eighteen seasons. He made over 800 appearances at the Met. Undeniably the greatest male singer of his time, Caruso sold a full house of tickets at the Ryman, with prices ranging from $2-$6, and box seats on the stage for $10.

After Caruso appeared, Amelita Galli-Curci, billed as the World’s Greatest Opera Singer, sang to a full house the very next night.  The audience was amazed when the flutist played notes and Galli-Curci matched the notes in her singing.

June 8, 1920 – Prior to the passage of the 19th Amendment, the Democratic Convention selected two women, Anne Dallas Dudley, Third Vice President on the board of the National League of Woman Voters, and Abby Crawford Milton, Chairman of the Tennessee League of Women Voters, to attend the San Francisco 1920 Convention as delegates. This was the first time women served as delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

September 22, 1921 – Elizabeth Spencer sang on stage next to the New Edison Phonograph. She stopped halfway through the song as the phonograph played her song, and then the singer and the phonograph alternated. This experience was described in an ad by Lawrence & Briggs Talking Machine Shop of Nashville, “the only way the audience could be sure which was singing was to watch Miss Spencer’s lips.”

September 8, 1922 – The Temple of the Al Menah Shriners held a ceremony at the Ryman on September 8, 1922.  The occasion saw 105 new candidates for the temple appear along with members from other southern charters who made the trek to middle Tennessee for the event.  The Nashville Al Menah Shriners charter has been in existence since 1913 when it was accepted as the 131^st temple in North America. The temple is still located North of Nashville on Brick Church Pike.

January 16, 1923 – The inauguration of Governor Austin Peay was held at Ryman Auditorium.

November 4, 1925 – Humorist and cowboy singer Will Rogers appeared on the Ryman stage as part of a coast-to-coast lecture tour. The De Reszke Singers also appeared during the performance.

March 23, 1931 – Ethel Barrymore performed in The Love Duel at the Ryman.

February 5, 1932 – Famed African-American singer, Marian Anderson, performed in concert. Anderson was the first permanent African-American member of the Metropolitan Opera Company. The world-class contralto’s popularity helped to erode false perceptions of race in America.

February 20, 1935 – Fannie Brice, Eve Arden and Billie Burke, performed in a Ziegfeld Follies Road Show at Ryman Auditorium.

April 29, 1937 – Tallulah Bankhead performed in George Kelly’s comedy, Reflected Glory.

November 21, 1939 – Ryman Manager Lula Naff went to court for the right to present the provocative play, Tobacco Road. When the Nashville Board of Censors tried to stop the 1939 performance by threatening to arrest star John Barton, Lula Naff filed suit and won the right to show the work.

June 5, 1943 – The Grand Ole Opry moved from War Memorial Auditorium to Ryman Auditorium.  After audiences outgrew four previous venues, the Ryman provided a rustic but welcoming house for the sold out crowds who appreciated the Opry’s homespun entertainment. It was the perfect fit when the Opry cast settled into the Ryman for nearly thirty-one years.