It sounds like a revived Franklin Cinema might not be exactly the same venue it was before it closed earlier this year, but when it comes to a community treasure such as this one, it’s much better than bulldozers:

If the deal goes through, the Heritage Foundation wants to use the facility both for film showings and cultural events including lectures and music performances. Rick Warwick, staff historian for the Heritage Foundation, said the model would be along the lines of the concept used to keep Nashville’s Belcourt Theater preserved . . . But whatever the cost, Warwick said the theater has so cemented itself in the hearts of Franklin residents that the project is worth pursuing stridently. “It really was, for many years, the main social event of the town. It’s an era that has a lot of memories, and maybe it will come back again.” Warwick said. “[Franklin Cinema] is too much a part of the heritage of Franklin to let it disappear.”

This is great news from the Heritage Foundation via today’s City Paper. I hope the cinema reappears soon.

The Tennessean is reporting the following encouraging news this morning via its Web site:

Franklin Mayor Tom Miller says he is acting as a facilitator to bring together two potential financial backers who may buy or lease the 70-year-old, two-screen Franklin Cinema.

This is wonderful news for a beloved and historic venue scheduled to close permanently this Sunday night (Jan. 7). Mayor Miller says he is “guardedly optimistic,” and I hope that his efforts are fruitful.

I’ve previously written about the Franklin Cinema’s fate and acknowledged that I haven’t done much to support it in the past. If it survives, I plan on seeing movies there more often. I’m pulling for you, Franklin Cinema! [Image: thefuntimesguide.com]

Franklin Cinema is scheduled to close at the end of this month, though there is a small chance it could still survive. I’m sad to see this beloved neighborhood cinema go, and I’ll confess that I’m as guilty as the rest of us out there for neglecting it. I’ve only been to a movie there a few times, and I’ve opted for closer and fancier multiplexes instead.

“I really think that there’s not enough traffic to justify it operating as a cinema. It is very nostalgic, very heart-warming, everyone has stories from the Franklin Cinema, but what has happened is that the Cool Springs multiplexes have drawn most of the business from downtown Franklin. It just can’t compete with the digital, Dolby multi-screens playing 12 of the 15 latest movies,” [property owner Mark] Bloom said.

Unfortunately, I think Bloom is right.