Ryman Auditorium Reviews (Nashville, Tennessee)

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Milwaukee, Wisconsin

December 28, 2009

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Best of IgoUgo The Ryman Auditorium was built in 1892 as a tabernacle for a local preacher. Today, it is a National Historical Landmark and some would say "must see" attraction when visiting Nashville.Between 1904 and 1943 the venue was used for a variety of ...Read more The Ryman Auditorium was built in 1892 as a tabernacle for a local preacher. Today, it is a National Historical Landmark and some would say "must see" attraction when visiting Nashville.

Between 1904 and 1943 the venue was used for a variety of first class events including the opera, jazz recitals and such acting greats as Rudolph Valentino, Katherine Hepburn and Bob Hope. It was the fluke opportunity of renting out the auditorium on Saturday nights for a local radio show that would give way to the venue that became known for world class music and country music in particular.

The Ryman had been the home of country music for over three decades, from 1943 until 1974, as the location for the Grand Ole Opry until their move to the current venue out by Gaylords' Opryland Hotel on the NW side of the city.

For years, fans could listen to the Grand Ole Opry live from the Ryman Auditorium. I can remember my dad listening to the broadcast back in the late 60's and early 70's growing up in Virginia.

The tour begins with a short eight minute video, narrated by Trisha Yearwood telling the history of the Ryman Auditorium. Today the Ryman is home to a small museum and is currently used for local shows including up and coming musicians as well as those with established careers. During the time of our visit, with the Grand Ole Opry out of service due to seasonal holiday events, "Opry at the Ryman" features the live radio broadcast through the end of January.

It is clear that the fully restored Ryman is working to attract visitors to Nashville with mainstream exhibits, especially after the deaths of June (Carter) & Johnny Cash a couple of years back. Their advertised featured exhibit is "Johnny and June at the Ryman" honoring their long relationship with the Opry including their first meeting in 1956 and the blossoming of their personal relationship that resulted in marriage. The exhibit includes personal items including clothing, instruments and rare photographs.

Other exhibits line the back wall area of the auditorium including the costumes worn by other famous Opry performers from the 1940's, 50's and 60's. Items include Minnie Pearl's infamous hat and the banjo played by Grandpa Jones. The detail in the design, embroidery and beading in some of the outfits were exquisite, in particular Porter Wagoner's.

While visiting the Ryman, guests have the opportunity to pay $5 to have their picture taken on stage at the legendary mike . . . or to cut a record in the Ryman recording studio for $15 ($25 for duets).

The pew style benches in the Ryman are the originals, restored only as much as necessary to "remove the gum" from the undersides. When the Opry left the Ryman and headed over to the new Opryland complex, this building (the Ryman) was left to fall into disrepair for nearly 20 years. When the entertainment giant Gaylord Entertainment purchased the property in the early 1990's they committed to restoring the "Mother Church of Country Music" to her heyday prime.

The Ryman Auditorium is open for "daytime" tours 9:00am to 4:00pm daily. Price is $12.50 per person, with a $1.00 discount for seniors and $6.25 for kids under the age of 12. You can also do a "behind the scenes" tour if there isn't something going on that evening for an added $3.75/person.

More information including hours and shows at the Ryman can be found at www.ryman.com.
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From journal Christmas in Nashville

The Original Home of the Grand Ole Opry

by RoBoNC

Indianapolis, Indiana

January 27, 2010

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Best of IgoUgo The Grand Ole Opry has been a part of the Nashville music scene ever since they first broadcast their first show on the radio on October 5, 1925. Today it is the oldest continuous radio program in the United States and can be heard on satellite ...Read more The Grand Ole Opry has been a part of the Nashville music scene ever since they first broadcast their first show on the radio on October 5, 1925. Today it is the oldest continuous radio program in the United States and can be heard on satellite radio as well as syndicated radio stations across the country. The Grand Ole Opry began on the fifth floor of the National Life and Accident Insurance Company building. Over the years as the attendance grew, bigger venues were sought to accommodate it. After a few different locations the Grand Ole Opry moved in 1943 to its most famous location, The Ryman Auditorium.

The Ryman Auditorium was originally built in 1891 in downtown Nashville. It was originally called the Union Gospel Tabernacle but was renamed in honor of its founder, Thomas Ryman. In 1943, the Grand Ole Opry moved into the Ryman Auditorium and changed the face of country music forever. Performing at the Grand Ole Opry was an honor and it could be a stepping stone to stardom as many famous musicians went on to have great careers. The Grand Ole Opry did for country music what the Apollo Theater in New York did for the R&B, soul, and hip hop genre.

Once again in 1974, the Grand Ole Opry outgrew the 2,362 seat venue and moved across town to the Opryland USA Theme Park. The Ryman Auditorium sat primarily vacant for decades except for being the scene in a few movies. In the early 90’s, it was slated for demolition and a fight ensued between those that wanted it demolished and those that wanted it preserved for historical reasons. The battle to save the Ryman auditorium is documented in newspaper editorials that adorn the walls on the second floor which gives a glimpse of the struggle that it took to save the building from destruction. In 2001, it was designated an historic landmark.

In 1994, the Ryman Auditorium reopened as a museum and performance venue after an $8.5 million renovation. The large brick building towers over Fifth Avenue and is located just around the corner from Broadway St, a popular destination for Nashville’s nightlife. The main entrance to the Ryman Auditorium is located off of Fourth Avenue. There is a gift shop inside immediately as you enter as well as the box office. The tour begins at the bronze sculpture of the Grand Ole Opry’s two most famous performers. Roy Acuff, the King of Country Music, and Minnie Pearl, the Queen of Country Comedy, performed at the Grand Ole Opry for more than 50 years.

The tour begins with a short fifteen minute video about the Ryman Auditorium which is shown inside the performance hall. The movie is viewed while sitting in a pew that resembles the seating in a church. The seating arrangement never changed from the time it was the Union Gospel Tabernacle until it became the home of the Grand Ole Opry. It has been nicknamed the "The Mother Church of Country Music." The tour is self-guided and there are exhibits on both floors. The exhibits highlight the different musicians that have performed here along with their outfits that they wore and other memorabilia. Such notables that are on display are Johnny and June Cash, Dolly Parton, and Loretta Lynn. You can get a good view of the stage from both levels while at the same time viewing the auditorium from the stage and getting a feel for what it is like to perform here. You can have a professional picture taken of yourself playing the guitar on stage for a fee or you can take it with your personal camera for free.

The Ryman Auditorium is not just a museum, but it is an actual live performance venue. Country music no longer dominates as musicians and bands ranging from alternative, pop, rock, blues, and even comedians take to the stage. Non-country artists and bands have included REM, Coldplay, Alice Cooper, Van Morrison, Hootie and the Blowfish, and many others. Outside of the auditorium on the walls are the official music poster of each performance that has been held here with each one being autographed.

The Ryman Auditorium is open for tours daily from 9am-4pm. Tickets are $12.50 for adults and for $16.25 you can get a guided tour of the backstage. However the backstage tour is subject to cancellation depending on the concert schedule. The box office is also open from 5pm-8pm on concert nights.

Although the Grand Ole Opry hasn’t called the Ryman Auditorium home since 1974, it hasn’t forgotten its roots. Every year from November through February, the Grand Ole Opry comes back to perform as if they never left.
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From journal Nashville, Tennessee - Home of Country Music and Southern Cooking

Ryman Auditorium

by weeblewobble46

Marietta, Georgia

October 1, 2009

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Entry to the building is not on 5th Street where our GPS guided us, instead it is closer to 4th Street, at the back of the original building.The day we arrived at the Ryman, the backstage tour was unavailable due to a scheduled concert that night. ...Read more

From journal Nashville, TN

Ryman Auditorium

by kmclark

Blandford, Massachusetts

June 16, 2003

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Although Ryman's best known as the former home of the Grand Ole Opry, it was originally a tabernacle built by riverboat captain Tom Ryman. The motel staff gave us decent directions and we found it with little difficulty. We took the tour after which ...Read more

From journal Springtime in Music City

The Ryman Auditorium

by Edra

Guyton, Georgia

September 28, 2002

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The Ryman auditorium has been restored and is quite remarkable. When the Grand Ole Opry moved from there many years ago it was decided that it would not be restored. However, about 8 years ago Gaylord (the owners of Opryland) decided to undertake ...Read more

From journal Nashville - A Great Getaway Vacation

Ryman Auditorium

by Tideone

Huntsville, Alabama

October 4, 2000

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Best of IgoUgo No trip to Nashville is complete without a visit to the Ryman Auditorium, the birthplace of the Grand Ole Opry. While the Opry no longer performs there having moved out to its new location by the Opryland Hotel in the 1970's, various performances ...Read more

From journal Nashville, so much more than just country music

Ryman Auditorium

by chadk78

Blacksburg, South Carolina

March 5, 2005

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This building, originally a church, is the former home of the Grand Ole Opry. Today, it can be toured and occasionally still hosts a variety of live performances. Recently, the Opry itself has been held here on some weekends during the winter ...Read more

From journal Music City: Not Just About Music

Ryman Auditorium

by zabelle

Portland, Connecticut

October 26, 2004

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Best of IgoUgo Known as "The Mother Church of Country Music," the Ryman Auditorium did begin its life, if not as a church, as a tabernacle. The dream of Southern Evangelist Rev. Samuel Jones and the reformed riverboat captain Thomas Green Ryman, the auditorium has ...Read more Known as "The Mother Church of Country Music," the Ryman Auditorium did begin its life, if not as a church, as a tabernacle. The dream of Southern Evangelist Rev. Samuel Jones and the reformed riverboat captain Thomas Green Ryman, the auditorium has a career that spans over a hundred years of Nashville history. This unique partnership began when the Rev. Jones brought his tent to town to preach a mission. All the saloons were closed down, and with nothing to do, Captain Ryman and his cronies went down to heckle the Reverend. The wily Reverend preached about the love of a mother, and his message found fertile ground in Captain Ryman, much to his and everyone else’s surprise. The Captain promised Rev. Jones that he would never have to preach in a tent again and then began raising the money to build his tabernacle. Seven years later, in 1897, the tabernacle was completed, and on the Reverend’s insistence, became the Ryman Auditorium.

You will notice that the exterior looks more like a church than an auditorium, with its red brick and colored windows. Begin your tour by sitting down (in a church pew) and listening to an 8-minute video narrated by Trisha Yearwood. It gives you the background of the Ryman and its place in the history of country music.

After the video, you can walk around the auditorium and look at all the displays of memorabilia related to the Ryman. There are costumes, records, and trivia from Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Tex Ritter, and many others. If you have always dreamed of being on the stage, this is your chance. You can walk right up there, belt out a tune, and even get your picture taken doing it. If you are really lucky, you will walk in on someone very good rehearsing. The others in my group got to watch Dave Brubeck rehearse; I was off visiting another of Nashville’s many venues at that moment.

After its time as a revival tabernacle, the Ryman became home to the Grand Ole Opry for many years. This auditorium, said to have acoustics second only to the Mormon Tabernacle, has seen the greats of country music come through its doors over the years. For a while between the 1970s, when the Opry moved to its new home, and 1993, the future of the Ryman was unsure. In 1993, Gaylord Entertainment made a commitment to restore this historic landmark.

Today, the Ryman has a full schedule of entertainment planned. You can see everything from contemporary music to jazz and classics here. You can either get a ticket for a self-guided tour or get a ticket for an event and get to hear the acoustics for yourself. The Ryman was named the Theatre of the Year in 2004 at the Pollstar Concert Industry Awards.

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From journal Nashville- City of Dreams

Ryman Auditorium

by Shangrilq

Jackson, Tennessee

March 9, 2003

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This is so steeped in history and they have exhibits of the famous stars' clothes, etc., and they show a video. You see the stage where most of the well- known country music stars actually performed! They still do the "Grand Ole Opry" from this ...Read more

From journal Music City Nashville,TN

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