New Jersey Stage Issue 58 | Page 122

a block over past Broadway to The Ryman Auditorium, which was built in 1892 by Thomas Ryman for revivalist Samuel Porter Jones as the Union Gospel Tabernacle. Af- ter Ryman’s death in 1904, it was renamed Ryman Auditorium and became a home for entertainment in the early 20th century. From WC Fields to Bob Hope, Bob Dylan to Bruce Springsteen, many of the biggest names have taken stage at the Ryman. The church pews are still there. The displays have Louis Armstrong’s trumpet as well as many artifacts from the history of country music. The Grand Ole Opry began broadcasting from the Ryman in 1925 and continued through 1974 when it moved to the Opry House in East Nashville. The Ryman is a true music trea- sure and, in its way, the real birth- place of country music as both a place of worship and a venue for entertainment dating back to the age of vaudeville. One can hear NJ STAGE - ISSUE 58 through the years the gospel and folk music (bluegrass) blend into the country music that would later emanate from both the honky tonks and radios of America. After the Ryman visit, we rested outside next door at a little cafe and then spent the rest of Thursday walk- ing up and down Broadway listen- ing as music bellowed from each venue, some right next door to each other. Broadway from 2nd up to 5th is, on both sides, one honky tonk after another. We stopped into a little store at 5th and Broad- way so I could grab something to remember the trip by, a pretty strappin’ guitar strap with NASH- VILLE MUSIC CITY in big white letters for my “Countrycaster” Tele. We returned to the hotel exhaust- ed and sore from all the walking. Friday around noon, we headed out to the last place we wanted to see, The Musician Hall of Fame. Honoring those who had made an impact on American music with- INDEX NEXT ARTICLE 122