The Murder of David “Skull” Schulman – Printer’s Alley’s Darkest Night

If you’ve ever taken a Nashville Ghost Tour, chances are you’ve walked down Printer’s Alley — that narrow, neon-lit stretch that has seen decades of music, mischief, and mystery. But beneath the laughter and music lies one of downtown’s darkest tragedies: the 1998 murder of David “Skull” Schulman, the man who kept Printer’s Alley alive for generations.

The Mayor of Printer’s Alley

To understand the impact of that night, you have to know who Skull was. David “Skull” Schulman wasn’t just a bar owner — he was Printer’s Alley itself. His club, The Rainbow Room, had been a landmark since the 1940s, hosting jazz, burlesque, and the kind of late-night characters who gave the alley its legend.

Known as the “Mayor of Printer’s Alley,” Skull was famous for his hospitality, his red poodle, and his dedication to keeping the alley’s nightlife glowing long after other parts of Nashville went quiet. On any given night, you might catch a mix of locals, musicians, and curious travelers gathered under his roof.

The Night of the Murder

That legacy came to a shocking end on January 21, 1998, when Skull was brutally murdered inside his own club. He was 80 years old.

The motive was simple: robbery. But the crime itself shook Nashville to its core. Skull wasn’t just another victim; he was an icon of the city’s nightlife. For locals, it felt like the alley itself had lost its guardian. In the days after, Printer’s Alley grew quieter, dimmer — as if mourning its “mayor.”

The Rainbow Room Reborn

For years, Skull’s Rainbow Room sat closed, its doors locked, its neon dark. The murder left a scar not just on the alley but on the identity of downtown Nashville.

Then, in 2015, the club was resurrected. The new Skull’s Rainbow Room pays tribute to the man who gave Printer’s Alley its soul. Today, visitors can step inside and feel a piece of Nashville history — and maybe even sense that Skull himself never really left.

Hauntings in Printer’s Alley

For ghost tour guides and paranormal enthusiasts, Skull’s story is more than history; it’s legend. Some visitors claim to see a shadowy figure in a fedora tipping his hat just out of sight. Others describe the feeling of being watched while standing near the Rainbow Room, or hearing phantom footsteps echo down the brick alley.

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the story of Skull Schulman makes Printer’s Alley one of the most compelling stops on any Nashville Ghost Tour. His spirit — both metaphorical and maybe literal — is still woven into the nightlife of downtown.

The murder of David “Skull” Schulman wasn’t just the death of one man; it marked the end of an era in Printer’s Alley. But Skull’s memory continues to haunt Nashville in the best way. His Rainbow Room glows again, his story is retold on ghost tours, and his presence lingers in every laugh, every note of music, and every whispered tale after dark.

So the next time you’re on a Nashville Ghost Tour and you step into Printer’s Alley, take a moment. Look for the glow of Skull’s Rainbow Room. Listen for footsteps that don’t quite match the living. And remember the man who kept the alley alive — and may still be keeping watch from the shadows.