Do not go by the map listed above. When I first mentioned this theater, I must have accidentally put the Zip Code for Hapeville. This theater was on Spring Street in Downtown Atlanta. The above picture and map are wrong. There has never been a theater at that location.
It was I think earlier than the time mentioned above. I was in Columbus for a funeral and saw the theater bragging it was the first 8-screen complex in Georgia. This was I believe the late 1970s. At that time there were no 8-screen cinemas in Atlanta. They came in the 1980s
It is interesting to know that after PACE, a Sam’s Club and Costco type store, demolished the South Expressway, you could walk over to the the end of the parking lot and still see part of the drive-in that had not yet been demolished.
Like I said, the picture I posted is what my father said was the Forest Park Theater. You list 1130 Main Street and my building is 770 Main Street. Street Numbers may have changed because that section of Forest Park has had quite a bit or demolition and renovation.
The Address listed in CT matches the Forest Park (54) Drive-in and is Jonesboro Road which is not Main Street.
I did post a theater in the shopping center where the old Drive-in was that was opened for about 2 months in the late 1970s. That theater looked like it only held 100 people. It was not built as a theater, did not have a sloping floor like movie theaters do, and if memory serves me correctly did not have a lobby. You walked in and paid your admission then went to your seat. This theater was also called the Forest Park Theater.
I never attended this building when it was a theater but remember it being various bars over time.
For all it’s worth, I vaguely remember this being one of the porno houses in the mid to late 1960’s. I could be wrong but this fits the Flat Shoals address mention in the old ads. I remember riding by it one night and seeing people outside.
Looking at the satellite picture for the Broad Avenue Cinema, it was in a different area of town from this theater. There were actually buildings surrounding this theater.
I was asked if this could have been the 10th Avenue Cinema. Looking at the Satellite view, this does not look like the same neighborhood that the 10th Avenue Theater was located in. The 10th Avenue was in downtown Albany.
It is hard to say if the Roosevelt was demolished or cannot be found in the forest that occupies the present location. When you cross Roosevelt Highway on I-285 going north you can look to your right and see where the Drive-in was.
During the 1960s, Lakewood, Greenbriar, Westgate and the Eastpoint were the only places in this area to see a movie. Unfortunately, they would probably be playing the same thing. Many times, the Eastpoint and Greenbriar would play the same thing even though they were owned by the Georgia Theater Company.
Thanks Dennis for your comments on The Sound of Music. I was only about 9 or 10 when it played at Lakewood so my memory is not as developed as it would have been if I were older at the time.
Another memory of Lakewood is going with a friend when in the fifth grade to see The Night They Raided Minskeys. Would you let a 10 year kid go unsupervised to see that. Those were the days.
Looking at the Lakewood building today, and the surrounding shopping center, no one would believe that that whole area was a thriving shopping center in the 1960s and early 1970s. 72 Lanes as well as the Funtown amusement complex was right down the street.
It was longer than ten weeks. My family would always ride by there on the way home from church. It was a very long run. Another interesting tidbit was when Rosmary’s Baby played there, they had a black baby carriage over the entrance.
To the best of my knowledge Old Dixie never went to all porn. I don’t even remember it showing any X-rated movie. It was always a twin but later one auditorium was split and it was then a triple.
There was a time in the 1970s when an X-rated move such as Alice In Wonderland, or Tarzan Shame of the Jungle would play at the multiplexes. I remember Arrowhead playing these occasionally like all the other Weis Theaters would. I don’t remembe this at Old Dixie.
I definitely remember seeing Tenth Avenue Theater. It could have been Broad Ave. before. What are the dates of the ads you mention in the posting for Broad Avenue. I remember seeing this during 1982-83. Let me know if you have a picture of the building. That way I can know for sure.
I was recently in Macon and this theater has been remodeled so completely, you cannot tell it was a movie theater.
Thanks for the picture. I have wondered what this theater looked like.
Do not go by the map listed above. When I first mentioned this theater, I must have accidentally put the Zip Code for Hapeville. This theater was on Spring Street in Downtown Atlanta. The above picture and map are wrong. There has never been a theater at that location.
It was I think earlier than the time mentioned above. I was in Columbus for a funeral and saw the theater bragging it was the first 8-screen complex in Georgia. This was I believe the late 1970s. At that time there were no 8-screen cinemas in Atlanta. They came in the 1980s
Sometime between June and December what was left of the screen was either demolished or fell down.
It is interesting to know that after PACE, a Sam’s Club and Costco type store, demolished the South Expressway, you could walk over to the the end of the parking lot and still see part of the drive-in that had not yet been demolished.
Like I said, the picture I posted is what my father said was the Forest Park Theater. You list 1130 Main Street and my building is 770 Main Street. Street Numbers may have changed because that section of Forest Park has had quite a bit or demolition and renovation.
The Address listed in CT matches the Forest Park (54) Drive-in and is Jonesboro Road which is not Main Street.
I did post a theater in the shopping center where the old Drive-in was that was opened for about 2 months in the late 1970s. That theater looked like it only held 100 people. It was not built as a theater, did not have a sloping floor like movie theaters do, and if memory serves me correctly did not have a lobby. You walked in and paid your admission then went to your seat. This theater was also called the Forest Park Theater.
I never attended this building when it was a theater but remember it being various bars over time.
For all it’s worth, I vaguely remember this being one of the porno houses in the mid to late 1960’s. I could be wrong but this fits the Flat Shoals address mention in the old ads. I remember riding by it one night and seeing people outside.
I would love to see it restored.
Looking at the satellite picture for the Broad Avenue Cinema, it was in a different area of town from this theater. There were actually buildings surrounding this theater.
I was asked if this could have been the 10th Avenue Cinema. Looking at the Satellite view, this does not look like the same neighborhood that the 10th Avenue Theater was located in. The 10th Avenue was in downtown Albany.
Love the pictures.
Do you have any photos of the Fulton or Hanger theaters when they were in operation?
It is hard to say if the Roosevelt was demolished or cannot be found in the forest that occupies the present location. When you cross Roosevelt Highway on I-285 going north you can look to your right and see where the Drive-in was.
During the 1960s, Lakewood, Greenbriar, Westgate and the Eastpoint were the only places in this area to see a movie. Unfortunately, they would probably be playing the same thing. Many times, the Eastpoint and Greenbriar would play the same thing even though they were owned by the Georgia Theater Company.
Thanks Dennis for your comments on The Sound of Music. I was only about 9 or 10 when it played at Lakewood so my memory is not as developed as it would have been if I were older at the time.
Another memory of Lakewood is going with a friend when in the fifth grade to see The Night They Raided Minskeys. Would you let a 10 year kid go unsupervised to see that. Those were the days.
Looking at the Lakewood building today, and the surrounding shopping center, no one would believe that that whole area was a thriving shopping center in the 1960s and early 1970s. 72 Lanes as well as the Funtown amusement complex was right down the street.
How things have changed.
I like the way you combined what I said about the 54 Drive-In with Forest Park Drive-In
It was longer than ten weeks. My family would always ride by there on the way home from church. It was a very long run. Another interesting tidbit was when Rosmary’s Baby played there, they had a black baby carriage over the entrance.
To the best of my knowledge Old Dixie never went to all porn. I don’t even remember it showing any X-rated movie. It was always a twin but later one auditorium was split and it was then a triple.
There was a time in the 1970s when an X-rated move such as Alice In Wonderland, or Tarzan Shame of the Jungle would play at the multiplexes. I remember Arrowhead playing these occasionally like all the other Weis Theaters would. I don’t remembe this at Old Dixie.
Stefan, your pictures bring back quite a few memories of how things were.
I definitely remember seeing Tenth Avenue Theater. It could have been Broad Ave. before. What are the dates of the ads you mention in the posting for Broad Avenue. I remember seeing this during 1982-83. Let me know if you have a picture of the building. That way I can know for sure.
The pictures are great. You must have taken these before digital cameras. I like the way you show the drive-in open and then deteriorating.
This theater actually stayed open for while after AMC Southlake 24 opened. It quickly changed to a dollar house but then closed not long after that.