West End Theatre

No, you are incorrect about the name and address of this theater. You are referring to the Gordon Theatre (original address 960 Gordon Street, SW), which is now the Shrine of the Black Madonna on Ralph Abernathy Boulevard. This theater is located a few doors away from the Wren's Nest, the home of Joel Chandler Harris (author of the Uncle Remus stories), which is maintained as a tourist attraction.

However, you are absolutely correct in saying that the Gordon Theatre was an outstanding neighborhood theater. It would get my vote as the best of the second run houses in the Atlanta area in its day. They really don't build them like this any more.

The West End Theatre was at 595 Lee Street, SW. If you know West End, then you probably realize that Lee Street intersects Gordon Street, near the train trestle. The West End Theatre on Lee Street and the Gordon Theatre on Gordon Street were about a quarter of a mile apartment. When I first encountered the old West End Theatre, it had ceased to operate as a movie theater. It was being used as the location of Cantrell's bookstore. The West End Theatre was one of a number of Atlanta area movie theaters that went out of business in the early to mid 1950's. The West End Theatre was torn down in the 1960's, as I recall.

In the same general vicinity, about half a mile outside the main business district of West End, was the Cascade Theatre at 1340 Gordon Street, SW (near the juncture of Cascade Road). Apparently, it was torn down years ago.

The West End Theatre was built by Alpha Fowler and located on Lee Street next to the Masonic Hall. The theatre was in a somewhat Spanish design. The West End opened on November 23, 1925 with the film "Little Annie Rooney" starring Mary Pickford. The theatre also had a 2 manual 4 rank Robert Morton Theatre organ.