South Dekalb Mall Quad

About the time UA closed this, Majic Johnson announced that he was going to build there but it never happened. I guess the new mall out in Lithonia killed that off.

The South DeKalb will always be one of my favorite theatres, both in its appearance and my personal memories there.

It was opened, I believe, sometime in 1970. The South DeKalb mall was a 2 anchor setup with a Rich's at one end and a J.C. Penny store at the other. The theatre entrance was located in the center of the mall and the auditoriums stuck out the back into the parking lot. The look of the place was unlike anything I had ever worked in, especially for the very conservative Georgia Theatre Company. Personally, I have always considered it the nicest looking and best laid out theatre I ever managed.

You could enter the theatre from two opposite doors, one from the rear of the mall, and the other from outside. Both doors led to sloping walkways which bottomed out in front of the box-office. When built, South DeKalb was a set of identical twins separated by the box office, concession stand, and a very spacious (by theatre standards) utility room. Attractive and good sized lobby entrances were located on either side of the box office.

The design of the box set the tone for the rest of the place, specifically no straight lines. Everything in the place including box office, lobby, rest rooms, offices, lounges, serving windows for the concession stand, screens, etc... were to some degree curved or outright round. Not only was the box office counter curved out into the entrance area, the glass front which started just above the counter and separated the cashier from the customers was curved as well. The curve eliminated any reflection from the glass and by the end of a rush there would be a series of smudges on the glass where people had rammed their foreheads into the unnoticed glass while trying to lean forward across the counter to talk to the cashier.

Entrance to theatre #1 was to the left and #2 to the right of the box office. The entrance lobby was divided by the concession stand. Large round openings made up for the straight line of the stand. In one of the few design flaws, the stand was pretty narrow which made it difficult for the employees to stand back to back or pass each other while serving both sides at once. From the concession stand you would go down some steps to the main lobby. This lobby was completely round and occupied by a row of round mushroom looking stools lining the wall. Rest rooms were located on either side of the lobby. From the lobby you entered a round "smoking lounge" before entering the bath room itself. Each of the four bathrooms had a storage room inside. Two were used for employee locker rooms and two for storerooms.

From the lobby you would go down more steps (remember, this was pre ADA) to a small standing area where the entrance to the utility room would be on one side and doors to the half round managers office and the projection booth stairwell on the other. From this area there were two doorways leading directly to the aisles inside the auditorium. True to GTC form, there were no doors to the auditorium. I do not know if this was the design or if GTC insisted on this, but it was a big mistake. Most GTC designs had a bending mazelike hallway entrance to their auditoriums, but not here. Not only did the light from the lobby shine on the back few rows, but there was nothing to keep the sound from the concession stand or the people waiting in the lobby from disturbing the rear part of the auditorium.As a result, the manager could not put any customers for the next show in the lobby, but had to line them up in the entrance hallway. If they wanted to come in to the restrooms or concession stand, you sent them to which ever side had the fewest people sitting in the back part of the auditorium.

A note on the lighting is in order here as well. The entrance hallway was lined with large black fixtures attached to the white walls. These fixtures consisted of a tube about six feet tall with a dual fixture in the center, one side pointing up the other down toward the floor. These produced a very nice looking V shaped light on the walls and a round spot on the floor and ceiling. They were, however a pain in the neck to change, especially the ones pointing up. Once you entered the lobby, the line where the ceilings met the walls were lined with exposed light sockets about one foot apart. Into these sockets were placed large clear decorative bulbs, round in shape of course. This produced an incredible sight as well as light level which caused the problem with the auditorium spillover. I never counted the number of these sockets, but they must have been in the hundreds. It was almost a daily chore to check for and replace burned out bulbs. After the energy crunch of the early 70's we changed from the large 150 watt bulb to a clear but standard size 75 watt bulb, and left every other one unscrewed.

Although (thankfully) not round, the auditoriums were outstanding in design and appearance as well. Almost square, each held 540 rocking chair seats, dark red in color. The walls were draped completely black. The screen was curved at the prescribed 146 degrees and covered by a curtain that had a bright orange, yellow, and white pattern. Although there were no screen flood lights, the bright curtain looked lit up when surrounded by the black walls. The screens were almost wall to wall leaving just enough room for exit doors on either side. Since the curtain opened across the path to these doors and were stored beyond the path this caused a problem at the end of the show. Since the doors opened out into the parking lot, many people used these exits. When the automation closed the curtain at the end of the show, it would cut across the exit path blocking access to the doors. After the curtain was pulled out of its track by people grabbing it when it crossed in front of them we disabled the closing cue in the automation and had the projectionist close it by manual switch after everyone was out. Just another example of owners and designers not asking the opinions of the unworthy peons who do the actual work.

Each booth was automated and equipped with 35MM Century projectors and 6000 foot reels. The outstanding feature was the presence of an Optiverter which combined with the curved screen produced an outstanding picture. I have described this Academy Award winning process in detail on the Phipps Plaza Theatre site, although there I incorrectly called it Optivision. The correct name is Ultravision.

I first attended the South DeKalb in the spring of 1971. The feature was an incredible looking cinemascope presentation of "Patton." Since I had not started working in theatres at this time I knew nothing of the technical setup, but even so noticed the quality of the picture. I saw several more movies here and started work as manager in 1974. This was still in the days of long, exclusive runs for movies in the downtown and northside first run houses such as the Fox, Roxy, Lenox, and Phipps. South DeKalb was located in the southeastern part of DeKalb County, and when we picked up a big hit on what was then called the intermediate break, it was like showing it first run. The biggest business from those days was done by "The Sting" and "Airport '75" both from the Georgia Cinerama, "Herbie Rides Again" and "Death Wish" from the Tara, "Blazing Saddles" from the North DeKalb, and "The Longest Yard" from Phipps. All of these produced multiple sellouts for what seemed like weeks on end. Wide break first run releases like "Trial of Billy Jack" and "Island At The Top Of The World" also attracted capacity crowds.

These were also the pre video days when theatres would bring back an old reliable as a filler when they needed something to show for a week or so until the next big booking. We had filler bookings of "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "Doctor Zhivago" during this period. These magnificent wide screen productions looked wonderful on our big curved screens, and came complete with intermission strips and music. I do not recall them doing much business, but they did take me back to my days as an usher at the Atlanta Theatre during its glory days and gave me the chance to at least pretend that I was running a first class roadshow house.

I left the South DeKalb in 1975 to run the Lenox Square Theatre because it was closer to my home. (One of my bigger career mistakes, but that is another story.) South DeKalb continued on in this pattern, but like so many other fine venues, its success led to its downfall. In the fall of 1977, each side was closed in turn for twinning. (The last movie I saw under the old setup was a beautiful cinemascope presentation of "A Bridge Too Far.") Out came the curved screens, the pretty curtains, the optiverters, the nice square shape, and in came the platters, small screens, no curtains, and the oh so 70's shoebox shape. They did, at least, use the orange curtains to drape one of the new dividing walls, alternating panels of it with black. Each house ended up with 328 seats, so the total seat count jumped from 1080 to 1312, which should give you some idea of how they crammed them in. The new seats, while the same color, were not rockers and were placed in the front rows. The two off center aisles in the old set up now became the center aisles in the new houses. Only two improvements came out of this. One was carpet for the entrance hallway, installed over the impossible to keep clean rubber matting. This had the advantage of absorbing the headache inducing din that came with the echo off of the rubber floor, especially during busy times. The other was entrance doors for the auditoriums although this was only added at the last minute at the insistence of the manager. Seems he was the only one concerned about the movie sound or screams or laughter from the crowds crossing from house to house.

The final appearance made the place look like, on paper at least, a copy of the Akers Mill. Four identical shoebox auditoriums one of which later had Dolby added. As was the case in most of these instances, the resulting business made the decision to twin look good. The attendance and concession receipts skyrocketed though the crowds for four different theatres trying to enter and exit through a lobby and entrances designed for two came close to crushing the staff at times. I worked here a number of times during these later years and can at least say that I never saw all four house full at once. At the time, I had suggested (not to imply that anyone in authority ever listened to me) that only one side be twinned but since showmanship and presentation was at the bottom of the list in those days, if indeed it ever made the list at all, that idea was a non starter.

Just like all GTC properties, the beginning of the end of this place came with the sale of GTC to United Artists Theatres. UA was not interested in anything as small as this and by the early 90's the place was closed. UA may not have been interested but that did not mean that they wanted anyone else coming in and competing. When they left the stripped the place bare, including light fixtures and carpets. On a recent visit I could tell that the mall is using the sloping entrance hallways to store their utility equipment. I could not see into the lobby, but I am sure it as well as the auditoriums and projection booths are empty shells as well.

I have good memories of this place, and the 70's were good times to work in the theatre business before it turned into the megaplex dominated fast food business it is today. To this day I still keep in touch with some of my former employees and co workers from the South DeKalb, and we often talk about those times, and especially Tom Pike Jr., the long time manager after I left who passed away an amazing 14 years ago now at the age of only 40. It is a shame he is not around to write this as his recollections and stories would dwarf anything I have to offer.

Here are a couple of circa 1972 photos of the South Dekalb contributed by Stan Malone.

Here are a couple of circa 1972 photos of the South Dekalb contributed by Stan Malone.

I remember seeing Mountain Family Robinson here, mustve been around 1980.

My first job was at this theatre!

1985, I was 15 years old! It was a quad at that point. Claude Mulchi and Keith Mixon were the managers. Jack Gallant was an usher and Charles was the projectionist. At that time, most of the employees went to the nearby Mount Carmel Christian School. There was Joe Whittaker, Tracy Dobbs, her boyfriend Bif Washburn, Gretchen Krauss, Sam Tingle, Mike Carraher...

I worked there about 2 years. I had a blast for the most part, but that place was a complete zoo. I mostly did concessions, but also did the ticket booth. It was usually an utter mob scene.

If it was from Canon pictures, had Chuck Norris or Stallone or Eddie Murphy or Jason in it, it would definitely open at South Dekalb.

Mr. Malone made mention of the forehead butts to the curved glass at the ticket counter. That was true hilarity.

I remember carrying those film cans from the parking lot entrance down the slope and up to the booth. I thought my fingers would snap off.

The marquee on Candler Road was freaking 50 feet up easy, if not more. It jutted out of a steep hill. I was never afraid of heights until I had to stand on that 1 and a half foot wide grate way way up in the freezing wind changing letters!!
What harness? I can't believe I didn't fall off.

I remember one Saturday morning, a patron came up to complain about the sound. Upon inspection, it was discovered that one of the huge main speakers in Theatre 1 had been taken out of the back door.

That back door was the source of much villainy. Many people would sneak into the open door during a show. During a showing of "Aliens", that back door slammed with such force that is sounded like a gunshot. The crowd poured out of the two tiny doors into that circular lobby room, screaming and trampling.

One new girl had a crush on Bif. She called him Mr. Spock, which was dead on. Upon being rebuffed, she locked herself in the ticket booth and squatted under the counter, while the crowd waited. -fun-

I was once working alone in the concession area, 15 people waiting on either side.
I pushed the oil feed on the popcorn machine, and a bare wire lit the oil and flames licked from the pan. Being the teenaged rocket scientist that I was, I filled a cup with water from the soda machine. Carbonated water. When I threw it onto the flame, the air bubbles fed the fire and an explosion blew out the top of the machine. It looked and sounded like a rock concert. The line emptied fairly quickly after that. I don't remember the fire department showing up. I'm surprised the sprinklers didn't go off.

Mulchi and Charles would show whatever was new after closing on Thursday or Friday nights. Claude had a stereo system in his office next to Theatre 4 that was truly deafening.

Most of the employees went to Lenox with Mulchi, and I hear some serious drama erupted between him and employees there. I stayed to work under a manager that transfered from Starlite. Not long after I was almost beat up in the mall exit for closing the locked door, preventing two gang thugs from entering.

During a showing of "Jason Lives" the crowd laughed as I tried to send out the 5 guys hiding behind the curtain. Not fun. The mall and area was changing. I left pretty soon after that.

I wanted to thank Mr. Coursey for his photos of the local theatres. (I wish there were more of Northlake2 and Southlake 2.) Great site!

My first job was here also! What an awesome first job --- fun people to work with, managers that hosted after hours showings for employees. I MUST have worked with bc70 there...My 'boyfriend' Bif was the ass't manager for a time and this posting really brought back lots of fond memories! Thanks for sharing! Tracy "Dobbs"

Hey all. Erik G. here. You know, the wierd one. After Claude left Gene Drake took over I believe. Thank you for the memories. erikgladden@yahoo.com

The June 1, 1971, issue of Boxoffice reported that Georgia Theatres had opened its new South DeKalb Twin Cinemas on May 20. Each of the auditoriums had 550 seats, according to Boxoffice. The opening features were "In Search of the Castaways" and "Cactus Flower."

The project was designed by Atlanta architectural firm Stevens & Wilkinson. I've been unable to discover if any other theaters were designed by this noted firm (which is still in business, now as Stevens & Wilkinson Stang & Newdow) but they did design an office building for the Wilby-Kincey circuit in 1955.

For page update: note that former manager Stan Malone, in his comment of Jan 14, 2006, above, gives the seating capacity of this house as 1,312 after it was reconfigured as a quad in 1977.

Boy, oh boy, do I have a lot to add. I grew up in Decatur in the early to late 70's and lived on Idlewild Road, less than two miles from So. Dekalb Mall. I almost am in tears as I write this. It was such a monumental influence of my childhood and who am today, as I live in LA and am an aspiring actor. Like all of you, I adore, I mean ADORE movies. They are and always will be the ultimate art form, to quote Dennis Hopper. Where do I start? My first memory of it when it was a twin, I was maybe four or five and I saw "Herbie Rides Again". We made a visit about twice a month throughout the 70's. It was indeed a pristine pure twin, both auditoriums were huge with the plush carpet (for me), rocking chairs, and the thick red curtain over the wide screen. I swear when SD was a twin, it probably could have the capacity to project 70MM. The long red carpeted hallway with the wide cylandrical box office and concession stand dividing the cinemas was just so cool. We usually went in Cinema I as Cinema II played the
more adult fare-PG and R movies, as sometimes a non-Disney G movie.
Disney movies monopolized Cinema I if I remember. Yes, I would scour the Atl Journal on Friday nights and STUDY what was playing where. I think in spring 1977 both "Freaky Friday" and "Rocky" played at least two months in Cinemas I and II respectively. How in the heck do I recall this?! Anyway, I was kind of nonplussed when it became a quad around Christmas 1977. With the times a changin' I saw one of my first grown up PG movies there- "Heroes" with Henry Winkler and Sally Field. We waited forever to see if Star Wars would ever come to South Dekalb (The Empire Strikes Back certainly did in 1980.) but around October '77 my parents suprised me and my sister with a trip one Friday night to the Lowes Tara. Another grown up movie for me I saw there and also one of my 5 favorite films is "Kramer vs. Kramer" Christmas 1979. A very adult PG movie for it's time. Gosh, I could go on and on, and yes, while they got Dolby Stereo later (FOR Empire Strikes Back?), the smaller screens and shoebox houses sucked. Now, if I am wrong or if any old employees would like to respond please do so. It is the most influential entertainment facility for me ever, outside of the Glenwood Drive-In, another institution I will cover soon. This was awesome! Again, please someone respond if they like!







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