Strand Theatre
51 Decatur Street SE,
Atlanta,
GA
30303
51 Decatur Street SE,
Atlanta,
GA
30303
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The Strand Theatre was among one of the first African-American theatres built in Atlanta during the era of segregation. The Strand was part of the Bailey theatre circuit whose other venues in Atlanta included the Eighty One, also on Decatur Street, the Harlem on McDaniel, and the Royal on Auburn Avenue.
Most had closed by the mid 1960s and few, if any of these buildings remain. I think that the Royal became a nightclub in the 1970s but can’t say for sure. Would appreciate any addition information on any of these theatres.
Contributed by
Jack Coursey
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On a theater list that I have, the Strand theater in Atlanta, GA is listed as a (Negro) theater that opened in the early 20’s. The address is given as 55 Decatur St SE. Listed at that address today is a McDonald’s.
Photocopies of a 1954 The Atlanta Journal lists 6 “Colored Theaters,” as they were referred to at that time:
Ashby Theatre at 925 Hunter Street (Martin Luther King?), NW
Carver Theatre – 2 different listings: 1.)at 95 Jonesboro Road,SE
2.) at 440 Atlanta Avenue
Eighty One at 85 Decatur Street, SE
Forrest Theatre on Forrest Avenue (now Ralph McGill)
Royal Theatre at 238 Auburn Avenue, NE
Ritz Theatre 653 Fair Street, SW
Correlating the information in the 1954 Atlanta Telephone Directory,
I also found listed:
Harlem at 531 McDaniel Street, SW
Lincoln Theatre at 405 Mitchell Street, NE
These 1954 references do not mention The Strand Theatre as being in operation at that time.
The fact that some of these streets have been renamed does make for some confusion. Hopefully, someone can furnish us with more specifics.
Photo of the Strand Theatre, Atlanta, Ga.
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This photo is of the Marietta Strand. The Atlanta Strand was demolished.
Actually there were two Strand Theaters. The first one opened on Peachtree Street Just north of Five points in the mid 19teens and remained open sometime to the early 1920’s Still researching this one.
Of course this was the “white Strand”.
The “colored Strand” opened on Decatur Street much later and was named something else before that, I am not sure when but this Strand was destroyed by fire and never was rebuilt.
Tracking down the history of many of the black movie theaters has been rather difficult in that many of the black newspapers from that era do not survive and even in the ones that do there is not that much information. Hopefully further research will uncover more about these theaters
In 1955 the Strand had 300 seats.
The Carver was located at 1295 Jonesboro Rd SE (not too far from the world famous Harold’s Bar-B-Que) and the Forrest (that is the correct spelling) was situated at 245 Forrest Ave NE.