Tara Cinemas

The Tara underwent a modestly budgeted face-lift in mid-2004 under the Regal Entertainment Group design team of Nicole Potter and Angie Berry. They began with the interesting curved shapes of the existing lobby space and used it as the embryo for their “new” interior concept—One that was intended to convey what might have been built during the transitional phase between the Art Deco and Streamline Moderne time periods. Working almost exclusively with off-the-shelf materials, they were able to coax a “vintage” cinema feel from what had previously been a dated hodgepodge covered in a forlorn coat of unflattering pink paint. From there, they made full upgrades to the refreshment stand and restroom spaces that also helped mirror the 1930’s-‘40’s, replete with rich finishes, banded-aluminum inlaid millwork, and lighting fixtures chosen to enhance a period look. From the earlier lobby, several dramatic monochrome portraits of Golden-Age film icons were salvaged and mounted on the high walls, along with a selection of classic deco travel posters. Finally, they added custom carpet, and a seating area with period-look furnishings to create a comfortable place to gather before or after the film. Several photos taken of the finished project have been added.

The Buckhead Art was built in 1969 in the storefront space of the old Wendler and Roberts Drug Store. With the exception of a very short effort as an art house is was 35MM softcore its entire life. In the early 90’s it was gutted and replaced by the first of many bars to occupy that space during the prime years of the Buckhead Village party days. In all it lasted about 20 years.

The drive in at Lindbergh was the Piedmont Drive In. It was operated by the Dixie chain and later sold to Storey. Its page on this site is:

/theaters/18519/

now showing Sept.13 2001

“CURSE OF THE JADE SCORPION”

“BROTHER”

“HEDWIG and THE ANGRY INCH”

“APOCALYPSE NOW REDUX”

Nope. Like you I was assuming that Jack meant indoor theatres, or as they say in the trades, walk in or hardtops.

The Starlight opened the south field in 1949 and the north in 1953. The south was closed for a while when the snack bar burned. The north closed a year later when it was split. Every winter one side or the other closes for the season, something I never understood the theory on. However, as far as I know, at least something has been open there since opening day although they close on Christmas Eve, and for the occasional power outage.

I no longer work there, at least regularly, but I did write a history of the place on its page here:

/theaters/11497/

As for indoors, without looking at a list, I can think of the Grand, the Fox, Garden Hills / Fine Art, Plaza (if you count its XXX years), and the Lenox which might have been only 39 years 8 months. I hesitate to even go down this road because I know that people will start listing reasons why some of these places were not in continious operation. Even the Tara shut down once for two days when it was first twinned.

Maybe I should start off the previous paragraph with the words “Generally speaking….”

Most of the indoor theatres built during the 60’s lasted only 25 or so years at the most, some a lot less. I think that the shortest existance for a regular indoor theatre (as opposed to some of the XXX storefront operations) was the Atlantic, an Eastern Federal location on Memorial Drive in or near the Kirkwood area. It lasted only about 5 years.

“The Tara still holds the distinction of being the only theatre in the Atlanta area with more than forty years of continuous operation.”

Jack: I guess you mean among the theatres currently in operation. I know that we could both think of several that lasted more than 40 years that are now gone.

Wow. The Tara was NEVER closed? Not even for a week or a month when changing ownership? If that’s the case, that’s pretty impressive.

Quite right! It will be 42 come this May. The Tara still holds the distinction of being the only theatre in the Atlanta area with more than forty years of continuous operation.

The Tara is still Terrific! It has been over twenty five years since I last cast a shadow in its lobby so it was a total sensory experience when I recently returned. The theatre is a classic and far larger than I remembered. The ridge across the ceiling of cinema one and four suggest that the theatre originally had a giant curved screen similar to the Georgia Cinerama. The place looks great for 48 years of continuous operation, a record for an Atlanta theatre. Feast your orbs: 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6

I wish they would remodel the exterior of the building. I just drove by the Tara today and walked around and it looks like a relic now, and not in a good way. It seems in the 8 years since I last visited the area, the city has done a good job of revitalizing/renovating the surrounding area by building some new apartment high-rises, etc. Now if only they could remodel the Tara so it doesn’t look like some 1960’s spaceship nightmare.

If anyone here is on Facebook, I just created a Fan Page there as well. I love reading these memories of a cherished theatre!

View link

Cliff, go to the CAPRI theatre,Augusta, I have a post for you on the pictures you wanted.

There MUST be some pictures somewhere of the NORTHEAST EXPRESSWAY DRIVE IN when it was standing. If I had only known I would have shot footage of it. Who knew at that time that Drive-Ins would no longer exist? First it was the Drive In theatre, now it’s single theaters.
http://www.cliffcarson.com