My dad used to sneak in here, underage, to see what they thought was going to be exciting, but not so much. Although, he says, as a teen, it was pretty risque.
Was just here two weeks ago to see an Elvis impersonator. The theater looks wonderful- great sound, great renovations. The good people of Tybee are putting this theater to use for both live performances and films. Yay!
Used to get into that one free a lot because of a boy who worked there. It was always a dark theater, not well appointed. One memory was going to see Caveman there with a bunch of friends in the 80’s. I also remember walking over there to see a film during an ice storm in 1986- school was closed but the theater was open.
Went there many times. It was a lovely theater. The last thing I remember seeing there was in the early-mid 90’s, but I’m not sure which film it was. I went a lot as a child, because I took dance lessons at the studio there and we’d sometimes go to the theater after dance class. I hated dance class, so this was my bribe.
I just remember the Akers as being claustrophobic and crowded. Funny how that stuck with me. The last thing I saw there was a revival of Yellow Submarine in the late 1980s. We used to go there a lot on date nights in the early 80’s. I can’t imagine driving to as many theaters all over the city now as we did at that time. I lived in Dunwoody, but we drove all over the city to see films. I miss those days.
The flea market was there..I still have a framed picture hanging up that I bought there. The Zestos is now closed at this location. Bennie’s Shoes was there for years. There was never a Richway to my knowledge, but there was a K-mart, the Screening Room and the Great Southeastern. In the back of the plaza pre-1975 was a children’s amusement part called Kiddie Land. I do remember GEX, but I don’t remember it being at Broadview/Lindburgh Plaza, but off I-85 closer to Spaghetti Junction. I think the building may even still be there.
I went to the Screening Room a great deal, but the drive in was before my time.
My mother in law went to school with Gene Wilder btw. Anyway, she remembers attending this theater all the time with her sister. It only costs a nickel. That’s where they were when World War II was declared. They stopped the show and everyone went home. She was only 9 at the time and her sister was 11. She thinks the Manager put the radio in front of the public address system because she remembers hearing President Roosevelt speaking. It was a very scary day.
My mother in law remembers going to the theater as a child and my husband remembers it later, when it was a porn theater. His mother has just found out that he attended this theater. I think the statute of limitations has just run out on this though!
My mother in law remembers that this was the theater that you “shouldn’t go in” because it was so risque. We had great fun trying to find this tonight! It made her night, remembering something so “taboo”.
I have several photos of the abandoned mall that I took on an UrbEx visit to Milwaukee in 2012. I saw several films there in the 1990’s, as my sister in law lived next door. The area has gone downhill a great deal, but my husband’s families synagogue is almost next door to the abandoned mall.
I am 99% sure that this is where I saw my first film, ever- a re-release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" I’m pretty sure it was the 30 year release in 1969. I know that Lafayette Blvd. was close to my grandparent’s house and the Lafayette Club, where we used to swim. No one who was with me (my Nana and my Mom) are around to ask, but from what I remember, that’s the place. Does anyone know if this was close to a Chinese restaurant? Not Si Gi, but the other one??
When I went to visit family in Norfolk, the Janaf was the place to watch films. Spent many enjoyable days with my cousins or my grandfather watching movies there.
We have attended many music shows over the years at the Variety. It’s a great venue for music. Only problem is that the restrooms- over the original vintage- are upstairs and hard for us old people to get to. The building has all its structural integrity, but no adornments.
Had the pleasure of attending a play there with my students in 2011 and it was wonderful to see this structure maintained. I told my kids that they were sitting in a piece of history!
We had the pleasure of taking our son to see a showing of “Rock and Roll High School” at the Plaza- we were so happy to be filled with nostalgia that we didn’t care that the film print was dark and that the place needed a good cleaning. It was just nice to be back in a kinder, gentler time. Can’t wait to go and see the renovation!
The only film I remember seeing there was “Brazil”, not long before it closed. We used to drive past it all the time on our way downtown via Peachtree. I hate that Atlanta has no respect for its history.
I am pretty sure you are correct about the Market Square 4 opening in the 86-88 time frame. The guy I was dating during those years lived close to North Dekalb/Market Square and we went to a big grand opening when the mall was re-launched and went to the theater there a few times. Nothing remarkable that I can remember.
It was a strange theater in so many ways. The last time I was there, in the late 80’s, it was very run down and had an odd, off putting smell that made us actually leave. I do not recall what we saw, but I do know that we saw whatever it was, in its entirety the next evening somewhere else. I didn’t walk out of a theater often because of the theater itself (although I have walked out on a couple of films in my time).
My dad used to sneak in here, underage, to see what they thought was going to be exciting, but not so much. Although, he says, as a teen, it was pretty risque.
Barr Brothers, on the corner, was a local chain of jewelry store.
Another one of the theaters from my college days. We spent a lot of time here- and for a small theater, they had a great video games in the lobby!
Went here several times during college. It was not the nicest of the theaters in T-town, but it was ok.
Was just here two weeks ago to see an Elvis impersonator. The theater looks wonderful- great sound, great renovations. The good people of Tybee are putting this theater to use for both live performances and films. Yay!
Used to get into that one free a lot because of a boy who worked there. It was always a dark theater, not well appointed. One memory was going to see Caveman there with a bunch of friends in the 80’s. I also remember walking over there to see a film during an ice storm in 1986- school was closed but the theater was open.
Went there many times. It was a lovely theater. The last thing I remember seeing there was in the early-mid 90’s, but I’m not sure which film it was. I went a lot as a child, because I took dance lessons at the studio there and we’d sometimes go to the theater after dance class. I hated dance class, so this was my bribe.
I just remember the Akers as being claustrophobic and crowded. Funny how that stuck with me. The last thing I saw there was a revival of Yellow Submarine in the late 1980s. We used to go there a lot on date nights in the early 80’s. I can’t imagine driving to as many theaters all over the city now as we did at that time. I lived in Dunwoody, but we drove all over the city to see films. I miss those days.
The flea market was there..I still have a framed picture hanging up that I bought there. The Zestos is now closed at this location. Bennie’s Shoes was there for years. There was never a Richway to my knowledge, but there was a K-mart, the Screening Room and the Great Southeastern. In the back of the plaza pre-1975 was a children’s amusement part called Kiddie Land. I do remember GEX, but I don’t remember it being at Broadview/Lindburgh Plaza, but off I-85 closer to Spaghetti Junction. I think the building may even still be there.
I went to the Screening Room a great deal, but the drive in was before my time.
My mother in law went to school with Gene Wilder btw. Anyway, she remembers attending this theater all the time with her sister. It only costs a nickel. That’s where they were when World War II was declared. They stopped the show and everyone went home. She was only 9 at the time and her sister was 11. She thinks the Manager put the radio in front of the public address system because she remembers hearing President Roosevelt speaking. It was a very scary day.
My mother in law remembers going to the theater as a child and my husband remembers it later, when it was a porn theater. His mother has just found out that he attended this theater. I think the statute of limitations has just run out on this though!
My mother in law remembers that this was the theater that you “shouldn’t go in” because it was so risque. We had great fun trying to find this tonight! It made her night, remembering something so “taboo”.
This photo, above, is my late grandmother’s apartment (ok, my husband’s grandmother, but mine too!) WOW!
I have several photos of the abandoned mall that I took on an UrbEx visit to Milwaukee in 2012. I saw several films there in the 1990’s, as my sister in law lived next door. The area has gone downhill a great deal, but my husband’s families synagogue is almost next door to the abandoned mall.
I am 99% sure that this is where I saw my first film, ever- a re-release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" I’m pretty sure it was the 30 year release in 1969. I know that Lafayette Blvd. was close to my grandparent’s house and the Lafayette Club, where we used to swim. No one who was with me (my Nana and my Mom) are around to ask, but from what I remember, that’s the place. Does anyone know if this was close to a Chinese restaurant? Not Si Gi, but the other one??
When I went to visit family in Norfolk, the Janaf was the place to watch films. Spent many enjoyable days with my cousins or my grandfather watching movies there.
We have attended many music shows over the years at the Variety. It’s a great venue for music. Only problem is that the restrooms- over the original vintage- are upstairs and hard for us old people to get to. The building has all its structural integrity, but no adornments.
Had the pleasure of attending a play there with my students in 2011 and it was wonderful to see this structure maintained. I told my kids that they were sitting in a piece of history!
My favorite theater on Earth and the jewel of Atlanta!
We had the pleasure of taking our son to see a showing of “Rock and Roll High School” at the Plaza- we were so happy to be filled with nostalgia that we didn’t care that the film print was dark and that the place needed a good cleaning. It was just nice to be back in a kinder, gentler time. Can’t wait to go and see the renovation!
The only film I remember seeing there was “Brazil”, not long before it closed. We used to drive past it all the time on our way downtown via Peachtree. I hate that Atlanta has no respect for its history.
I am pretty sure you are correct about the Market Square 4 opening in the 86-88 time frame. The guy I was dating during those years lived close to North Dekalb/Market Square and we went to a big grand opening when the mall was re-launched and went to the theater there a few times. Nothing remarkable that I can remember.
It was a strange theater in so many ways. The last time I was there, in the late 80’s, it was very run down and had an odd, off putting smell that made us actually leave. I do not recall what we saw, but I do know that we saw whatever it was, in its entirety the next evening somewhere else. I didn’t walk out of a theater often because of the theater itself (although I have walked out on a couple of films in my time).
Saw my first “big girl” film there…The Sting.
Was open for sure in 1982. Beyond that, I am not sure.