Garden Hills Cinema
2835 Peachtree Road NE,
Atlanta,
GA
30305
2835 Peachtree Road NE,
Atlanta,
GA
30305
11 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 78 comments
THANKS
Last I heard was that the marquee was being disassembled and that no tenant had taken over the lease.
any news?
ANYTHING GOING ON WITH THIS ONE?
As a native Atlantan, it looks correct to me. The position of the drug store (later an independently owned store, rather than part of a chain) also looks right. What a remarkable website! Any Atlantan who remembers the days of the elctric trolleys should definitely check this out! Since the trolleys began service circa 1937, this is probably from the early days of electric trolley service, as well as the early days of the Garden Hills Theatre. Thanks, Stan!
http://www.trolleybuses.net/atl/atl.htm
For those of you interested in old pictures of Atlanta, this site has dozens, and links to dozens more, pictures of transit vehicles from the early 1900’s. As for its relevance to this page, this link,
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shows a trolley at the intersection of Peachtree Road and Rumson Road. If that information is correct, then the shopping center in the background is the Garden Hills. Since the location of the theatre would be behind the trolley I can not be sure, but it looks right.
HOW IS THIS PART OF ATLANTA ?Why would one think a live theater would make it parking problems would still be the same ?Would love to get this theater…..
If your question is for information on the Madison Theatre the answer is yes. You should emailSchmoyd youself. He has lovely pictures of the Madison today. It’s definitely in sad shape, but it still has wonderful possibilities. Some years ago when my partner and I were in East Atlanta we explored the theater which at the time looked to be a furniture storage space. There was a tree growing through a hole in the roof, so you get the picture. But hope springs eternal, and I gave schmoyd a phone number to reach Kevin, the manager of the Garden Hills who knows quite a lot about theaters, theater maintenance, and is interested in vintage theaters and equipment. I also gave Kevin a call to make sure he was interested, and he was, so we can assume that schmoyd’s dream of re-opening the Madison might happen.
The Garden Hills stands vacent now. Kevin’s last duty was to dismantle the equipment for Cinevision to take. I heard, or maybe the comment is here that the realitor would like to lease the space to a live theater group as it does have a stage. I movie theater in that location would really be impossible with the difficulty of parking and everyday traffic gridlock, etc. I’m glad I was a part of the place for as long as I was.
If your question is for information on the Madison Theatre the answer is yes. You should emailSchmoyd youself. He has lovely pictures of the Madison today. It’s definitely in sad shape, but it still has wonderful possibilities. Some years ago when my partner and I were in East Atlanta we explored the theater which at the time looked to be a furniture storage space. There was a tree growing through a hole in the roof, so you get the picture. But hope springs eternal, and I gave schmoyd a phone number to reach Kevin, the manager of the Garden Hills who knows quite a lot about theaters, theater maintenance, and is interested in vintage theaters and equipment. I also gave Kevin a call to make sure he was interested, and he was, so we can assume that schmoyd’s dream of re-opening the Madison might happen.
The Garden Hills stands vacent now. Kevin’s last duty was to dismantle the equipment for Cinevision to take. I heard, or maybe the comment is here that the realitor would like to lease the space to a live theater group as it does have a stage. I movie theater in that location would really be impossible with the difficulty of parking and everyday traffic gridlock, etc. I’m glad I was a part of the place for as long as I was.
any news on this…………..
Though the Garden Hills doors are closing, I’m hoping to open some in East Atlanta in the old Madison Theatre. I would love to talk with MPRICE or contact Mr. Lefont to get an insider’s view of operating a theatre. It’s a project of monumental status I know but the craziest ideas are sometimes the best. Any contact info would be appreciated. I can be reached at
Though the Garden Hills doors are closing, I’m hoping to open some in East Atlanta in the old Madison Theatre. I would love to talk with MPRICE or contact Mr. Lefont to get an insider’s view of operating a theatre. It’s a project of monumental status I know but the craziest ideas are sometimes the best. Any contact info would be appreciated. I can be reached at
Last show tonight at 9:45
great ………thanks!
LOOKING FOR SOME HELP OUT THERE FOR THE PHONE NUMBER>>>>>>>>>
Anyone have a landlord phone number?
I hold out a glimmer of hope for jewel boxes such as the Garden Hills. Although “Pride and Prejudice†and “A Prairie Home Companion†were assigned to the smallest auditoriums of the multiplexes during there run here, both films frequently played to full or near capacity houses during the premium priced evening screenings. I think with the success of these and other out of the mainstream films such as “Thank You For Smokingâ€, there might be a niche for theatres like the Garden Hillls.
I lived in Atlanta, actually Alpharetta, for seven years in the 1990’s. My wife and I frequented this theater often. Two films we saw there were “A Man of No Importance” and “Red”. Single screen theaters just have a hard time competing with the plexs. I also think that the younger generation (college age) are not into serious films like my generation was back in the 1970’s. I grew up in NYC and we seriously discussed and argued about films. They were important, they said something, they were our art. I guess you can’t intelligently debate a movie like “Nacho Libre”. Films seems to be more disposable today. They’re in and out of theaters quickly and out on DVD before you know it. Whatever happened to long runs (10th Record Breaking Week!) and word of mouth? I like seeing films in the comfort of my home just like anyone, however, there is nothing like seeing a film, on a giant screen, in a real theater with an audience. The Times They Are Changin'
Goodbye, Garden Hills. {8(
Nice to hear it may yet host performances, tho, instead of being hollowed-out for a breezeway so patrons of that strip don’t have to walk all the way around the block from parking!
MPrice: Thank you! We did go back on the 15th, and did reminisce with Kevin for a while. \8)
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cant believe the landlord does not have a for lease sign up
I remember when you got married there! I worked there at the time, but I was not working the day of the wedding. Most of us had two or three jobs because we never made anything higher than minimum wage working at the theaters. The only one still working there who was working when you had your wedding there is the manager, Kevin Powers. He will remember your wedding. I didn’t realize it was 10 years ago! You must go back before it closes! Happy upcoming anniversary.
Holly and I were married at Garden Hills Theatre, and they’ll be closing about 6 weeks shy of our 10th Anniversary. Having our wedding (and reception) at Garden Hills is such a fond memory, and we’re sad to hear of their closing. (Many sad changes in the past 10 years…) Since we can’t come back in December — our actual Anniversary — we’re planning to come one more time on the 15th of October.
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I just stumbled on to this site looking for information about the newly re-opened Plaza Theater. I’m saddened that Garden Hills is closing, but also saddened that it won’t have more of an effect on me.
I’ve seen some terrific films in the 8 years since I started frequenting Garden Hills. (“Ran,” “Le Samurai,” “Dogville,” “The Third Man,” “Metropolis,” “Rear Window,” “Topsy-Turvy,” and “The Sweet Hereafter” are the first that come to mind.) From 1999-2000, I probably went there once a week. Still, I have to be honest and say that in the past two years since the Midtown Landmark came to town, Garden Hills’s offerings have been, well, second-tier. It seems like Landmark and the Terra (which is hands-down the worst theater in town, although it’s improved since Regal took it over) get the pick of the art film litter, and Garden Hills gets whatever’s left over.
I don’t envy George Lefont & Co having to compete with national chains that have elbowed their way on to his turf. But I also can’t pretend that I don’t think I’ve seen a film at Garden Hills since Altman’s “The Company” over two years ago. Add the fact that the theater itself, despite its nostalgia value as a representation of a by-gone era of single-screen theaters (with curtains! how I miss curtains!), is nothing particularly interesting in terms of design.
Nevertheless, despite the fact that its halcyon days have passed, I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for Garden Hills and the role it played in my formative years as a cinephile, and will always miss its contribution to the Atlanta film scene if/when it shuts the lights for good.
Yes, I am familiar with the general history of the “Save the Fox” campaign. It was a wonderfully gutsy, populist movement that defied the will of corporate greed and a truly Machivellian civic strategem.
Personally, I like the Garden Hills Cinema. As I wrote earlier, it’s Art Moderne design reminds me of New York’s now demolished Beekman Theatre. Both were nice intimate settings for watching movies. The Plaza has stronger nostalgic ties for me because my dad used to take me to the movies there when I was a kid. Going there is like walking back into my own past. So, you could say I like both of these theatres by virtue of the fact that they are different.
Actually, I was more resigned to the loss of the Loew’s Grand. As several friends who were living in Atlanta at the time told me, the fire was highly suspicious to say the least. When the Paramount Theatre next door was demolished in 1960 it felt like more of a personal loss to me.
The land that the shopping strip housing the Garden Hills Cinema sits on probably includes the parking lot in back. It’s location on the approach to Buckhead makes it a very attractive property. So, I’m also certain that it’s fate will be decided by the asking price.
Thanks again, Stan, for another one of your sobering slices of Atlanta history. After the initial shock wears off it’s time to reflect on some facts of life. Like most people, I suppose I don’t really like change. At the same time I recognize that continual change is the one constant factor in life. Naturally I share the same affection for vintage movie houses that practically everyone who contributes to this site has in common. However, it also pays to be a realist. “Victor” certainly knows that he is sitting on a piece of prime Peachtree Road frontage real estate. Economic common sense dictates that he will seek to make the highest, best use of it. Frankly, I’d be somewhat surprised if another exhibitor leased this theater and operated it. The market may have changed too much. Developers are bound to be interested in this site. Although I would hate to see it, it may be inevitable.
The bottom line is that we need to remind ourselves that the movie business IS a BUSINESS! These theaters were intended as commericial venues and not public arts institutions. Its foolish to think otherwise. This theater and the shopping strip it’s in may have reached the end of their commercial life. The Garden Hills reminds me a bit of New York’s sadly demolished Beekman Theatre. Sloan Kettering Hospital acquired the site and intends to build a new wing for it’s cancer center. In Atlanta you can believe that someone is interested in the commercial potential of this site. “Victor” may well be considering seeking the highest possible return on his asset.
On reflection, it seems all the more remarkable that a grass roots movement succeeded in saving the Fox Theatre. I wonder if the same kind of popular movement would work in this day and age. The people that saved the Fox Theatre have my profound gratitude and respect.