Yes, Cliff Carson is correct. There were many first run premiers; I particularly remember both The Lion in Winter (1968) and Cactus Flower (1969) each having their “Reserve Seat-Exclusive Roadshow Engagement” Atlanta premiers at the Rhodes Theater.
A_Mclean: Your new photo link is as good as it gets. If you want to know more about the area around the Buckhead Art Theatre, I’ll be happy to provide.
On the above link, image #6 shows the location the best. Note the boarded up area on the camera side of the awning on the right side of the picture…that’s pretty much the location of the alcove entry to the old Buckhead Art Theatre or within just a few feet.
The Buckhead Art Cinema at 3073 Peachtree Road was an all-adult house located across the street from Sears Roebuck, diagonal from the Capri Theatre. It was open in the early 70s (at least) thru the late 90s to early 00s as I remember. If it was still there today, it would be adjacent to the now closed “Geek Squad” store. Hope this helps.
FYI: If I recall correctly and having worked at the Rhodes in the 60’s…The Rhodes Theatre was owned by “Storey” and NOT “Story”…the spelling of the owner’s name and his company name was always a topic of conversation.
Stan, are you saying that the Tara has been in continuous operation longer than the Starlight Drive In; are you sure? That does not seem right to me though I could well be wrong. Did the Starlight shut down for a while at some point? Please, straighten me out on this one.
For Jack Coursey’s post just above this reply: What about the Starlight Drive-In Theater that opened in the 1950’s…or are you referring to actual indoor theaters?
For Jack Coursey’s post just above this reply: Regarding the (Loews) Tara Theater on Cheshire Bridge Road…it opened in 1968; so, it’s not quite 48 years old…yet.
Don’t forget that the film “The Gods Must be Crazy” ran continuously for some 100+ weeks at the theater. (I saw it one cold, snowy Monday night in January with only a few people in the theater, several being actor Chuck Norris and his party.) Also, the highly publicized film “Caligulia” that ran nearly 24/7 after the Fulton County Sheriff raided the theater, stopped the film, turned on the lights and photographed the audience. They were soon thereafter selling out mid-week runs of the film starting before 10Am. The publicity, the raid and all of the shocked “Buckhead Bettie’s” made the film the hottest ticket in town.
In late 1965 to early 1966 there was a re-release of the Batman/Robin shorts from the 1940’s. All the shorts were spliced together that produced a 4+ hour, multi-episode, full length feature retitled as “An Evening with Batman and Robin”. This was at a time when the campy, Adam West version was doing gangbusters on TV. I saw the movie there and was in my early teens. Later on, I believe I saw The Green Hornet (movie) at the same theater. Also, F.Y.I. , after the theater and the surrounding buildings were raised and after other failed developments The Campanile office tower was built where the theater, et al once stood.
I saw the movie “Parting Glances” there which, according to IMDB was released in February, 1986. When Big Star Supermarket next door expanded, they took out the old Music City record store and part of the theater. Then, Morrison’s Cafeteria was rebuilt/redesigned and that took out the other side of the theater.
Something happened with my last post, I was going to also add “Goodbye Columbus” plus a gillion other films that passed through the Rhodes. Reading everyone’s comments about “Speegie”, I remember her just the same, both she and her younger sister and I all got along very well. She was a living legend and she knew it too and lived/played the part and was gracious swell as tireless to the end. They do not make them like her any more. Agree?
I worked at the Rhodes in the 60’s while in grade school back in the day when such things were allowed; I also had a paper route and lived very near by. Herman Dyke was the manager then who hired me and the other kid who worked there was named Butch. Speegie was always at her post at the front desk. I think the projectionist was named Jack but cannot be sure. Starting pay was $0.55 an hour. I took tickets, made/sold popcorn and worked the concessions. I remember we had a reserved seat engagement of “My Fair Lady”, “Lion in Winter” and also premiered “Cactus Flower” there with Mayor Ivan Allen III and other local dignitaries in attendance. Ah, memories. ColColumbus"
Yes, Cliff Carson is correct. There were many first run premiers; I particularly remember both The Lion in Winter (1968) and Cactus Flower (1969) each having their “Reserve Seat-Exclusive Roadshow Engagement” Atlanta premiers at the Rhodes Theater.
(May 15, 2012) Man shot and killed at south DeKalb drive-in theater http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/man-shot-and-killed-1437705.html
A_Mclean: Your new photo link is as good as it gets. If you want to know more about the area around the Buckhead Art Theatre, I’ll be happy to provide.
On the above link, image #6 shows the location the best. Note the boarded up area on the camera side of the awning on the right side of the picture…that’s pretty much the location of the alcove entry to the old Buckhead Art Theatre or within just a few feet.
The Buckhead Art Cinema at 3073 Peachtree Road was an all-adult house located across the street from Sears Roebuck, diagonal from the Capri Theatre. It was open in the early 70s (at least) thru the late 90s to early 00s as I remember. If it was still there today, it would be adjacent to the now closed “Geek Squad” store. Hope this helps.
FYI: If I recall correctly and having worked at the Rhodes in the 60’s…The Rhodes Theatre was owned by “Storey” and NOT “Story”…the spelling of the owner’s name and his company name was always a topic of conversation.
Stan, did you know a Mr. Kinard that operated the concessions at the Piedmont Drive-In?
I remember seeing “Von Ryan’s Express” with Frank Sinatra there back in the summer of 1965.
posted by Daryl-Atlanta on Mar 3, 2010 at 9:18am
My mistake…I saw this film at the Cherokee Plaza Theater in Brookhaven.
Thanks Stan. Speegie would have been proud.
Stan, are you saying that the Tara has been in continuous operation longer than the Starlight Drive In; are you sure? That does not seem right to me though I could well be wrong. Did the Starlight shut down for a while at some point? Please, straighten me out on this one.
For Jack Coursey’s post just above this reply: What about the Starlight Drive-In Theater that opened in the 1950’s…or are you referring to actual indoor theaters?
For Jack Coursey’s post just above this reply: Regarding the (Loews) Tara Theater on Cheshire Bridge Road…it opened in 1968; so, it’s not quite 48 years old…yet.
I remember seeing “Von Ryan’s Express” with Frank Sinatra there back in the summer of 1965.
I recall back in 1965 a long line on the side walk snaking around the adjacent stores to see “The Yellow Rolls Royce.”
Don’t forget that the film “The Gods Must be Crazy” ran continuously for some 100+ weeks at the theater. (I saw it one cold, snowy Monday night in January with only a few people in the theater, several being actor Chuck Norris and his party.) Also, the highly publicized film “Caligulia” that ran nearly 24/7 after the Fulton County Sheriff raided the theater, stopped the film, turned on the lights and photographed the audience. They were soon thereafter selling out mid-week runs of the film starting before 10Am. The publicity, the raid and all of the shocked “Buckhead Bettie’s” made the film the hottest ticket in town.
In late 1965 to early 1966 there was a re-release of the Batman/Robin shorts from the 1940’s. All the shorts were spliced together that produced a 4+ hour, multi-episode, full length feature retitled as “An Evening with Batman and Robin”. This was at a time when the campy, Adam West version was doing gangbusters on TV. I saw the movie there and was in my early teens. Later on, I believe I saw The Green Hornet (movie) at the same theater. Also, F.Y.I. , after the theater and the surrounding buildings were raised and after other failed developments The Campanile office tower was built where the theater, et al once stood.
I saw the movie “Parting Glances” there which, according to IMDB was released in February, 1986. When Big Star Supermarket next door expanded, they took out the old Music City record store and part of the theater. Then, Morrison’s Cafeteria was rebuilt/redesigned and that took out the other side of the theater.
Something happened with my last post, I was going to also add “Goodbye Columbus” plus a gillion other films that passed through the Rhodes. Reading everyone’s comments about “Speegie”, I remember her just the same, both she and her younger sister and I all got along very well. She was a living legend and she knew it too and lived/played the part and was gracious swell as tireless to the end. They do not make them like her any more. Agree?
I worked at the Rhodes in the 60’s while in grade school back in the day when such things were allowed; I also had a paper route and lived very near by. Herman Dyke was the manager then who hired me and the other kid who worked there was named Butch. Speegie was always at her post at the front desk. I think the projectionist was named Jack but cannot be sure. Starting pay was $0.55 an hour. I took tickets, made/sold popcorn and worked the concessions. I remember we had a reserved seat engagement of “My Fair Lady”, “Lion in Winter” and also premiered “Cactus Flower” there with Mayor Ivan Allen III and other local dignitaries in attendance. Ah, memories. ColColumbus"