I don’t remember when any of the Cobb County drive-ins closed either, but I do remember that the last movie I saw at a drive-in was “The French Connection” at the Georgia Drive-In in 1972. I took my girlfriend there in my 1958 Edsel!
“The Georgia Drive-in was operational less than a mile down the road, past I-75 at Hwy 41, diagonally across the road from legendary The Big Chicken.”
Not quite. The Georgia Drive-In was further south on Hwy.41 (then called The Four Lane)at the next intersection, which was at Clay Street(now called the 120 South Loop).
The former entrance to the drive-in is now occupied by a small Greyhound bus station.
I only ever knew it as the Martin Drive-In. My earliest recollection of it is seeing “The Last Voyage” starring Robert Stack and Dorothy Malone in 1960. It is now the site of New London Shopping Center with a McDonalds in front.
The Georgia Drive-In wasn’t too far away at the intersection of HWY 41 and Clay Street, now the Marietta Parkway. It didn’t close until the late 70s/early 80s, but I’m not sure just when.
Although HWY 41 is now called Cobb Parkway, it was,at least until the mid 1970s, known as The Four Lane, and this name was on the street signs at the Roswell Road intersection.
The Marietta Drive-In must be the Martin Drive-In that was located on Roswell Road about ½ mile east of the intersection with US Highway 41.
The Georgia Drive-In did not close in 1957. The last film I ever saw at a drive-in (to date), was The French Connection, at the Georgia Drive-In in late 1971.
I think that the Fair Oaks and the Smyrna Drive-Ins may be one in the same, as there is an unincorporated part of Cobb County called Fair Oaks, and the Smyrna Drive-In would have been only one or two miles further south on Atlanta Road.
Where was the Fair Oaks Drive-In located. My family and I have lived in Cobb County for over fifty years, and none of us can remember a drive-in by that name.
Was it renamed as the Smyrna Drive-In in later years?
This theater still existed in the early 1960s. I recall seeing it many times. It was closed and had what I seem to remember was equipment, possibly from the concession stand, sitting in front of the lobby entrance.
I attended a showing of “The Creature From the Black Lagoon” in 3-D last night(10/22). It was my first time inside the Strand since about 1974. I think the last movie I saw there was “Chinatown”. The theater at this time was definitely showing its age.
The lobby is very different, reminding me of an upscale hotel lobby(very nice). Entering the auditorium, it was as though I had traveled back in time. Although updated, it was essentially the same as I remembered it as a kid going to all those Saturday matinees back in the 1960s.
One of my first impressions, after getting used to big multiplexes with stadium seating, was how small the Strand seemed to be, especially the screen. It didn’t take away from an enjoyable experience at all, and this won’t be the last time I see a movie here.
I saw The Poseidon Adventure, as well as Papillon, in the early ‘70s. In the late '70s Alex Coolly, the concert promoter had several concerts at the Capri. I saw several, most notably The Patti Smith Group in 1978. In the audience that night were several members of The Cars, a rock band that had played The Omni the night before(I was there as well). One night Coolly had a showing of the documentary film The Kids Are Alright, about The English band The Who. The film kept stopping, so Coolly said all drinks were free while they tried to get the film going again.
I have seen many rock concerts at the Variety Playhouse over the years, especially Patti Smith, one of my all time favorites. At her show in July, 2000, on her “Gung Ho Tour”, I spotted a guy standing near me at the foot of the stage. I told my brother, who was with me, that the guy looked like Michael Stipe from R.E.M. My brother didn’t believe me until Patti invited the guy on stage to sing a duet with her. THEN, my brother believed me!
I drove past the Belmont Hills Shopping Center today (Sept. 9,‘09) and all of it is being demolished. I could see into the theater from Atlanta Road directly in front of the center and there is little left of it apart from the facade.
I don’t remember when any of the Cobb County drive-ins closed either, but I do remember that the last movie I saw at a drive-in was “The French Connection” at the Georgia Drive-In in 1972. I took my girlfriend there in my 1958 Edsel!
“The Georgia Drive-in was operational less than a mile down the road, past I-75 at Hwy 41, diagonally across the road from legendary The Big Chicken.”
Not quite. The Georgia Drive-In was further south on Hwy.41 (then called The Four Lane)at the next intersection, which was at Clay Street(now called the 120 South Loop).
The former entrance to the drive-in is now occupied by a small Greyhound bus station.
Here is an article in today’s Athens Banner-Herald:
View link
I only ever knew it as the Martin Drive-In. My earliest recollection of it is seeing “The Last Voyage” starring Robert Stack and Dorothy Malone in 1960. It is now the site of New London Shopping Center with a McDonalds in front.
The Georgia Drive-In wasn’t too far away at the intersection of HWY 41 and Clay Street, now the Marietta Parkway. It didn’t close until the late 70s/early 80s, but I’m not sure just when.
Although HWY 41 is now called Cobb Parkway, it was,at least until the mid 1970s, known as The Four Lane, and this name was on the street signs at the Roswell Road intersection.
Thanks Mike and Chuck.
The Marietta Drive-In must be the Martin Drive-In that was located on Roswell Road about ½ mile east of the intersection with US Highway 41.
The Georgia Drive-In did not close in 1957. The last film I ever saw at a drive-in (to date), was The French Connection, at the Georgia Drive-In in late 1971.
I think that the Fair Oaks and the Smyrna Drive-Ins may be one in the same, as there is an unincorporated part of Cobb County called Fair Oaks, and the Smyrna Drive-In would have been only one or two miles further south on Atlanta Road.
Where was the Fair Oaks Drive-In located. My family and I have lived in Cobb County for over fifty years, and none of us can remember a drive-in by that name.
Was it renamed as the Smyrna Drive-In in later years?
This theater still existed in the early 1960s. I recall seeing it many times. It was closed and had what I seem to remember was equipment, possibly from the concession stand, sitting in front of the lobby entrance.
I don’t remember when it was finally demolished.
I attended a showing of “The Creature From the Black Lagoon” in 3-D last night(10/22). It was my first time inside the Strand since about 1974. I think the last movie I saw there was “Chinatown”. The theater at this time was definitely showing its age.
The lobby is very different, reminding me of an upscale hotel lobby(very nice). Entering the auditorium, it was as though I had traveled back in time. Although updated, it was essentially the same as I remembered it as a kid going to all those Saturday matinees back in the 1960s.
One of my first impressions, after getting used to big multiplexes with stadium seating, was how small the Strand seemed to be, especially the screen. It didn’t take away from an enjoyable experience at all, and this won’t be the last time I see a movie here.
The first film I see at this theater was also the theater’s debut film: Alice’s Restaurant, which was released in August 1969.
I saw The Poseidon Adventure, as well as Papillon, in the early ‘70s. In the late '70s Alex Coolly, the concert promoter had several concerts at the Capri. I saw several, most notably The Patti Smith Group in 1978. In the audience that night were several members of The Cars, a rock band that had played The Omni the night before(I was there as well). One night Coolly had a showing of the documentary film The Kids Are Alright, about The English band The Who. The film kept stopping, so Coolly said all drinks were free while they tried to get the film going again.
I have seen many rock concerts at the Variety Playhouse over the years, especially Patti Smith, one of my all time favorites. At her show in July, 2000, on her “Gung Ho Tour”, I spotted a guy standing near me at the foot of the stage. I told my brother, who was with me, that the guy looked like Michael Stipe from R.E.M. My brother didn’t believe me until Patti invited the guy on stage to sing a duet with her. THEN, my brother believed me!
I drove past the Belmont Hills Shopping Center today (Sept. 9,‘09) and all of it is being demolished. I could see into the theater from Atlanta Road directly in front of the center and there is little left of it apart from the facade.