Atlanta Theatre
33 Hurt Plaza SE,
Atlanta,
GA
30303
33 Hurt Plaza SE,
Atlanta,
GA
30303
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Added an aerial photo to this listing of downtown Atlanta taken in 1925. The Hurt Building is the large building at lower center, and the Atlanta theatre, identifiable with its double-height stagehouse wing and balcony fire escapes on the south side, is located across the Hurt Plaza SE street to the lower left of the Hurt Building.
Opening article:
Atlanta theatre opening · Sun, Sep 10, 1911 – Page 3 · The Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia) · Newspapers.com
Nice construction photo Don K.
Here’s a link to a photo of the original ATLANTA THEATRE:
View link
The original release of BIRTH OF A NATION predated my father’s time. He remembered a burlesque house in Atlanta, but maintained that he never attended it (not that I doubt it). Theaters like The Criterion, The Forsyth, and The Metropolitan were long gone well before my time. Yet, it brings a sense of proportion about the theaters that I knew which were demolished in my time. It makes the survival of The Fox, and other vintage Atlanta movie houses all the more remarkable!
Thank you, John! What a fascinating piece of Atlanta history! It demonstrates the fact that as the city developed, theaters came and went. They faced competition from other theaters. Neighborhoods changed; the economy changed; real estate values changed; and, most of all, the times changed.
J.B. you are correct that is the Atlanta Theatre. There are several postcards of the Hurt Building that show the Atlanta Theatre in it.
Over the weekend, I saw a picture of the Hurt Building from the 1950’s and you could see what looked like an old movie theater across the street. I believe this is the old Atlanta Theater. It has a small one story facade and a rather large auditorium. There is also a tall thin building at the corner which I remember being demolished when I attended Grad School at Georgia State.
What a shame when this venue was open, Georgia State was only in the building known as Kell Hall. Had this venue still been standing, it could have been used instead of the Rialto.