Georgia Theatre facts for kids
 |
|
| Address | 215 N. Lumpkin Street Athens, Georgia United States |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 800 |
| Current use | Live Music Venue |
The Georgia Theatre is a super cool place in Athens, Georgia, where you can go to see live music! Lots of famous bands and local artists have played here, covering all kinds of music like rock, folk, hip hop, and electronic. It's even part of a special walking tour about Athens' music history. The Georgia Theatre first opened its doors for music in 1978. For a short time in the early 1980s, it showed movies, but since 1989, it's been a popular spot for concerts again, hosting many big names.
A Long History
The building where the Georgia Theatre stands today has a really interesting past! Back in 1889, the YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) in Athens bought the land and built a building there. From 1905 to 1911, this YMCA building was even home to the Georgia Bulldogs basketball team.
Later, in 1913, a music store opened on the first floor, while the YMCA continued to use the upper floors. In 1926, a group called the Masonic Temple Association bought the building. They soon shared the space with a furniture company. Then, in 1935, the Elite Theater opened in this spot, using and expanding the original YMCA building.
After being used for many different things over the years, in 1977, four people named Sam Smartt, Hap Harris, George Fontaine, and Sheffy McArthur turned the building into a concert hall. The famous band B-52s played there on May 20, 1978. The next year, The Police performed as part of their very first U.S. tour!
The Georgia Theatre closed briefly in 1981. It reopened a year later as a movie house called Carafe & Draft Theater. In 1989, Kyle Pilgrim and Bill "Duck" Anderson bought the building. They planned to bring it back to life as a concert venue. The band Pylon played the first show at the newly reopened Georgia Theatre.
Over the years, many amazing bands have played here. These include Athens' own Widespread Panic, Beck, Warren Zevon, J.J. Cale, David Byrne, Black Lips, Umphreys McGee, and the Dave Matthews Band. Even members of R.E.M. have performed! The 2004 album Live at Georgia Theatre by Derek Trucks Band was recorded right here. Also, the music video for John Mayer's 2002 song “No Such Thing” was filmed at the venue.
In 2004, Wilmot Greene and Randy Smith bought the Georgia Theatre. They worked to make the building even better. In 2014, the venue was sold to Agon, a company that also owns the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta.
Fire and Rebuilding
On the morning of June 19, 2009, a big fire broke out at the Georgia Theatre. It caused a lot of damage to the building, and the roof even collapsed. But the community didn't give up on their beloved venue!
The theatre was rebuilt in 2010 and 2011. It reopened its doors on August 1, 2011. Some of the money for the repairs came from a special concert. The Zac Brown Band and other guest artists performed at the Fox Theatre in downtown Atlanta. This concert was later released as an album called Pass the Jar: Zac Brown Band and Friends Live from the Fabulous Fox Theatre In Atlanta. The story of the fire and the history of the Georgia Theatre were even made into a documentary film called Athens Burning in 2012.
The new Georgia Theatre is a fantastic concert spot! It has a super modern sound system and great acoustics, which means the music sounds amazing. There's improved seating, two balconies, and a popular open-air roof area. This roof area has a full bar and comfy patio seating, perfect for hanging out. Since reopening, the venue has hosted hundreds of acts. Some of these include My Morning Jacket, Gregg Allman, Alabama Shakes, Willie Nelson, Basketball Team, Run The Jewels, and Kenny Chesney.
