Plaza Theatre (Atlanta) facts for kids
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| Address | 1049 Ponce De Leon Avenue Atlanta |
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| Construction | |
| Opened | 1939 |
| Architect | George Harwell Bond |
The Plaza Theatre is a famous movie theater in Atlanta, Georgia. It first opened in 1939. This makes it Atlanta's oldest movie theater that has been open non-stop. It is also a special landmark in the city.
The Plaza Theatre's Story
Early Years: 1939 to 2006
The Plaza Theatre opened its doors on December 23, 1939. It was designed by architect George Harwell Bond. The building had a cool Art Deco style. It showed movies and hosted live shows. The Plaza was the local movie spot for neighborhoods like Druid Hills and Virginia Highland. It was a key part of the Briarcliff Plaza, which was Atlanta's first shopping center with parking. The very first movie shown was The Women.
Some big movies also played at the Plaza Theatre later on. These included Around the World in 80 Days (1956) and King of Kings (1961).
In the 1970s, the theater changed its focus. It showed movies for adults and had live shows. Later, the shopping center's owner, Robert Griffith, made big changes.
In 1983, a movie theater owner named George LeFont bought the Plaza. He fixed up the huge 1000-seat space. He turned the balcony into a second movie room. From 1983 onwards, the Plaza started showing more independent, foreign, and art-house films. The 1990s and 2000s were tough times for the theater financially. In 2006, it was put up for sale.
Recent Times: 2006 to Today
In late 2006, Jonathan and Gayle Rej, who grew up in Atlanta, bought the theater. In early 2010, The Plaza Theatre Foundation became a non-profit group. The theater kept its original sign and many old decorations. It became the longest-running theater in Atlanta.
Since 2000, a fan group called LDOD has hosted special events. They show The Rocky Horror Picture Show every Friday at midnight. Before the movie, there are fun activities. A "shadow cast" performs live along with the film.
In the 2000s, "Professor Morte" hosted the Silver Scream Spookshow at the Plaza. This show combined live comedy and performances with classic science fiction movies. These included Creature from the Black Lagoon and Frankenstein. Many Godzilla movies were also shown. Similarly, Splatter Cinema brought scary movie scene re-creations to the lobby. They showed classic horror films like Blood Feast and Two Thousand Maniacs!. Movies from the Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street series also played. The Plaza also screened other classic films. These included Easy Rider, Back to the Future, and Five Easy Pieces. It also showed movies made by local independent filmmakers.
In 2010, the Plaza celebrated its 70th birthday. They showed movies from 1939, like The Wizard of Oz. Robert Osborne from Turner Classic Movies helped host the event. The Plaza also hosted the Atlanta premiere for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. The movie's stars, Michael Cera and Jason Schwartzman, and director Edgar Wright were there. Also, Tommy Wiseau, the director of the cult film The Room, visited the theater in 2010 and 2012.
In early 2013, Michael Furlinger bought the Plaza Theatre. He made important upgrades. These included new digital projectors and new seats. The theater also started showing popular family movies. These included the Angry Birds and The Smurfs films.
In early 2017, Asana Partners bought the Briarcliff Plaza. This is the shopping center where the Plaza Theatre is located. The sale was a surprise to many people.
In late 2017, Christopher Escobar bought the theater. He is also the head of the Atlanta Film Society. The theater has been returning to its older look and feel. It now features more independent and international films.
See also
