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 movie theater located in Atlanta, Georgia. It opened in 1939. It is Atlanta's oldest movie theater that has been open continuously. It is also a well-known city landmark.
The Plaza Theatre's History
Early Years: 1939 to 2006
The Plaza Theatre was designed by architect George Harwell Bond. It first opened its doors on December 23, 1939. It was built as an art deco style cinema and also hosted live shows. This theater served as the local cinema for neighborhoods like Druid Hills, Virginia Highland, and Poncey-Highland in Atlanta.
The Plaza Theatre is a key part of the Briarcliff Plaza. This was Atlanta's first shopping center that offered parking away from the street. The very first movie shown at the Plaza was The Women. This film starred Joan Crawford and Norma Shearer.
Some very popular movies had their second showings at the Plaza Theatre. These films had first played in bigger theaters downtown. Examples include Around the World in 80 Days (1956) and King of Kings (1961).
In the 1970s, the theater's focus changed for a period. It showed different types of entertainment. Later, the entire shopping center was renovated by its owner at the time, Robert Griffith.
In 1983, a movie theater owner named George LeFont bought the Plaza. He updated the large 1000-seat space. He turned the balcony area into a second movie screen. During LeFont's time, the Plaza started showing many independent, foreign, and art-house movies. This type of film became the main focus from 1983 onwards. In the 1990s and 2000s, the Plaza faced some financial challenges. The theater was put up for sale in 2006.
Recent Times: 2006 to Today
In late 2006, Jonathan and Gayle Rej, who are from Atlanta, bought the theater. In early 2010, The Plaza Theatre Foundation became a non-profit organization. The theater kept its original sign and many of its first furnishings. This made the Plaza Theatre the longest continuously running theater in Atlanta.
Since 2000, a fan group called LDOD has hosted Atlanta's version of The Rocky Horror Picture Show cult following. They show the movie at midnight every Friday. Before the movie, there are fun activities. A "shadow cast" performs live along with the movie, and the audience can join in.
In the 2000s, the Silver Scream Spookshow was held at The Plaza. This show was hosted by Atlanta horror personality "Professor Morte". It combined live comedy and performances with screenings of classic science fiction movies. These included Creature from the Black Lagoon, Frankenstein, and many films from the Godzilla series. The Plaza also screened many other classic films. These included Easy Rider, Back to the Future, and Five Easy Pieces. It also showcased local independent films.
In 2010, the Plaza celebrated its 70th anniversary. They showed movies from 1939, like The Wizard of Oz and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Robert Osborne from Turner Classic Movies helped host this special event. The Plaza also hosted the Atlanta premiere for the film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. The stars of the movie, Michael Cera and Jason Schwartzman, and the director, Edgar Wright, were there. Also, the director of the popular film The Room (2003), Tommy Wiseau, visited the theater in 2010 and 2012.
In early 2013, Michael Furlinger, a theater enthusiast, bought the Plaza Theatre. The theater received much-needed upgrades. These included new digital projectors and new seats. It also started showing popular mainstream films, such as the Angry Birds and The Smurfs movies.
In early 2017, Asana Partners bought the Briarcliff Plaza. This is the shopping center where the Plaza Theatre is located. They paid $18 million for it. This sale was a surprise to the community. The property had not been listed for sale.
In late 2017, Christopher Escobar bought the theater. He is also the Executive Director of the Atlanta Film Society. Since then, the theater has been returning to its original look. It has also brought back its special showcases, performances, and independent and international films.
See also
