Historic Georgia Theatre burns down

posted by Broan on June 22, 2009 at 7:45 am

ATHENS, GA — The Georgia Theatre in Athens, which has long served as one of the main large music venues in the renowned Athens music scene, was hit by a major fire around 6 a.m. Friday morning, knocking out power for much of the downtown.

According to reports, the building dates to the late 19th century, when it was built as the south’s first YMCA. It had been heavily remodeled to serve as a theatre, perhaps in the 1940s, judging from its Moderne facade and largely unremarkable interior. The theater had served as a crucial venue for notable Athens acts such as the B-52s, R.E.M, Widespread Panic, and countless others since the 1970s.

Theaters in this post

• Georgia Theatre