Plaza Theatre
1049-51 Ponce de Leon Avenue NE,
Atlanta,
GA
30306
1049-51 Ponce de Leon Avenue NE,
Atlanta,
GA
30306
16 people
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1049 Ponce De Leon Ave., Atlanta GA 30306 | plazaatlanta.com 20th November 2012
Greetings!
Starting December 27th the Plaza Theatre will be operating under new ownership. Michael Furlinger has had his eye on the Plaza for many years in the hopes of one day owning and operating it. Having spoken with him a few times over the last 6 years we have decided it will be best for the Plaza’s survival to pass the torch to him. He has 30 years experience in the cinema business and has worked as an owner/operator as well as a film booker. He took his last theatre, the Terrace Theatre in Charleston, South Carolina from a struggling enterprise to a huge success with deep ties to the community. Furlinger’s plan for the Plaza Theatre is to use his expertise in film booking and close relationships with the studios to strengthen the feature programming while continuing the current popular special events such as The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Silver Scream Spookshow, Splatter Cinema, Taboo La-La, The Room, and Wonderroot’s Local Film Night. The Plaza Theatre will also remain home to the revered Atlanta Film Festival, continuing their programming and workshops throughout the year. Furlinger has big plans for substantial renovations including new state of the art DCP digital projectors, brand new seats, and gourmet concessions. 35mm film is quickly being phased out and very soon the only way to show a movie in the theatre will be DCP so we are excited he is willing to make these investments to help the Plaza Theatre secure a place in the future of Atlanta.
As far as the Plaza Theatre Foundation is concerned, we are currently working with the Atlanta FIlm Festival and Michael about how that will still be able to contribute, but for now your memberships and passes will continue to be honored under the new ownership. Those of you who purchased stars for our Star Wall, I will be taking those stars and mounting them to plaques to give to each of you. The few of you who made donations to our buy a seat campaign, I can return your donation.
Thank you all so much for your support! It has been our honor to be a part of the Plaza’s history and we hope you feel the same way. We’ve accomplished what we originally set out to do which was to save the Plaza from becoming a drug store or something else and we couldn’t have done it with out you all. We wish Michael the best of luck and we hope you all will continue to be supporters of the Plaza. We can’t wait to see Atlanta’s oldest cinema not just survive, but thrive!
Jonathan & Gayle
For immediate release.
The Plaza Theatre set to change owners December 27th.
Plaza Theatre – 1049 Ponce de Leon Ave Atlanta GA 30306
After six years as owners and operators of the Plaza Theatre, Jonathan and Gayle Rej have decided to pass the torch of operating Atlanta’s oldest cinema to Michael Furlinger. He has 30 years experience in the cinema business and has worked as an owner/operator as well as film booker. He took his last theatre, the Terrace Theatre in Charleston, South Carolina from a struggling enterprise to a huge success with deep ties to the community. Furlinger’s plan for the Plaza Theatre is to use his expertise in film booking and close relationships with the studios to strengthen the feature programming while continuing the current popular special events such as The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Silver Scream Spookshow, Splatter Cinema, Taboo La-La, The Room, and Wonderroot’s Local Film Night. The Plaza Theatre will also remain home to the revered Atlanta Film Festival, continuing their programming and workshops throughout the year. Furlinger has big plans for substantial renovations including new state of the art DCP digital projectors, brand new seats, and gourmet concessions.
The Rejs look forward to see this new chapter in the story of The Plaza Theatre unfold. They’re excited Furlinger is able to invest in the future of the theatre and ensure it’s longevity continues. The community and patrons have been very encouraging towards the theatre and the Rejs hope that support will continue for Furlinger.
I have purchase the plaza theater .. look for updates soon.
The theatre has been sold.
This theater for sale ?? Been trying to find contact ??
I first started watching movies at the Plaza when I was a kid living in Little FIve Points in the 50s.
The Euclid was my usual haunt, but sometimes I’d feel adventurous and make the walk to the Plaza -
the movies for the kiddie matinee there were usually a bit more recent than the Euclid’s fare.
Saturday morning, there was always a line of Baby Boomers waiting to get in. Plaza Drugs (“We Never
Close”) anchored the north end of the little strip mall, the Plaza theater (and a grocery store) were at
the center, a bank anchored the south end. On rare occasions I’d enjoy a grilled burger with my dad
at the Majestic Diner just across the street, before taking in a movie at the Plaza.
At night the theater’s neon facade would be lit up – the accordion neon behind the brightly
lit “PLAZA” would be flashing in sequence – it was quite a sight to see. Riding in my dad’s car down
Ponce de Leon at night, I couldn’t take my eyes off those lights.
Years later the Plaza suffered the fate of many a struggling neighborhood theater – the grand old
lady became a porn house. I went to one such performance – I couldn’t stay for more than a few
minutes. It was like watching porn in church.
Happily, as we know from CT posts, the Plaza cleaned up and went back to the mission she was
made for – showing “regular” movies. The last one I saw there was “The Crying Game.” (A girl with a
silver ring in her nose sold me my ticket.) What a thrill to see the house lights go down and to hear the pulleys working to draw that beautiful curtain back! If I ever get back to Atlanta (from exile in Arizona) I hope to be able to once again see another movie at the Plaza.
another movie at the Plaza.
Now showing on Sept.13 2001.
“THE MAN WHO CRIED” and “HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH” both rated R.
Saving Atlanta’s oldest cinema, Supporting independent film, Serving the Community
Restoring The Plaza Theatre is a rare chance to do something special for this community and gifts of all sizes will make a big difference! The Plaza Foundation is a 501©(3) organization and all gifts are tax deductible. All funds generated will be used toward restoration, furnishings, equipment, operations and community initiatives for The Plaza Theatre.
Designed by architect George Harwell Bond, this theatre opened its doors in 1939 as a 1000 seat art deco cinema and live theatre. In the 1970s, the cinema operated as an X-rated adult cinema and live burlesque theatre until the entire shopping center was renovated by current owner Robert Griffith. In 1983, the theatre was purchased by George Lefont who was the first to bring independent cinema to Atlanta. The theatre underwent renovations again when purchased by longtime Atlanta residents Jonathan & Gayle Rej in August of 2006. The Plaza Theatre is the last cinema of its kind in Atlanta, as well as the oldest continously operating cinema in the city. Now with 501c3 non profit status, The Plaza Theatre Foundation hopes to save this theatre, continue to promote independent film, and support the local film comunity.
Here some more photo.
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Very nice vintage and modern photos.
Recent article featuring an interview with the owners:
View link
The current ownership/management of the Plaza is doing a superb job. Love the Spook Show, the Bizarro Animation shows, and all the other independent features that they show. When Pere Ubu played there performing their musical accompaniment to Roger Corman’s “X – The Man With The X-Ray Eyes”, that was truly a surreal experience.
The theater was a porno house for a while in the seventies. Once I was looking through a book of photorealistic paintings, and I saw a painting of the Plaza’s marquee from when it was showing X rated films. (ironically I saw this in a bookstore in the same shopping center as the Plaza theater, back in the 1980s).
Hello all. I have recently become a projectionist at The Plaza and I’m working on many ideas to improve the look and attendance of the theater. I want to celebrate the history of this beautiful old theater. I’m looking for any older photos of the Plaza or any old ads from the newspapers. I want to blow up and frame them to display throughout the lobby. If you go to The Plaza’s website and scroll down on the main page you will see a photo of the entire audience wearing 3-D glasses. I took that photo and am going to frame it for display as well. I would also love to hear from anyone that went to the theater pre 1980’s. Any help would be greatly appreciated. You can e-mail me at
Thank you and take care, Shawn Murphy
Here is a marquee photo:
http://tinyurl.com/mufvwx
Here is a 1983 photo.
View link
1978 photo of the Plaza here.
should read 2006
I Had wanted to buy this theater in 2005 and it did not work out >new owners have since bought the theater and are doing a nice job.
Sorry, my e-mail is actually
Longisland, I’d like to hear what happened. My e-mail is BTW I have a lot of vintage ads for the Plaza that I’d be happy to scan and send to you.
What happened?
i was in contract to buy it,,,,
Let it go?
got to love this theater…………..sorry i let it go