I do think the Zesto’s is still there, as of a few months ago… a couple of other fleeting memories are of a Victoria Station that was still standing at the corner of Lindberg and Piedmont, I never went there but I remember seeing it quite a few times.
The Screening Room Theatre was what I remember there, around 1980-82 this stretch of Piedmont Road was where I could be found in multiple places, shopped at the K-Mart a few doors down from The Screening Room, took a bunch of photos in the photo booth, which was already ancient at that time and so gave weird “film noir” shots. The giant Atlanta Flea Market across the street (many years before the site of Piedmont Drive-In Theater, I have read and now the Marta Train Station) Victoria Station was just down the street, as were Copperfields, Ken’s Tavern, the Harvest Moon Saloon, all gone… in fact, all I see when riding through there that appears the same is Zesto’s burger joint and the ruins of the Shoney’s Big Boy, but I digress.
I saw some great “avant garde” sort of films at The Screening Room Theatre, including Jean-Luc Godard’s “Every Man For Himself” and The Clash “Rude Boy” documentary, both in first run. Great times all those years ago.
I know that the Film Forum at Ansley Mall was open at least as late as 1980 into 1981, when I lived within walking distance and watched many films there during that time period, odd selections of foriegn films and cultish works, some offbeat comedies. One that sticks with me over 39 years later I viewed there was one film by Bunuel (I don’t remember the title this morning) back around 1980 or early 1981 in a small movie theater. Really enjoyed it, it made me think of a long Twilight Zone episode. I do think that not far into 1981 the theater suddenly was closed and never opened again. Being new to Atlanta, I knew none of the history of the Film Forum, but it was a cool little theater.
My memories of the area are from around the 1979-84 time period when I lived and worked near there, worked at Carolina Lumber & Supply a bit to the south of this area, on Plaster Bridge Road, and the memories are very vivid. At that time, the Atlanta Flea Market was there, in a building that looked like it was once a department store, although I reckon it could have been the former location of Hastings Nursery, which by that time was located out Lindberg Drive at the corner of Cheshire Bridge Road, a few blocks to the east of Piedmont Road, across from the Varisty Jr.
Next to the Flea Market on one side was Shoney’s (the caving in building can still be seen there today), and across the street, across Lindberg, from the Flea Market was (in 1979-80) the empty building that once was a Copperfield’s nightclub.
Across from there was the small strip that housed Ken’s Tavern and Moonshadow Saloon, a couple of hopping nightspots for us working class types of the early 1980s. Past that going up Piedmont, and across from the fairly huge Flea Market space was a Sizzling Steaks, and a Zesto’s, which, amazingly, is also still in the same spot. Then Broadview Plaze, which was anchored by K-Mart, Picadilly Cafe, and the Screening Room Theaters mentioned earlier. What isn’t mentioned is that before becoming movie theaters, the location was the Great Southeastern Music Hall, where many great rock, pop and country acts performed… including the Sex Pistols with their American debut shows!
Piedmont Drive in was before all this by over a decade, and it was forgotten by the time I arrived.
I would never have thought it, and, again, so little (or nothing) has been written down anywhere about all this… the Drive-In Theater or there being another Pritchett’s Fish Camp right there. I do remember the Abstract Bar, right across the tracks where Merry Acres Industrial Park begins, also. Any more Morris Road memories, anyone? Fascinating.
Now it turns out that they say there was a Pritchett’s Fish Camp just right down the street from Bobby’s Bar! This is some amazing history coming out, I would never have thought it:
“I know Morris Rd. runs from Buena VIsta Rd to Forest Rd and curves by the tracks where there was a Pritchetts. I believe I remember the Morris Rd. Drive-in being where the old junk yard is now between BVR and the curve.” -Gene Alexander
I saw some incredible films here, The Beatles “Let It Be” among them… met/saw Jonathan Frid, who played Barnabas Collins at an appearance here to promote the “House Of Dark Shadows” movie.
There doesn’t seem to be as much interest in archiving history of certain subjects here as I’d like, and as time goes by, more and more information is lost.
The Edgewood Drive-In was open at least through the 1960s and maybe slightly into the 1970s, a year or two. The last movie I remember seeing there was “Bonnie And Clyde”, though. It was an auto repair shop through the 1980s-90s, but that too is now gone, and the place is deserted.
Ah, and now this item appears in Google Search, again for a dead link, unfortunately:
“19531219 Boxoffice / December 19, 1953 – 5:57pm The Morris Road Drive-In, Columbus, has been purchased by Martin Theatres. The circuit has closed for the winter these drive-ins: Jet…"
issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_121953
So, we can pretty well say it was around as late as 1956… and I found this item, as the mystery deepens, as this appeared in Google Search, but when the link was clicked, the site is defunct:
“19541023 Boxoffice / October 23, 1954 – 4:18pm Bobby White, manager of the Morris Road Drive-In of Columbus. Ga., and the two concessions attendants. Myrl and Thelma. Riadon, in a competition held by the…"
issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_102354
I figure it must have been on the spot where the golf/driving range is, next to where I-185 crosses Morris… See More, or a bit down, where the truck driving school is. In fact, a few minutes ago we rode past both & I spotted some really old pavement in the field there at the latter, and the size of the area looks about right for a drive-in.
Yes, this one is faded into obscure history as much as the one on Morris Road has. Hopefully some Columbus old-timers will see this and expand the histories!
I’ve been on and off Morris Road thousands of times in my life (my parents bought a house near there in 1965) and this is the first I’ve heard of a Morris Road Drive-In Theater! So, obviously, it was long gone by 1965 or I’m certain I’d have known of it. Best I can figure, it must have been possibly where the golfing area is now, or the truck driving school. Very interested in more information on this!
I do think the Zesto’s is still there, as of a few months ago… a couple of other fleeting memories are of a Victoria Station that was still standing at the corner of Lindberg and Piedmont, I never went there but I remember seeing it quite a few times.
The Screening Room Theatre was what I remember there, around 1980-82 this stretch of Piedmont Road was where I could be found in multiple places, shopped at the K-Mart a few doors down from The Screening Room, took a bunch of photos in the photo booth, which was already ancient at that time and so gave weird “film noir” shots. The giant Atlanta Flea Market across the street (many years before the site of Piedmont Drive-In Theater, I have read and now the Marta Train Station) Victoria Station was just down the street, as were Copperfields, Ken’s Tavern, the Harvest Moon Saloon, all gone… in fact, all I see when riding through there that appears the same is Zesto’s burger joint and the ruins of the Shoney’s Big Boy, but I digress.
I saw some great “avant garde” sort of films at The Screening Room Theatre, including Jean-Luc Godard’s “Every Man For Himself” and The Clash “Rude Boy” documentary, both in first run. Great times all those years ago.
Just returned here after a long spell, great to see more information on Morris Road, and “Newby”.
I know that the Film Forum at Ansley Mall was open at least as late as 1980 into 1981, when I lived within walking distance and watched many films there during that time period, odd selections of foriegn films and cultish works, some offbeat comedies. One that sticks with me over 39 years later I viewed there was one film by Bunuel (I don’t remember the title this morning) back around 1980 or early 1981 in a small movie theater. Really enjoyed it, it made me think of a long Twilight Zone episode. I do think that not far into 1981 the theater suddenly was closed and never opened again. Being new to Atlanta, I knew none of the history of the Film Forum, but it was a cool little theater.
Correction, that was Harvest Moon Saloon next to Ken’s Tavern, not Moonshadow Saloon, which was on out near Decatur.
My memories of the area are from around the 1979-84 time period when I lived and worked near there, worked at Carolina Lumber & Supply a bit to the south of this area, on Plaster Bridge Road, and the memories are very vivid. At that time, the Atlanta Flea Market was there, in a building that looked like it was once a department store, although I reckon it could have been the former location of Hastings Nursery, which by that time was located out Lindberg Drive at the corner of Cheshire Bridge Road, a few blocks to the east of Piedmont Road, across from the Varisty Jr.
Next to the Flea Market on one side was Shoney’s (the caving in building can still be seen there today), and across the street, across Lindberg, from the Flea Market was (in 1979-80) the empty building that once was a Copperfield’s nightclub.
Across from there was the small strip that housed Ken’s Tavern and Moonshadow Saloon, a couple of hopping nightspots for us working class types of the early 1980s. Past that going up Piedmont, and across from the fairly huge Flea Market space was a Sizzling Steaks, and a Zesto’s, which, amazingly, is also still in the same spot. Then Broadview Plaze, which was anchored by K-Mart, Picadilly Cafe, and the Screening Room Theaters mentioned earlier. What isn’t mentioned is that before becoming movie theaters, the location was the Great Southeastern Music Hall, where many great rock, pop and country acts performed… including the Sex Pistols with their American debut shows!
Piedmont Drive in was before all this by over a decade, and it was forgotten by the time I arrived.
I would never have thought it, and, again, so little (or nothing) has been written down anywhere about all this… the Drive-In Theater or there being another Pritchett’s Fish Camp right there. I do remember the Abstract Bar, right across the tracks where Merry Acres Industrial Park begins, also. Any more Morris Road memories, anyone? Fascinating.
Now it turns out that they say there was a Pritchett’s Fish Camp just right down the street from Bobby’s Bar! This is some amazing history coming out, I would never have thought it:
“I know Morris Rd. runs from Buena VIsta Rd to Forest Rd and curves by the tracks where there was a Pritchetts. I believe I remember the Morris Rd. Drive-in being where the old junk yard is now between BVR and the curve.” -Gene Alexander
I saw some incredible films here, The Beatles “Let It Be” among them… met/saw Jonathan Frid, who played Barnabas Collins at an appearance here to promote the “House Of Dark Shadows” movie.
There doesn’t seem to be as much interest in archiving history of certain subjects here as I’d like, and as time goes by, more and more information is lost.
The Edgewood Drive-In was open at least through the 1960s and maybe slightly into the 1970s, a year or two. The last movie I remember seeing there was “Bonnie And Clyde”, though. It was an auto repair shop through the 1980s-90s, but that too is now gone, and the place is deserted.
Ah, and now this item appears in Google Search, again for a dead link, unfortunately:
“19531219 Boxoffice / December 19, 1953 – 5:57pm The Morris Road Drive-In, Columbus, has been purchased by Martin Theatres. The circuit has closed for the winter these drive-ins: Jet…"
issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_121953
So, we can pretty well say it was around as late as 1956… and I found this item, as the mystery deepens, as this appeared in Google Search, but when the link was clicked, the site is defunct:
“19541023 Boxoffice / October 23, 1954 – 4:18pm Bobby White, manager of the Morris Road Drive-In of Columbus. Ga., and the two concessions attendants. Myrl and Thelma. Riadon, in a competition held by the…"
issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_102354
I figure it must have been on the spot where the golf/driving range is, next to where I-185 crosses Morris… See More, or a bit down, where the truck driving school is. In fact, a few minutes ago we rode past both & I spotted some really old pavement in the field there at the latter, and the size of the area looks about right for a drive-in.
Yes, this one is faded into obscure history as much as the one on Morris Road has. Hopefully some Columbus old-timers will see this and expand the histories!
I’ve been on and off Morris Road thousands of times in my life (my parents bought a house near there in 1965) and this is the first I’ve heard of a Morris Road Drive-In Theater! So, obviously, it was long gone by 1965 or I’m certain I’d have known of it. Best I can figure, it must have been possibly where the golfing area is now, or the truck driving school. Very interested in more information on this!