Georgia Theatre memories
Like anyone else with strong ties to Athens I’m dismayed today by the news of the Georgia Theatre fire. My son and brother Jon both called early this morning with the news. Jon was trying to go to the bank in downtown Athens but couldn’t because of the power grid being turned off. He said with all the cops trying to direct traffic with the lights out plus the smoke and a couple of helicopters hovering up above it was a wild scene.
I go way back with the Georgia, having had my Mom take me to Disney films there when I was quite young and my uncle was an usher for the theater (remember ushers?). I wrote about the theater’s original conversion to a music hall for The Atlanta Constitution during my rock critic days and I saw several terrific concerts there. My son has been to a lot of shows at the Georgia in recent years.
It’s a big part of the cultural life of Athens and UGA students, and I really hope owner Wilmot Greene is able to rebuild. Athens wouldn’t be the same without it.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Guides
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2011 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
126 comments Add your comment
Helluva Engineer
June 19th, 2009
2:06 pm
Athens blows. Its a cesspool of garbage and hippies.
45-42!!!!!!!!!!!
stoopid
June 19th, 2009
2:09 pm
It will be sadly missed by multiple generations of Bulldawgs! Should really put a damper on Athfest this weekend too. Hopefully it will be rebuilt better than ever!
Its a gator world
June 19th, 2009
2:11 pm
They have culture in Georgia?
Knowshow
June 19th, 2009
2:12 pm
Crank dat soulja boy! Crank it!
nunyabizness
June 19th, 2009
2:13 pm
Does he have insurance?
Ben
June 19th, 2009
2:14 pm
A lot more in Athens than in Gainesville, “It’s a Gator World”….
Cuz
June 19th, 2009
2:14 pm
Another classy post by Engineer.
Great shows. The Earl Scruggs Revue. Old Doc Watson playing a guitar like no one with sight could. REM before they would enunciate the words. Talk about the passion. And local Country sensations, The Normal Town Flyers singing Dooley, the moonshiner, not the Coach.
One great place to be on an Athens night.
Helluva Engineer
June 19th, 2009
2:15 pm
Hey Cuz…
You still dating that guy from the B-52’s??
nunyabizness
June 19th, 2009
2:17 pm
Gainsville is crap compared to downtown Athens; tech fans, don’t you get shot on your campus? enough said biznitches.
Helluva Engineer
June 19th, 2009
2:18 pm
Gainesville and Tuscaloosa are better than that dump Athens.
I'll take a terrorist with a videocamera
June 19th, 2009
2:20 pm
over a professor shooting up the town
Al Qaeda Tech
June 19th, 2009
2:24 pm
I bet you would loser.
Herschel Talker
June 19th, 2009
2:26 pm
Helluva Engineer likes men
Guys, please don't tell my mom I'm blogging and not studying for my Tech exam; she won't cut the crust off my sandwich
June 19th, 2009
2:30 pm
Enter your comments here
Helluva Engineer
June 19th, 2009
2:32 pm
Here puppy puppies, herrrrreeee puppies……..
Stupid Mutts.
Helluva HOMO
June 19th, 2009
2:34 pm
tank you, com agaiiin
Robert
June 19th, 2009
2:37 pm
Georgia Theatre is one of the best venues for live music I have ever been too. I have so many memories there and had some of the best times in my life there. This is not about football, but about losing an historic Athens landmark. Non-Athenians just don’t understand.
Ramblin Rick
June 19th, 2009
2:41 pm
BURN STINK TOWN BURN! General Sherman would be proud. You mutts are such losers. You more sensitive than any woman I know. Keep it up Helluva! 45-42 mutts
Robert
June 19th, 2009
2:42 pm
Helluva Engineer,
I have been to both Gainseville and Tuscaloosa. Both places are Athens wannabees and frankly, nothing compared to Athens. Athens is BY FAR the best college town I have ever been to, everywhere else is the minor leagues. Also, other towns merely wish they had the music scene that Athens does or a cool place like the Theatre. Get a life and quit being jealous of Athens, loser.
Flyin' Dawg
June 19th, 2009
2:42 pm
Crazy sad news today. I had some of the greatest nights in that old theatre. Good times. When and if it re-opens, I will be there!
Michael Stipe
June 19th, 2009
2:43 pm
I am proud to be a member of the mutt nation. I love to tailgate with all the drunken trash talking tattoo sporting ‘necks in Athens. We all have the big “G” in our rear-view window. Go dawgs
L-Dawg
June 19th, 2009
2:46 pm
Helluva Engineer, you make your people proud….. real proud. And by people I mean the Terrorists and pimple-faced skinny nerds I see waiting for the “Tech Trolley” in the morning at the Midtown MARTA station, wearing t-shirts with either a wizard or a wolf on it. The class and quality of Techie people truley is a joke.
MaconGa Dawg
June 19th, 2009
2:47 pm
Yeah, yeah. 45-42. How about 7 out of 8. Or, how about 14 out of 18. How do you like those numbers Tech nerds? RIP Georgia Theater.
Cuz
June 19th, 2009
2:48 pm
Engineer, what time is your waterboarding class, you don’t want to miss it.
Sherman was scared of the double barrell cannon. He skipped Athens.
Helluva Dumbass
June 19th, 2009
2:49 pm
Ramblin Rick,
Isn’t it time for you throw your mat down and pray toward Mecca?
Ramblin Rick
June 19th, 2009
2:50 pm
Not many mutts on here. must be out buying some ice cold beer at wal-mart. better hurry before they run out of Pabst Ice you losers! 45-42 PAUL JOHNSON OWNS THE HEDGES!
jake with ties.
June 19th, 2009
2:54 pm
My grandfather played at georgia and I ended up a tech fan. Everyone on here sound like a bunch of white trash AZZHoles! The Georgia Theatre was a great venue for the state of Georgia. Just like the Fox and Tabernacle are. This is a loss for our state, and this blog isnt the place for ignorant, bigots to argue and fuss over who sucks. You all suck more than any of your teams do. DO SOMETHING WITH YOUR LIVES BESIDES SUCK AT IT!!!
Langford
June 19th, 2009
2:55 pm
hey hellava much better to be at Tech where you get shot and robbed than hanging out with the hippies in athens. enjoy that win. Won;t be another for a while!
Ramblin Rick
June 19th, 2009
2:55 pm
I guess the Georgia Theatre is officially “BLACKED OUT”
whoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
45-42
Dawgdays
June 19th, 2009
2:56 pm
It would be like the, ummmm, EE building, no wait, still thinking, wait! There is no comparison to any building burning down at GT.
Ramblin Rick
June 19th, 2009
3:01 pm
I like to sit on the whistle during ball games. When tech scores and they blow it, it tickles my tushie!
MiltonDawg
June 19th, 2009
3:01 pm
wow, now i just lost all respect for GT fans. what a bunch of immature morons. this blog has become pathetic.
carolina girl
June 19th, 2009
3:04 pm
The Georgia Theater fire is a true loss for Athens.
And as for the Tech fans who took these posting way off topic, Athens is not perfect but you are 100 times LESS likely to get mugged going to a UGA game than you are on the Tech campus!
Matt Smith
June 19th, 2009
3:06 pm
I have a friend that went to Florida. He told me their school officials actually came to Athens to try to copy to same layout as Athens. GT Fans who got to go to school in ATLANTA with a ton of ugly girls. ZIP it. Jealousy is a disease!!
music fan
June 19th, 2009
3:07 pm
Bigots like you are what makes the rest of the country look down on the Great State of Georgia. Agree w/Jake….. losing the Theater is awful. It’s an amazing part of Athens–no GEORGIA–culture. If you want to make such comments go check out some of the skinhead, neo-nazi sites floating around the ‘net. Take it elsewhere. This is about the great music that can no longer be played at an amazing venue. RIP Georgia Theater.
SEC1
June 19th, 2009
3:08 pm
Memories of the GA theatre:
Dreams So Real
REM (yes, Cuz it was a “Murmur” back then)
Chicksaw Mudpuppies
The Connells
Drivin’ and Cryin’
The early days of Widespread Panic
I did not see them there, but how ’bout the Hoo Do Gurus (sp?)
This was the late 80s, and man it was great to be in Athens!
There were many great shows – anyone else???
MiltonDawg
June 19th, 2009
3:08 pm
Ramblin Rick: all i have to say is…wow!! issues buddy, issues.
Sanford Drive
June 19th, 2009
3:09 pm
This is a tragedy, and you all are making fun of it? Even if the Tech tower burned down I wouldn’t get on your blog and trash it. Keep it classy, guys. You’re doing a bang-up job.
how2fish
June 19th, 2009
3:09 pm
Unreal comments… blog is about losing a landmark many, many people loved and children who have never been there trash it..get a grip people..or a girlfriend. I only made a show at the Georgia once in the mid 80’s the band was local and I have forgetten the their name I was told I had a great time..man those were the days..when you Bugs get old enough that mommy will let you out of the basement.wait what am I thinking that’ll never happen..World of Warcraft is forever..
Sanford Drive
June 19th, 2009
3:17 pm
For all you who hate on Athens, there is a reason why it is consistently nominated for one of the best places to live, visit, etc. Because it’s awesome!
Helluva Engineer
June 19th, 2009
3:23 pm
Hey Sanford Drive….
Are you speaking of the same list that had Huntsville, AL as the number one place to live??
Douche.
Dawgdays
June 19th, 2009
3:25 pm
HooDoo Gurus SEC1…
SED
June 19th, 2009
3:26 pm
For all you people that are writing negative comments, shut up. Football games were not played in the Georgia Theatre, so stop being idiots and get over yourself
Thank you so much for this tribute. The Georgia Theatre is a treasured landmark that will be very missed. My grandfather’s generation, my mother’s generation, and my generation all got to enjoy the beautiful theatre and it’s a very sad day for anyone who has seen a show, movie, or just had a beer in the treasured place.
John
June 19th, 2009
3:27 pm
Great venue it is a true loss to the state. Have seen many great acts there over the years that covered many genres of music.
Corey Smith
Rhett Akins
Dubconsious
Brantley Gilbert
Colt Ford
Perpetual Groove
Jason Coley
WideSpread Panic
The list goes on and on never been a better place to go and see great local music as well as touring national acts.
Cuz
June 19th, 2009
3:29 pm
Think I will put on my old REM CD and relive the memories. After I go to Wal-mart and get my Pabst Ice. They actually make a beer called Pabst Ice? Pabst was a good keg beer back in the late seventies and eighties in Athens. I ordered so many for my frat the Schlitz supervisors used to meet me at Papa Joes on Baxter on Friday afternoons and buy me so many beers I could barely walk home. Those guys were professional drinkers.
Helluva Engineer
June 19th, 2009
3:30 pm
Dang….mutt fans are sensitive about there wittle theatre burning down.
Athens is still a dumop and UGAY will be always be owned by Tech, FL, and Bama.
The Truth
June 19th, 2009
3:31 pm
You may be a Helluva Engineer but well all know that your Mamas is a Dog!
Cuz
June 19th, 2009
3:32 pm
Taj Mahal, Mike Cross.
Helluva Engineer
June 19th, 2009
3:33 pm
Hey Cuz..
You still have those Michael Stipe posters in you Mothers’ basement?
Dawgdays
June 19th, 2009
3:33 pm
GA Theater is to Athens as the Fox Theater is to Atlanta.
Wonder how many UGA bloggers would post negative comments if the Fox burned down?
Answer: zero (unless Reamblin Rick, Helluva and St. Simons were inside…)