Grove Theatre
1576 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway NW,
Atlanta,
GA
30318
1576 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway NW,
Atlanta,
GA
30318
2 people
favorited this theater
The Grove Theatre was located in Grove Park, a little community west of Atlanta. The Grove Theatre opened in June 27, 1941 with Allan Jones & Nancy Kelly in “One Night in the Tropics”. The Grove Theatre was closed in 1969.
In early 2024 plans were being proposed to convert into a community center.
Contributed by
Jack Coursey
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Recent comments (view all 45 comments)
wdj, I went to John Carey Elementary School in the late 50’s. I didn’t know Richie Welch, he was a few years older than me. I do have great memories of the Grove though, also remember there was a bowling alley just up the road with real people for pin setters. Wow, that’s been a long time ago. Steve B.
On Saturdays, it was more like six to eight hours. I remember the short comedies with Leon Erroll, Edgar Kennedy, “Speaking of Animals,” and the cowboys: Lash Larue, Tim Holt, Johnny Back Brown, Gene Autry. And really cheesy science-fiction movies. Before we reached the hand-holding stage with girls, we made spitball shooters from coat hangers and rubber bands and carried our ammunition in BandAid metal boxes (which later were to hold cigarett packages).
I had the distinct honor and privilege of playing with Cecil, “Spider” Ridgeway, and Hal Buice, the “Three Sharps and a Flat” dixieland band before the Saturday late show. We made $1.35 each and two theater passes.
The January 18, 1941, issue of Boxoffice Magazine said that Oscar Lam was planning to build a theater at Grove Park in partnership with Wendell and Cooper Welch. Lam is mentioned again in the March 22 issue of Boxoffice which said that the new theater was under construction and expected to open in June or July. The opening was announced in the July 12 issue of Boxoffice.
I’ve found Cooper Welch mentioned as the manager of the Grove in issues of Boxoffice as late as 1957.
Here is a photo circa 1960:
http://tinyurl.com/yjdpjfy
For those of you that are interested in this theater, there is a group on FB, “You know You Are From Grove Park If” Great group. Great memories.
I grew up just down the road. I have watched many a tarzan flick as a little boy and have fond memories of walking to the “picture show”. Ralph Kerr was my uncle.
Hi, letray98 – Looked up the Facebook page devoted to Grove Park & I was impressed. It’s nice to see the affection & nostalgia that the people from Grove Park still feel for their old community. I’m a native of Atlanta, but I grew on the opposite side of town – East Lake & Decatur. I haven’t seen any comparable outpouring of nostalgia from the people of Atlanta’s east side. You should be proud of your great memories!
This opened on June 27th, 1941. Grand opening ad in the photo section
and closed in 1969
Riding by this theater, it appears the community is trying to renovate it as the Grove Park Center. I wish them luck.