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| FEATURES: VENUES |
| VENUES |
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| This section will focus on providing whatever information we can regarding venues referenced in our Cards & Results sections. If you can provide any info that we may not have, please email our Contributions group.
ADEL, GA COOK HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM It is believed that this building is still standing, but the current school of the same name has been at a different location since the mid 1970s. ALBANY, GA CARDINAL PARK This was a minor league baseball park that was demolished many years ago. ALBANY, GA SUPREME CIRCLE HALL This venue was located on Jackson Street, about a block from Broad Street. ATLANTA, GA ATLANTA ATHLETIC CLUB Although not exactly certain, it appears this venue was located on Auburn Avenue. ATLANTA, GA ATLANTA MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM (Photos: 1 2 3 4 5 6) This venue was first opened in 1908, and would remain open for business until 1979, at which time the property rights were sold to Georgia State University. Located the corner of Edgewood Avenue and Courtland Street, this site was originally the host for twenty seasons of the Metropolitan Opera, and would become the major entertainment venue many decades afterward, as well as host to indoor sports. Today, the building has been renovated extensively both inside and out and now serves as Georgia State University's Alumni Hall. ATLANTA, GA BENNETT FIELD This venue was located inside the Atlanta Penitentiary. ATLANTA, GA CENTRAL ATHLETIC CLUB Our research has not turned up any information on this venue. ATLANTA, GA CONCORDIA HALL (Photo) Noted Atlanta businessmen, Alonzo Herndon and Herman Perry, constructed this venue in the late 1800s. Added to the Atlanta Preservation Centers 2003 List of Endangered Buildings, it is not only still standing, but is also being used; however, deferred maintenance is taking its toll. Concordia Hall is one of the six buildings on Hotel Row located at Forsyth and Mitchell Streets the most significant row of typical early 20th century commercial structures that once formed the citys original business district. Built for the Concordia Association, it represents the important role the Jewish community played in the development of the city. The association was founded in 1866 at Morris Rich & Co., by German and Hungarian Jews and fostered their cultural heritage by sponsoring dramatic performances, music and literary gatherings, debates and card playing. The building has lost much of its high-style detailing, which included a high Victorian faηade with gabled roofs, arched windows crowned with pediments, parapet cornices and projecting onion dome turret, in the early 20th century. Still visible today is the swan-neck pediment with a lyre, the symbol used by the Concordia Association, as the central motif. ATLANTA, GA DeGIVE GRAND OPERA HOUSE (Photo) In 1893, Laurent DeGive built the DeGive Grand Opera House located at 157 Peachtree Street at Pryor Street. This was his second opera house in Atlanta which replaced his first one built in 1870. The new opulent theater was noted for the incandescent lighting on stage, a new feature for Atlanta, and seated 2,044 people. In 1916, The Loews Corporation leased the DeGive Grand Opera House from the DeGive family and converted it into a movie theater. A Wurlitzer Organ (a Style E 2-manual / 7-rank instrument.) was installed in 1923. The Grand was Loew's flagship theater in Atlanta until Loew's leased the Fox Theater in 1930. Since the Fox's auditorium was much newer and could seat more than twice the patrons the Grand could, it became the flagship of the Loew's chain in Atlanta while the Grand became a second-run house. When it looked inevitable that the Fox's mortgage was to be foreclosed, Loew's ended their management of the Fox. Loew's Vice President, Col. E. A. Schiller announced plans for a brand new Loew's Grand Theatre, but the plans fell through. Instead, the existing Loew's Grand underwent a major renovation. The auditorium and lobby was re-decorated in the then-popular Art Deco style. It once again became Loew's flagship theater in Atlanta and retained that status until the theater was shuttered in 1978. Gone With The Wind had its world premiere in 1939 at the Loew's Grand in Atlanta. For the premiere, a Greek revival facade and columns replaced the Grand's marquee. In 1961, Gone With The Wind is "re-premiered" at the Grand as part of the centennial observance of the Civil War. Among the celebrities and dignitaries in attendance was David O. Selznick and the surviving principle stars, Vivian Leigh and Olivia de Havilland. A replica of the 1939 World Premiere facade was built for the occasion. In November of 1978, the Loew's Grand was shuttered after several years of low patronage. A few weeks later, a tremendous fire ravages the building. Among those in the crowd watching the fire was Laurent DeGive's grandson, who had recently sold the building to developers. Unlike the Fox, the theater was located on the bottom floors of a multi-story, multi-usage building. The structure above the auditorium was the portion of the building that burned. Prior to the fire, while the Grand's fate looked fairly grim, the structure's integrity was so badly damaged by the fire, the building had to be demolished. During its demolition, an entrepreneur purchased scores of intact bricks from the exterior of the building. He glued an inscription plate onto the bricks proclaiming to be from the Grand, the site of the world premiere of Gone With The Wind, and sold them for around thirty dollars a piece. These were quite popular to local Atlantans and GWTW buffs and can still be found offered for sale at such places as eBay. Since the Grand was the flagship of the Loew's chain in Atlanta and operated almost up to the time of the fire, it had modern film projectors. Since the Fox had much older projectors in needs of replacement, Atlanta Landmarks purchased the Todd-AO DP70 projectors from the Grand prior to its demolition. In addition, the Fox bought several rows of seats from the Grand which were added to the back of the balcony on the Dress Circle Level. The organ was also saved and is owned by a private individual. In 1982 Georgia-Pacific built its headquarters on the site of the Loews Grand Theater. ATLANTA, GA EMORY UNIVERSITY GYMNASIUM This venue was obviously located at Emory University, but no other information regarding this card has been found. ATLANTA, GA FAIR STREET ARENA It appears this venue was located on Fair Street in the area around what is known today as Clark Atlanta University. ATLANTA, GA FAIRPLAY ATHLETIC CLUB Our research has not turned up any information on this venue. ATLANTA, GA GRADY HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM This gym is still standing, and is now referred to as the old gym. Grady opened in 1947 and has been in the same location. Technically, the school building opened in 1924 as one of many homes over the years for Boys High. Tech High lost its building to fire and eventually moved in, too. Atlanta schools went co-ed in 1947 and was renamed Grady. The gym itself opened in 1938. ATLANTA, GA KEY ARENA Our research has not turned up any information on this venue. ATLANTA, GA LAKEWOOD HEIGHTS ARENA Although not exactly certain, it is believed this venue was near the intersection of Lakewood Drive and Jonesboro Road. ATLANTA, GA LAKEWOOD PARK FIGHT ARENA Our research has not turned up any information on this venue. ATLANTA, GA LAKEWOOD SPEEDWAY Lakewood Speedway was a one-mile dirt oval track located on the Southeastern Fairgrounds, around the Poole's Creek Reservoir. At various times, a quarter-mile dirt oval, known as "Little Lakewood", as well as a quarter-mile dirt dragstrip, also operated there. The track was located in off Lakewood Avenue. The Southeastern Fairgrounds were built in 1915 with a one-mile horse track. The first auto race was a motorcycle race between Ralph DePalma and Barney Oldfield on July 28, 1917. Auto racing continued until October 2, 1941, and resumed after World War II, running from September 2, 1945, through September 3, 1979. The quarter-mile dirt oval operated from July 11, 1946, through 1948, again in 1951, and finally on May 28, 1966. The dragstrip operated from April 24, 1954, though 1957, and was the site of the first organized drag race in Georgia. Hi-Fi Buys Amphitheater, formerly known as the Lakewood Amphitheater, now sits on the old fairground site. Many of the fairgrounds original buildings now house flea market vendors. The concrete grandstands on the front straightaway still remain albeit covered in grass and hedges. The Amphitheater parking lot covers what once was the third and fourth turns. A roadway to the Amphitheater crosses what was Turn Two. The front straightaway is now paved and is used as a part of the road leading out to Lakewood Avenue. Most of the Fairgrounds lake has been filled in, and only a small pond in the old Turn One area remains to hint of the original lake. ATLANTA, GA LOEWS GRAND THEATRE (Photo) This is the same venue formerly known as the DeGive Grand Opera House. ATLANTA, GA LULLWATER BUILDING This venue was located at 445 West Peachtree Street, and it should not be confused with Lullwater Estate which houses the Emory University President. ATLANTA, GA NORTHSIDE ARENA The Northside Arena was located between Marietta Street and Bankhead Avenue. ATLANTA, GA NORTHSIDE TENNIS CLUB This venue was located on Juniper Street between North Avenue and Ponce de Leon Avenue. ATLANTA, GA PEACH BOWL SPEEDWAY This venue, which was located on Brady Avenue near Howell Mill Road, was obviously primarily for racing, especially in the early days of NASCAR, but occasionally hosted events such as wrestling. ATLANTA, GA PIEDMONT ATHLETIC CLUB Although not exactly certain, it appears this venue was located within Piedmont Park. ATLANTA, GA PIEDMONT-ELLIS ARENA It appears this venue was located at the corner of Piedmont Avenue and Ellis Street, in the Georgia State University area. ATLANTA, GA PONCE de LEON BALL PARK (Photos: 1 2) This venue is the same facility formerly known as Spiller Field. ATLANTA, GA RED ROCK ARENA This venue was located between Boulevard and Jackson Street. ATLANTA, GA RIVERSIDE ARENA Our research has not turned up any information on this venue. ATLANTA, GA SMITH HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM Smith existed as a high school from 1947 to 1985, but the school building probably dates before that, as Smith had previously been a junior high school. ATLANTA, GA SPILLER FIELD (Photos: 1 2) The original Ponce de Leon Ball Park, on property northeast of downtown owned by the Georgia Railway and Electric Company, directly across Ponce de Leon Avenue from an amusement park, first welcomed the Atlanta Crackers on May 23, 1907. More than 8,000 people attended to welcome the Crackers to their new home. Costing $60,000 to build, the wooden stadium could accommodate about 9,000 fans. Prior to that, the Crackers played at various parks throughout the city. On Sept. 9, 1923, the wooden stadium burned to the ground, destroying the team's uniforms, trophies and records forcing the Crackers to finish the 1923 season at Georgia Techs Grant Field. Wealthy concessionaire Rell Jackson Spiller came to the team's rescue. Using $250,000 of his own money, Spiller rebuilt the park on a nearby piece of Ponce de Leon property across from a Sears & Roebuck warehouse building. The new concrete and steel park debuted in time for the 1924 season, and was widely hailed as the finest minor league stadium in the nation. Spiller Field's grandstands could seat 9,000 people; there was enough room for 5,000 more people in the left and right field bleachers. The fence was 365 feet down the left field line; 321 to right; and a mammoth 462 feet from home plate to center field, where a giant magnolia tree stood, which only Babe Ruth and Eddie Matthews hit home runs balls into. The ballpark was torn down in 1966, and the site has been home to numerous retail operations since then. Today, all that is left of Spiller Field (later called Ponce de Leon Ball Park) is the giant magnolia, standing in tribute to the past. ATLANTA, GA SPORTS ARENA See Warren Arena. ATLANTA, GA PAUL JONES SPORTS ARENA (1965) See Warren Arena. ATLANTA, GA SPRING STREET ARENA This venue was located on Spring Street between Peter Street and Garnett Street. ATLANTA, GA WAII STUDIOS See WLWA Studios. ATLANTA, GA WARREN ARENA Located at 310 Chester Avenue, it appears to have been owned by L.C. Warren. He rented it to promoter Tom McCarthy in the 1930s, who began referring to the building as the Sports Arena. It was used for wrestling again during the 1950s by various promoters, but in the 1960s, Paul Jones bought it and began using it when his cards conflicted with events scheduled at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium. By the 1980s, the building had been demolished. ATLANTA, GA WARREN ATHLETIC FIELD Our research has not turned up any information on this venue, although it seems to have been owned by L.C. Warren. ATLANTA, GA WEST END ARENA This venue was located in the West End community, although the exact location is unclear. ATLANTA, GA WLWA STUDIOS The studios and offices, now known as WXIA, are located at 1611 West Peachtree Street. ATLANTA, GA WQXI STUDIOS See WLWA Studios. ATLANTA, GA WTCG STUDIOS There were two different locations. When wrestling first aired on WTCG in 1971, the facilities were located at 1018 West Peachtree Street. By the mid 1970s, the studios were located to 1050 Techwood Drive. AUGUSTA, GA AMERICAN LEGION Our research has not turned up any information on this venue. AUGUSTA, GA ARMORY HALL Although not exactly certain, this venue appears to have been on Ninth Street. AUGUSTA, GA AUGUSTA MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM (Photos: 1 2) This venue, still standing and used, is located at 601 Seventh Street. However, it became known as William Bell Auditorium at some point. AUGUSTA, GA FORT GORDON SPORTS ARENA This venue was obviously located on the Fort Gordon base, but no other information can be found. AUGUSTA, GA MASONIC TEMPLE Our research has not turned up any information on this venue. AUGUSTA, GA MUNICIPAL STADIUM Our research has not turned up any information on this venue. AUGUSTA, GA NEW COLISEUM Our research has not turned up any information on this venue. AUGUSTA, GA NINTH STREET ARENA Our research has not turned up any information on this venue, but it is obvious from the name it was located on Ninth Street. It is possible this was the same building as what was originally Armory Hall, which was also located on Ninth Street. AUGUSTA, GA REYNOLDS STREET ARENA This venue was obviously located on Reynolds Street. AUGUSTA, GA RICHMOND POST ARENA Our research has not turned up any information on this venue. AUGUSTA, GA ST. PATRICKS HALL Our research has not turned up any information on this venue. AUGUSTA, GA SUNNYDALE ARENA This venue was outdoors, but we are unclear as to its location or history. AUGUSTA, GA WARREN PARK Our research has not turned up any information on this venue. AUGUSTA, GA WILLIAM BELL AUDITORIUM (Photos: 1 2) This venue was formerly known as the Augusta Municipal Auditorium. AUGUSTA, GA WRDW STUDIOS These studios are actually located in the town of North Augusta, SC. AVONDALE, GA AVONDALE ARENA Our research has not turned up any information on this venue. COLLEGE PARK, GA NORTH CLAYTON HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM It is unknown to us as to whether this site and the current school are the same building. COLUMBUS, GA COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM (Photo) This facility was opened in 1957, and was located where the Columbus Civic Center has stood since 1996, at the intersection of Victory Drive and Veterans Parkway. COLUMBUS, GA COLUMBUS SPORTS ARENA Located at 1028 Front Avenue, Fred Ward purchased this old mule barn in the 1950s and renovated it into an arena for his wrestling cards, which would ultimately be the site of his live television broadcasts. After Ward sold the building in the mid 1980s, various businesses utilized the facility, but it was ultimately destroyed to make way for progress in 2005. DECATUR, GA DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM It is unknown to us as to whether this site and the current school are the same building. DOUGLASVILLE, GA DOUGLASVILLE NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY This venue is still standing today, at 6784 West Church Street. EAST POINT, GA EAST POINT MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM It is unknown to us as to whether this site and the current venue are the same building. The current location of the venue is on East Point Street behind City Hall. FOREST PARK, GA FOREST PARK HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM It is unknown to us as to whether this site and the current school are the same building. FOREST PARK, GA FOREST PARK RECREATION BUILDING Our research has not turned up any information on this venue. FOREST PARK, GA KAWANA ATHLETIC FIELD Our research has not turned up any information on this venue. GRAY, GA JONES COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM Our research has not turned up any information on this venue. It is not the same building as the current school of the same name. GRIFFIN, GA GRIFFIN-BARNESVILLE SPORTS PALACE This venue was a renovated livestock barn on Buddy Fullers property. It was opened for wrestling in August 1970. GRIFFIN, GA GRIFFIN HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM It is unknown to us as to whether this site and the current school are the same building. It is believed that the original gym was build in the 1920s. MACON, GA LUTHER WILLIAMS FIELD This venue, located on Riverside Drive in the Central City Park area, opened in 1929, and is still standing today. It is often referred to as the Macon Baseball Park, but is named after Luther Williams, who was the Macon Mayor at the time of its construction. Kennesaw Mountain Landis, the first Commissioner of Major League Baseball, reportedly threw out the first pitch for the first game played at the facility that year. MACON, GA MACON CITY AUDITORIUM (Photo) Completed in 1925, this venue is nestled in the historic district of downtown Macon and is, in itself, a historic landmark listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It is located at 415 First Street. Its monumental assembly hall circular in plan is about the size of the Pantheon in Rome and its unique copper dome is reportedly the largest in the world. Adding even more to its splendor and stately architecture is the Doric-style limestone colonnade which surrounds three sides of the building at the balcony level. On the inside, the Great Hall seats 2,688 total 1,700 on the main floor and 988 in a cantilevered balcony. Over the stage, a breathtaking mural by Don Carlos Dubois and Wilbur Kurtz depicts Macon's history from DeSoto's visit in 1540 to WWI. MACON, GA MACON COLISEUM (Photo) The Macon Coliseum, built in 1968, was the first facility of its size and kind in the state, is the largest of three facilities comprising the Macon Centreplex, which also includes the adjacent Edgar H. Wilson Convention Centre and the Macon City Auditorium, located at 200 Coliseum Drive. It underwent major renovations in 1996, including the addition of the Convention Centre. New luxury suites were added in 2003, and the Coliseum's exterior redone, resulting in the addition of a giant "M" at the main entrance on the arena's facade. MACON, GA PORTER STADIUM This venue was used at least as far back as 1925, and was located on the Mercer University campus. MACON, GA WCWB STUDIOS The studios were located on the county borders of Bibb and Twiggs, believed to be located on U.S. Highway 129. MARIETTA, GA FRANKLIN DRIVE ARENA Aside from the obvious fact that this venue was located somewhere along Franklin Drive, our research has not turned up any information on the building. MARIETTA, GA LARRY BELL AUDITORIUM Although we are uncertain as to much of the history of this venue, we do know that it was destroyed by a fire in 1965. Unfortunately, at the time of the fire, there were plans to renovate the facility. MARIETTA, GA LARRY BELL BALLPARK Our research has not turned up any information on this venue. MARIETTA, GA NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY Our research has not turned up any information on this venue. NASHVILLE, GA NASHVILLE HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM This gym was built in either the 1920s or early 1930s. In 1954, it was consolidated with other county schools to become known as Berrien. Nashville Elementary School used it for a few more years. The gym, wooden inside and out, was demolished in the 1960s, after it was declared a fire hazard. PORTERDALE, GA PORTERDALE MEMORIAL GYMNASIUM This venue, constructed during the 1920s, was destroyed in a fire as a result of arson in October 2005. QUITMAN, GA QUITMAN HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM The old Quitman High School facility itself burned down a few years ago, but it is not known if the gym was lost in the blaze. Quitman High consolidated with another school to form Brooks County High School in 1959. Although it is purely speculation, it is possible that this gym was completely wooden and perhaps demolished as being considered a fire hazard. REYNOLDS, GA NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY Our research has not turned up any information on this venue. ROSWELL, GA ROSWELL BALL PARK Our research has not turned up any information on this venue. SAVANNAH, GA BARN Our research has not turned up any information on this venue. SAVANNAH, GA LIBERTY THEATRE Although not exactly certain, it appears this venue was located at Liberty and Montgomery Streets, facing Liberty Square, which was designed in 1799, but has since disappeared. However, the Savannah Civic Center, still in use today, now housing the Martin Luther King Arena and the Johnny Mercer Theatre, is also located at the corner of Liberty and Montgomery Streets, aside what is now known as Orleans Square. SAVANNAH, GA SAVANNAH MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM It is believed that this venue was the same as the aforementioned Liberty Theatre. It was demolished on October 27, 1971, to make way for construction of the Savannah Civic Center. SAVANNAH, GA SAVANNAH MUNICIPAL STADIUM This venue was located on Victory Drive. SAVANNAH, GA WILLIAM GRAYSON STADIUM This venue, located in Daffin Park on Victory Drive, was originally built in 1927 with concrete bleachers and a wooden baseball grandstand. William L. Grayson, a former U. S. Army General, spearheaded a rebuilding in 1941, an August 1940 hurricane obliterated the grandstand. They replaced it with the current structure during the 1941 season even as the Savannah Indians played on the field. Football was played there until at least 1959. Minor league baseball has been played at the stadium every year since 1936. THOMASVILLE, GA THOMASVILLE MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM Our research has not turned up any information on this venue. TIFTON, GA AMERICAN LEGION HOME Our research has not turned up any information on this venue. TIFTON, GA TIFT COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM This building, located on Tift Avenue, is still standing, though it is no longer used as a gym. It is located next to the Tift County Administration Building, which was the old Tifton High School facility. At one time, the gym was being used as a canning plant. Tift County High moved from the location as late as 1964. VALDOSTA, GA MOODY AIR FORCE BASE Our research has not turned up any information on this venue. VALDOSTA, GA NAT SMITH WAREHOUSE Our research has not turned up any information on this venue. VALDOSTA, GA PENDLETON PARK Our research has not turned up any information on this venue. VALDOSTA, GA VALDOSTA LIVESTOCK ARENA This venue was located on U.S. Highway 84, but the building is no longer there. |