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Buckhead Theatre
Capri Theater
Capri Ballroom
Buckhead Cinema 'N' Drafthouse
Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre
Buckhead Theatre, 2012
Map
Address3110 Roswell Rd. NE
Atlanta, Georgia
United States
Coordinates33°50′25″N 84°22′47″W / 33.840207°N 84.379592°W / 33.840207; -84.379592
OwnerR. Charles "Charlie" Loudermilk
TypeMusic Hall
Capacity2,500
Construction
Opened1930
Years active1930-present
ArchitectDaniell and Beutell
Website
thebuckheadtheatre.com

The Buckhead Theatre is live music, performing arts and events venue in Buckhead Village, Buckhead, Atlanta, Georgia at 3110 Roswell Road. It was originally constructed as a cinema and has also been known as the Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre.

Details

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about building Additional sources: [1] [2] [3]

History

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The building dates from 1930 and has had several different names and uses over the years.

Buckhead Theatre (1930 - ????)

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The building was constructed at a cost of $250,000 and opened as a cinema on June 2, 1930. It was one of the first theaters in Atlanta specifically designed for sound film[1] and seated 1,056 (800 on the floor, the rest in the single balcony).[2] The first film to play was Gold Diggers of Broadway.[3]

Capri Theater (1960? - 1977)

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The Capri ended its life as a cinema in the summer of 1977. Rick Gaines, promoter Rich Floyd and partner Gary Heyden sublet the building from Weis Theatres and reopened it as a 750 seat live music venue in October 1977.

Folded summer 1977. concert hall october 1977. Rick Gaines separated from partners Rich Floyd & Gary Heyden amicably. Rick had a multi-year lease. Rumor started in March 1978 that Alex Cooley was swooping in. "I'm going to get into jazz in a big way." "kind of shying away from rock 'n' roll" because he feels it is overdone in this market. Also renting out to events not promoted by him: Ronnie McDowell concert, Miss Atlanta beauty pageant. Would like to see it emerge as "a little Carnegie Hall"[4]

Partnership of Rick Gaines, promoter Rich Floyd & partner Gary Heyden were "Entertainment Ventures" ran the Capri. 750 seat former cinema. On split: "We disagreed on the kinds of talent that ought to be booked there. I wanted the Capri to be like a Carnegie Hall, with an emphasis on jazz and all different types of entertainment, while he wanted an Electric Ballroom type thing," referring to a defunct Atlanta rock 'n' roll venue. "I want to make the Capri Theatre the focal point for jazz in this city," he said. "the Capri wasn't really a financial success because there wasn't enough activity there. That was Rich's responsibility, to book the shows, and when we had two months of no concerts and no cash flow to pay the overhead, I said, 'That's it.' Since I provided the capital for all the projects Entertainment Ventures did, including the Dog Day Rock Fest, and Rich's involvement was in the use of his name and booking ability, he had no choice but to leave," Gaines said. Their sublet from Weis ended July 31, 1978. Was supposed to go direct with the building owner Erwin Baumer for two more years at that point. Baumer confirmed to paper that Alex Cooley had made an offer to lease the Capri.[5]

"Atlanta concert promoter Alex Cooley announced Friday that he has signed a lease on the Capri Theatre at Buckhead, to take effect Aug. 1. Cooley, who formerly operated a downtown rock nightclub called the Electric Ballroom, said that the Capri will be renovated and turned into a similar club, though the Electric Ballroom name will not be used. "We're going to take out the seats in the lower section and expand the stage out and put in a bar," he said. The lease, signed with the building's owner Erwin Baumer, takes effect the day after the lease with the current tenant, Entertainment Ventures, expires on July 31. Gaines claims he has a verbal agreement with Baumer, threatens legal action.[6]

Need: follow up from later in 1978 regarding Capri & Cooley. Did he change the name to Roxy at this time? Did he operate as Capri? What precipitated the Cinema & Drafthouse switchover? What were the dates on all that?

Concerts held at the Capri during this period included AC/DC, Elvis Costello and The Attractions[7] and UFO.[8]

Alex Cooley's Capri Ballroom (1979 - ????)

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After obtaining the lease in August 1978, Alex Cooley spent six months on an extensive renovation. It opened on Saturday February 17, 1979 with a Waylon Jennings concert.[9]

Other concerts during this era included Patti Smith, Poco, Peter Tosh[10] and Santana[8]

Buckhead Cinema 'N' Drafthouse (1980? - 1986?)

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Jim and John Duffy opened the first Cinema N' Drafthouse in Orlando in 1975. As they expanded into a chain they headquartered in Atlanta.[11]

found 12 years ago in Orlando. Currently two company-owned locations in Atlanta (Buckhead & N. Druid Hills Rd) and 23 franchises in 14 cities. Revenue: $15 million in 1986. Their concept allows a couple to go out for the evening, watch a movie and have a pizza and beer for the same money it would cost to stay at home, order a pizza and rent a movie. A C'N'D theater typically shows a movie for $1 after it has been in release anywhere from a month to three months. Typical theaters generate 75 cents to $1 for each ticket in concession sales, but they average $5 to $6 per ticket. Expanded into closed-circuit sporting events as well has hosting corporate sales and other meetings during weekdays when the theater would otherwise be closed.[12]

This actually refers to Laser Vision Systems (small British company) leasing a unit (one of the first 11 built) to the N. Druid Hills Road location.[13]

Concerts were put on at the theater during this era as well including The Ramones and Hüsker Dü.[14]

"Promoters staging a 'war' over booking acts", The Atlanta Journal & Constitution, p. B/1, October 9, 1986, retrieved July 30, 2010

Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre (1992 - 2009)

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Alex Cooley returned his attention to the building in the 1990s. In 1992 he spent $500,000 renovating the building to reopen it as The Roxy. Gladys Knight headlined the first show on September 3, 1992.[15] David Byrne also performed during this era.[8]

Atlanta-based Coca Cola Company became a sponsor of the theater and the new name was revealed on the marquee on February 18, 1993.[16]

This was the longest period the theater was used mainly as a concert venue, and featured many acts including Bryan Adams, Cracker, Bo Diddley, Drivin N Cryin, Galactic, Ottmar Liebert, Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers, Semisonic, Steven Wright, Warren Zevon[8] and many, many more.[17]

Buckhead Theatre (2010 - present)

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Area entrepreneur and developer R. Charles Loudermilk (the founder of Aaron Rents) had owned the building for several years and announced an $8 million renovation plan in July 2007. Loudermilk attended movies as a child at the original incarnation of the theater, and sought to refocus it to "more upscale entertainment."[18] Eventually he spent $6 million[19] on the renovation, and it reopened in May 2010 as a neighborhood event space and occasional music venue, restoring the original name. The first event was a fundraiser for the March of Dimes on May 14, 2010.[20] An grand opening party was held on June 3, 2010. Alex Cooley continues his association with the building, serving as entertainment manager.[21]

Artists

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artists who have performed here

Albums & Live Recordings

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albums recorded here (mostly during Roxy era)

Awards

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It has won a few "Best of Atlanta" awards over the years:

Creative Loafing Best of Atlanta

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  • any?

Other Awards

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  • other awards

Miscellaneous

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  • trivia?

References

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  1. ^ "Buckhead Theater To Open Monday Afternoon at 1:30", The Atlanta Constitution, p. 14A, June 1, 1930, retrieved June 1, 2010
  2. ^ "New Theater Opens in Buckhead June 2", The Atlanta Constitution, p. A8, May 18, 1930, retrieved June 1, 2010
  3. ^ "'Gold-Diggers of Broadway' Opens Buckhead Theater", The Atlanta Constitution, p. 5K, June 1, 1930, retrieved June 1, 2010
  4. ^ Cain, Scott (March 10, 1978), "Rumors Fly: Capri to Be 'Little Carnegie'?", The Atlanta Journal, p. 5-B
  5. ^ King, Bill (March 10, 1978), "Future Looks Rocky For Capri Theatre", The Atlanta Constitution, p. 1-B
  6. ^ "Cooley Signs", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, p. 3-B, Saturday, March 11, 1978 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "Capri Theater (Atlanta) Gigography". Songkick. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
  8. ^ a b c d A partial list of Alex Cooley concerts, Alex Cooley Presents: The Live Music Experience, retrieved June 4, 2010
  9. ^ King, Bill (Monday February 19, 1979), "Capri Ballroom Gets Rousing Start Despite Weather", The Atlanta Constitution, pp. 1-B, 6-B {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ "Capri Ballroom (Atlanta) Gigography". Songkick. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  11. ^ "Living: Now Playing: Sipping Cinemas", Time Magazine, April 27, 1981, retrieved June 1, 2010
  12. ^ Herndon, Keith (Monday, November 3, 1986), "Cinema 'N' Drafthouse going nationwide", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, p. 11C {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ Jones, Robert Snowdon (August 6, 1985), "Theater Using Laser Projector", The Atlanta Constitution, pp. 1D, 3D
  14. ^ "Buckhead Cinema And Drafthouse (Atlanta) Gigography". Songkick. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
  15. ^ DeVault, Russ (September 3, 1992), "Gladys Knight shares spotlight with `new' Roxy", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, p. D5, retrieved June 3, 2010
  16. ^ "Peach Buzz: Atlanta: It's the real thing for ads", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, p. D2, February 19, 1993, retrieved June 4, 2010
  17. ^ "Roxy Theatre (Atlanta) Gigography". Songkick. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
  18. ^ Henry, Scott (July 23, 2007), "Roxy will be renovated, no more rock acts", Creative Loafing, retrieved June 2, 2010
  19. ^ Townsend, Bob (July 29, 2010), "Athens group helps reopen Buckhead Theatre", Atlanta Journal-Constitution, retrieved July 29, 2010
  20. ^ Schaffner, John (May 6, 2010), "Roxy reborn, revitalized as new Buckhead showplace", Reporter Newspapers, retrieved June 1, 2010
  21. ^ Murphy, Tara; Marron, Michelle (June 3, 2010), Press Release: Former Roxy ‐ Renovated, Revitalized, Reborn…and Reopened: “Buckhead Theatre” Brings Fresh Acts & Breathes New Life into Buckhead Community (PDF), 360 Media, retrieved June 4, 2010
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