Monday, July 9, 2012

Curvy path, ghosts within and Atlanta history


- On the boardwalk.  A new section of park I hadn't tried before Saturday morning.  Gorgeous, curvy path and lined with bluebird houses here and there.


- Later that day - a tour of the fabulous Fox Theater with some friends.  This is the right side of the stage and what looks like box seating, but actually houses acoustical equipment behind that screen.  There was a "ghost light" on the stage and an explanation that the light is burning all the time when the theater is closed, so the ghosts within always feel someone is with them.


- The side of the building on Ponce de Leon Avenue.  Our guide tells us of the Turkish influence of the architecture of the theater - originally built as the Yaarab Temple Shrine Mosque and meant to be headquarters to the Shrine organization.  But due to funding issues, the organization sold it to movie mogul William Fox and it opened as a movie theater in the height of the Great Depression.  The most fun part of the tour - cajoling the bored teenagers with us that it was almost over and promising great lunch.  :)

17 comments:

Granny Annie said...

The boardwalk makes me imagine a carriage and horses going clickity-clack along the way.

Hum, who mans the lit candle? Hope someone is in charge besides the ghosts.]

You would also have to keep me motivated for such a tour with the promise of food.

Fireblossom said...

Teenagers don't know what they're missing, sometimes. But promises of lunch would get my attention, too, I have to confess!

Maude Lynn said...

I love the ghost light story!

Lynn said...

Granny Annie -

I like walking on those boards - it's an easier walk.

It's a bright electric light on a stand, not a candle. Apparently that's a tradition in theaters to have a light like that. But there is a man who lives in an apartment in the theater - they refer to him as the "phantom" - he always knows everything happening in the theater.

We had a delicious lunch at Mary Mac's Tearoom - great Southern cooking. No one went home hungry.

FB -

It put me in mind of trying to take my nieces to museums - oh, the agony!

Mama Zen -

I know - cool, huh?

LL Cool Joe said...

It always amazes me that teenagers can get bored at doing something like this but can spend hours on Facebook or watching crap on tv. Actually my two daughters are quite good at going around places of interest or museums as long as it's not for too long, which suits me down to the ground too. :D

Beautiful building.

Riot Kitty said...

Great photos! I love the ghost story.

Pearl said...

Atlanta's only ever been a Delta hub for me, so while I've been to their airport many times, I've never toured the city itself...

Pearl

Chatty Crone said...

I saw Gone With the Wind there and many many other wonderful things. I never ever heard of the ghost - I learn something new all the time - thanks.
sandie

Lynn said...

Joe -

I actually thought that tour went on a little too long, too. 2.5 hours. :)

Riot Kitty -

Apparently the land under the Fox was a Civil War encampment and it is said that a Civil War soldier can sometimes be seen trying to get out of the doors.

Pearl -

Well visit sometime - we have fun down here.

Sandie -

That's what I liked about the tour - learning new things.

G. B. Miller said...

Sad to think that most teenagers find history boring nowadays.

happygirl said...

I love a boardwalk. Perhaps it is what keeps me going to AC. The curve of the walk draws me into the image. And, who isn't persuaded by lunch. The theater is fascinating.

Lynn said...

G -

So true. I loved local history when I was their age.

happygirl -

I've never been to Atlantic City, but I've heard of the boardwalks.

I'm all about lunch. :)

Sara said...

Loved the pictures, as usual. My favorite part was about the ghost light...and how it keeps the ghosts company. That's a nice thought.

Opening a movie theater in the height of the Depression was rather daring. Don't you love people who take risks, like that?

I'm glad your visit to both the boardwalk and the Fox Theater.

Stay cool:~)

Snaggle Tooth said...

Looks like a great place to walk there- I've never seen a live Bluebird here. Had some Blackbirds in the Huckleberry tree about 5 years ago I remember looking up.
Haunted theater huh?
We have a lot here where the chess tables are outside in the trees, because a theatre burned down killing over 40 folks about 70 years ago. i always feel strange when walking through it-
That Temple Shrine looks strange next to the more modern structures. Poor teens out of school but learning! Looks like a great tour- Wish I had more time for tours... You are so lucky to have such a rich history in your area.

Lynn said...

Sara -

It was a lovely way to spend a Saturday and then I went on to a book signing after lunch.

Hope you are doing well!

Snaggle -

That sounds so eerie - ghosts among the chess tables...

Lynn said...

Sara -

It was a lovely way to spend a Saturday and then I went on to a book signing after lunch.

Hope you are doing well!

Snaggle -

That sounds so eerie - ghosts among the chess tables...

Jannie Funster said...

The theater tour sounds wild and mysterious! I like the back scenes stories like that.

xoxo