Chatter

By mom

January 2, 2009 4:15 PM | Link to this

come on y’all. of course it’s stupid to text while driving. it will save lives.

By Glenda Dudley

January 5, 2009 8:56 AM | Link to this

I moved to Doraville in 1978. The song by the Atlanta Rythm Section “Doraville” was currently playing. My husband worked for CDC in the “hot lab.” On my way to work every morning, I listened to Gary McKee on the radio featuring Willis the Guard and the Kinky Lady. My single friends in the office talked about partying at The Limelight nightclub. Two years later my husband entered the “Tough Man” competition held at the Omni. It was truly a fun time to live in Atlanta.

By Greg

January 5, 2009 11:10 AM | Link to this

Remember the Great SE Music Hall at Piedmont and Linburg. We saw Jimmy Buffett, Cheech and Chong, Roger McGuinn of the Byrds and many others while we drank beer from buckets. The Beer Mug on P’tree at Brookwood Station was the greatest sports bar in ATL and Doris was the bar maid for 30 yrs until it closed for “progress”. How about Harrison’s and Uncle Sam’s at P’tree where Houstons is today. Lewis Grizzard and Ron Hudspeth held court at Harrison’s. Manuels’ Tavern and the Beer Mug were the only 2 places in Atl where you get a beer and nobody asked your age.

Not only River Bend apts. was hot place for beautiful women but Jade East on Collier Rd was where the Playboy Bunnies lived. Playboy Club was downtown. I lived at Jade East in the 70’s while I was an APD officer.

All the Delta and Eastern stewardesses lived on the south side near the airport. Some wild parties out there.

Then I got married in 1973 and that was the end of the “good life.”

Too much to remember.

By Tim

January 5, 2009 4:29 PM | Link to this

Well, I was born in 1964, so I didn’t get to experience the “wild” side of Atlanta in the 1970s. I do remember when Atlanta school busing started in autumn of 1973. Practically every white family (except my own) in my neighborhood moved to Cobb County or took their kids out of Atlanta city schools and put them into private schools. Busing was an expensive and colossal failure.

By Rick

January 5, 2009 10:18 PM | Link to this

I was a DJ with top 40 station, WFOM in Marietta. That was when AM still ruled and FM was just coming on the scene. Disco was hot and we spun records in the numerous clubs throughout Atlanta. The station had a portable sound and light system and we were booked every night of the weekend playing to apartment clubhouses, weddings, reunions, etc.

The light shows were spectacular; the dancing moves and outfits were memorable; the clubs offered as many as five-for-one drinks and the action in the parking lots was every bit as entertaining as inside the clubs! Alas, times changed… It’s a wonder most of us lived to see the 80’s.

By Alice

January 5, 2009 10:49 PM | Link to this

I moved to Atlanta in 1975 after graduating from college. I was an “in town” girl—had a nice little one bedroom apt on 8th Street in midtown for $125/mo. I remember going to see Iron Butterly at the Electric Ballroom on Peachtree Steet—they played a version of “Ina-Gadda-Da-Vida” that lasted well over an hour. After a concert, it was time to head down Ponce to Krispy Kreme or maybe the Majestic. If you wanted a little weed, there were always guys selling “nickel bags” or “dime bags” on Boulevard. Believe it or not, Lenox Square had a ten cent store (Kress), Lenox Lanes bowling alley, and a grocery store. Peachtree Street between 10th and 14th was called the “Strip” and had nothing but X-rated bookstores, movie theatres and clubs.

By Corey

January 7, 2009 8:55 AM | Link to this

I remember the great seventies, but Mary Welcome - Atlanta’s city solicitor- ruined it all with her sanctimonious approach to everything. To this day I despise that woman!

By Larry Rinicella

January 7, 2009 3:52 PM | Link to this

All I can say is,Stone Pony,Defoors,Scotch House,Brandys,Sherwoods,Dudleys,need I go one.That is when the southside was happening……….now nothing.At least Southside Steve is opening up a bar in Mcdonough

By Larry Rinicella

January 7, 2009 3:53 PM | Link to this

All I can say is,Stone Pony,Defoors,Scotch House,Brandys,Sherwoods,Dudleys,need I go on.That is when the southside was happening……….now nothing.At least Southside Steve is opening up a bar in Mcdonough

By Adrienne Grooms

January 7, 2009 3:56 PM | Link to this

What I remember about Atlanta in the ‘70’s was riding the bus for .15cent. Can’t do that any more.

By Fun

January 7, 2009 6:09 PM | Link to this

Earl’s Place at Broadview Plaza(now Lindburg). Best place for dancing and women since.

By Susan

January 7, 2009 6:40 PM | Link to this

I had an apartment at Cherry Hill on Buford Highway in 1970. Most tenants were college students/singles. All the apartment complexes were filled with 20 something people. Always a party somewhere on Buford Highway.

You had to get money for the weekend on Friday or you were out of luck until Monday. In those days, you could only get money at a bank. ATM’s didn’t exist and neither did debit cards.

By Charles Ball

January 7, 2009 6:59 PM | Link to this

I treated myself to a trip to Atlanta in the summer of 1979. It was my high school graduation gift to me. I took a Greyhound here from Birmingham. I stayed at the Travelodge on International Drive. I explored Downtown by foot, then Midtown and Buckhead using MARTA. It was the first time I had traveled anywhere alone, and it was exilerating!!

By dr glenn

January 7, 2009 9:06 PM | Link to this

Sex Pistols on Jan 5th 1978 at the Great SE Music Hall..Agora Ballroom….Palladinis Pizza in Marietta..signing up for and running the Peachtree in 77 15 minutes before the race at the old Sears building…

By Eleanor Rigby

January 7, 2009 9:12 PM | Link to this

I too was very young in the 70’s, so I didn’t get to experience the night life, although my mother sometimes went to Underground Atlanta and brought back fancy glasses from Ruby Tuesday’s. I remember the original Pink Pig at Christmas, the Sears at West End, the big flashing Coca Cola sign and hot donuts from Krispy Kremes. My best friend’s mother worked at Mary Mac’s and I think she’s related to them. I remember Hank Aaron mania and Ted Turner buying the Braves. I also remember all the hippies. They were very amusing. The 70’s in Atlanta was the best of times and the best of times. :)

By David

January 8, 2009 12:27 AM | Link to this

The Electric Ballroom watching groups like Hot Tuna. Great Southeast Music Hall where the dressing room was on the way to the bathrooms. It was very easy to talk with performers. Buckhead had small smokey taverns with fussball tables and all seemed to smell like urine.Is Piedmont Park still as slezzy at night as it used to be? Used to give it wide berth when walking through the area at night.Braves tickets were very easy to get and so were good seats. Nostalgia is a funny thing.

By hans

January 8, 2009 2:55 AM | Link to this

I remember Hedgens in Buckhead, The Agora Ballroom, The Arts Festival in Piedmont Park, The Majestic, a lady dancing topless at Riverbend during the raft race(1978). Seeing a Hawks game and a Flames game at the Omni the same night. Copping Quualudes at the stress clinic in Buckhead. The dude with blond hair selling the Speckled Bird at 10th & Peachtree. The Chatter box Lounge. The guy doing the wood carving at 14th & Piedmont(1976). Champagne hustles at the Moulin Rogue. Riding on the 1/5 MARTA line. Remember those lame definitions for the MARTA acronym.

By DB

January 8, 2009 8:36 AM | Link to this

David Bowie at Richard’s performing in a see-thru jumpsuit……… Watching out for the Infamous Foot Stomper , while waiting for your bus at Five Points Downtown. Shoe shopping at Davidson’s and Rich’s during lunch hours, boss understood if you returned late. Orange robed Hare Krishnas with their “free” donuts.Calling in sick on a Friday so you could wait in line all day for concert tickets at the Omni.

By annemarie

January 8, 2009 8:52 AM | Link to this

i can’t believe there are only 17 comments about life in atlanta in the 70s — where is everybody — maybe they just don’t remember — i lived in tempo 2000 on buford hwy — worked at coca-cola when the only place you could get coke memorabilia was from their basement store if you worked there!! and when the red brick bldg was still there — bob woodruff too - and the taller of the two bldgs there now was not — my old high school was still a high school and not an alternative school then performing arts school — buckhead for nightlife on friday nites with no killings/kidnappings and i think the bars did close at 2:00 a.m. with no one screaming to stay open til dawn!!! shopping at lenox — of course!!! shows at great southern — races at road atlanta — oh! driving to 14th street to LOOK at the hippies!!!!! and thinking how glad i was not to be interested in that lifestyle — early 20s could still be trusted!!! (remember they “preached” don’t trust anyone over 30)!!!

By Jessamine

January 8, 2009 9:22 AM | Link to this

I lived here only from age 5-11 (and thankfully moved back in 2000) but visited often. I do have some memories…. I have t-shirts from the Ramblin’ Raft Race and a Safe the Fox t-shirt. I remember when the “flying saucer” (Hyatt Regency) was the tallest building in the skyline and I remember the Peachtree Plaza being built.

I remember getting free Braves tickets for the whole family for getting good grades at school (and I also remember later buying $3 tickets). The hotdogs at the new stadium are nowhere near as good as the ones we’d pay for first and get on our own out of the “steam” bin in their little foil envelopes. I remember Nakahoma who would dance whenever someone hit a home run (who I hear was actually in his teepee getting drunk during most games since after Hank, it rarely happened).

I remember my grandparents’ wonderful farm at Peachtree Corners that was bulldozed and turned into a Fuddruckers.

I remember when Southlake Mall and Cumberland Mall opened.

I remember the radio stations “Quixie” and the insomnia curing “Peach - double-youu-peee-ceee- H… FM, 97”. I remember the commercials for “Taber Pontiac- Ta-ber Pon-ti-ac” and “Northwest Orient gong Airrrr-Liiiines” when the radio would go off to get me up to go to school.

I do remember Jim Axel reporting that the Sex Pistols were coming and wondered to myself what the heck a Sex Pistol was. I remember sending a weather drawing to Guy Sharpe. And yes, Monica was on TV back then too.

I knew every year we’d take a field trip to the zoo to go watch Willie B sit in his “cell” and swing on his tire and watch his TV and then we’d go eat our lunch at Stone Mountain. I’d give anything to have my “I milked Rosebud” button back (even though I didn’t actually milk her - we all got them) from my visit to the Atlanta Dairy. I do still have my tiny Coke bottle from our field trip there, although I do believe the Coke has evaporated some.

Fun times. I really enjoyed growing up here.

By Grady Baby

January 8, 2009 9:29 AM | Link to this

I was born in Atlanta @ Grady in March of 1972. I remember riding the MARTA bus w/ my mom downtown ,going to a store (My mom said it was called Newberry’s ) and having a tantrum about candy. Going to the Varsity with my dad…. When I started school (APS) in 1978 the MARTA bus was our mode of transportation to and from school and it cost us .10 or .15 cents per trip each day. My first train ride was a field trip that my second grade teacher Ms. Tobin took us on… Sometimes I wish I could go back :)

By Grady Baby

January 8, 2009 9:34 AM | Link to this

I was born in Atlanta @ Grady in March of 1972. I remember riding the MARTA bus w/ my mom downtown ,going to a store (My mom said it was called Newberry’s ) and having a tantrum about candy. Going to the Varsity with my dad…. When I started school (APS) in 1978 the MARTA bus was our mode of transportation to and from school and it cost us .10 or .15 cents per trip each day. My first train ride was a field trip that my second grade teacher Ms. Tobin took us on… Sometimes I wish I could go back :)

By urrp

January 8, 2009 11:43 AM | Link to this

Grew up in Dunwoody starting in 67. I remember living one street over from a gravel road (Vermack Rd) with farms and chickens everywhere….walking to the bus stop, schools, Perimeter mall when it opened without any worries of danger…having to go to Lenox to shop or over to the Woolworth’s on PTree Industrial…everpresent construction on 285…how neat Underground was then…listening to the AM radio Quixie playing through the intercoms in the house…the huge fire out at the big oil tanks in Doraville…lots of good days, a much more innocent and fun time

By Grady Baby too

January 8, 2009 12:56 PM | Link to this

I was born in 64 am am also a Grady Baby. My aunt worked at Newberry. I remember going with my dad to the “Colored KMart” to register people to vote. I remember Hank Aaron breaking Babe Ruth’s record - the good and the bad. I was bused to Northside in ‘79 and came out okay. Although I couldn’t go I remember the Panther @ Limelight was all the rage. I remember a record store named Peaches (still have the crates) I remember Flossy from the Varisity. My father worked at Ford - I remember the party for the election of Jimmy Carter and the party for him going out of office due to the gas prices. Ford was making Marquis’ at the time. I remember taking the new “A” Marta Bus Line from my home on Bankhead to my piano lessons in Buckhead by myself (I was 10) and my mother didn’t worry - because she trusted the bus driver. Can’t do that now

By eazye

January 8, 2009 3:36 PM | Link to this

hey i went to elementary school in the 70s had 2 ride marta bus to school. was 10 cents……….. i rememember broadview plaza the bowling alley and kmart was the place to be. blue light special.lol lenox and buckhead all the cars dealerships there and at the corner of peachtree and peidmont the big giant indian on the corner of the cadillac dealership. me and my mom would ride the bus to lenox………

By Marty

January 8, 2009 4:04 PM | Link to this

I remember living in SW Atlanta August 16,1977 when I found out that Elvis had died.By the way in your time line of Atlanta from 1970 to 1979 you mention the Sex Pistols but not Elvis playing all those shows at the OMNI.Give me a break they where a JOKE!No talents and you don’t even mention Elvis??What’s the DEAL??Elvis had 5 sold out shows in June of 1973 at the OMNI.

By Jessamine

January 8, 2009 6:00 PM | Link to this

Hey Urrp - glad someone remembers the Doraville fire that burned for weeks. My aunt and uncle lived right behind those and were home when they blew up and were both burned very badly. My uncle almost did not make it and was in the hospital for months and months. Have to thank Grady for pulling them through. They’ve kept that piece of land vacant and have not rebuilt on the lot solely to prevent anyone else from building on it.

By Magnolia

January 8, 2009 6:47 PM | Link to this

Elvis at the Omni…saw 3 of 5 shows. Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr. & Liza Minelli at the Omni.

When I was married. When I was divorced. Things I don’t clearly remember. Ramblin’ raft races … yahooooo! GA Tech football … great fun, no matter the record.

When today’s Oldies’ channel DJ,Scott Shannon, was starting out in ATL. When ATL was just “At-lanna”. When Peachtree Center was a ‘happenin’ place.

When the Braves KNEW their owner and played havin’ fun. When we had fun w/them. Knock-a-Homa. Ron Hudspeth. Rankin Smith, Tommy Nobis, Alex Hawkins, et al.

When I thought 60 was realllllly old.

By Magnolia

January 8, 2009 6:47 PM | Link to this

Elvis at the Omni…saw 3 of 5 shows. Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr. & Liza Minelli at the Omni.

When I was married. When I was divorced. Things I don’t clearly remember. Ramblin’ raft races … yahooooo! GA Tech football … great fun, no matter the record.

When today’s Oldies’ channel DJ,Scott Shannon, was starting out in ATL. When ATL was just “At-lanna”. When Peachtree Center was a ‘happenin’ place.

When the Braves KNEW their owner and played havin’ fun. When we had fun w/them. Knock-a-Homa. Ron Hudspeth. Rankin Smith, Tommy Nobis, Alex Hawkins, Skip Caray, et al.

When I thought 60 was realllllly old.

By Wallace

January 8, 2009 7:21 PM | Link to this

I’ve lived in California for more than 20 years now, but I grew up in Atlanta in the 1970s, and I still remember how small-town it felt, even though it was a big city. My mother was a hair stylist, and somehow she got a gig doing the hair of many of the Braves’ wives in the early 1970s. We weren’t anything special, and we didn’t have any connections. But Atlanta was small enough so that a woman like my mom could still luck into something like that. I was, of course, flabbergasted and starstruck. I still remember seeing Clete Boyer napping on his couch in his home. For a nine-year-old, it didn’t get much better than that.

By pooh

January 8, 2009 10:51 PM | Link to this

The 70’s were the best in Atlanta. I was born in 1958 at Piedmont Hospital and lived my entire life in Atlanta. The 70’s where my high school years and the drinking age was 18, so if you wanted to look cool and get into bars or buy liquor at the store all you had to do was be smoking a cigarette when you went in (right!). I don’t think they really cared. Then you would go buy the chaser at the Golden Gallon (a drive up milk store). And remember Champagne Jam, Disco Kroger, Limelight and the crazy clothes we wore. You could drive around downtown and see the hookers standing on the street corners and ask your parents ‘what are those ladies doing?’. We never got an answer. Or drive down 14th street because that is where all the hippies lived and we all wanted to grow up and be hippies. Lenox was an outdoor mall. Remeber the pet store with the baby alligators and the little turtles you would buy and bring home. The Magnolia Room at Rich’s where your grandmother would take you for a special treat. Driving down part of 285 when it was a dirt road. Using 400 as a race track because nobody ever drove down that highway and we wondered why they ever built it and what would it be used for. Going to the Sears in Buckhead to buy school clothes. The real Lynard Skynard at the Omni x2. Steve Miller Band on New Years Eve at the Fox. Some kid at my high school was big in the Save the Fox movement. We all wore t-shirts and buttons that said Save the Fox. The smoking area at our high school. We even had a homecoming representative from the smoking area. LOL. Our senior t-shirts sported the logo ‘Go to hell world, I’m a senior’. I promise!! You can see the picture in our annual. Things were much simpler and life was fun. I wouldn’t trade the 70’s in Atlanta for anything.

By Robyn

January 8, 2009 11:35 PM | Link to this

I was born in 1963 at Ga. Baptist Hospital and lived my entire life in Atlanta and it’s southern suburbs. My favorite memories are: being on the Offcer Don (Popeye Club) show, Breakfast with Santa at downtown Rich’s (riding the pink pig there too), seeing movies at The Fox theater, and concerts at The Omni. Good times

By Ray

January 9, 2009 1:14 AM | Link to this

One of the things I remember about the 70’s is a vibrant downtown shopping district anchored by Rich’s and Davison’s both of which chains were absorbed by Macy’s but the grand downtown locations for both were closed.

I also remember great concerts at the old Omni like those with Parliament Funkadelic where George Clinton would rise from the mothership(spaceship) on stage, the Earth Wind and Fire concerts with their space themes, concerts by the Commodores, Ashford & Simpson, Patti Labelle, LTD featuring Jeffrey Osbourne, the Isley Brothers, Peobo Bryson, and of course MAZE featuring Frankie Beverly. You always got at least two current acts at those concerts. featuring Frankie Beverly.

By round2

January 9, 2009 2:29 AM | Link to this

I remember Lester Maddox’s Pick Wick and seeing large wooden sticks for sale at the cashier counter (weird) …. Getting a “Red Badge of Courage” button for riding the new Scream Machine ….. Adult book stores in Buckhead …… The flea market where the Lindbergh station is now located …. Jumping off the Johnson Ferry Bridge during the Raft Race…… Stop n Cop weed at the end of North Ave, before crack ruined everything (Larry you’ll always be he Man) ……. Good ol Days in Buckhead ……. The Mellow Mushroom ……. The Apothecary head shop in Sandy Springs …….. Working bar back at the Lark and Dove w/Jerry Farber entertaining……. Dog Day Rock Fest …… Z93…. 96ROCK……. Ushering at the Fox with Usher Passes…. Seeing Billy Thorpe playing Children of the Sun at the Fox …. The Majestic …… Trippin at Doby’s good food…. Remember Red Dragon blotter (whoa). Pete the northside barkeep …..Riverbend …..I-75 N ending in Marietta and detouring onto 41….. Sid and Marty Kroft and the Pinball Ride(it was lame)…… Damn were did the time go…..What a Ride……

By Maryanne

January 9, 2009 8:49 PM | Link to this

Round2 I remember that Billy Thorpe concert-that and the Sex Pistols at the SE Music Hall. The apartment scene in the circa 1975 (when I moved to Atlanta) was amazing. If you didn’t live at Riverbend, or Oak Creek then any apartment that was managed by General Apartment Company in the 1970s was the place to be. Does anyone remember the huge “H is for Hell” anti-drug billboard with a picture of a huge syringe on Peachtree next door to the Georgian Peachtree apartment high rise? And how can one forget Peaches record store?!?

By Tammy

January 9, 2009 9:38 PM | Link to this

My family moved to Atlanta (Union City) in 1976. We had to drive to the city quite often since at that time Union City was concerned the country. What I remember the most is the riding the Pink Pig and freezing to death. My mom would take pictures of me and my sister riding the pink pig. I remember going to Rich’s downtown to pick up a coconut cake for the holidays. I loved going to the Omni to ice skate and going to a Hawks game with my Dad. Seeing a Braves game for a dollar. I remember free jazz concerts in Piedmont park. I loved going to the zoo and seeing Willie B but felt sorry for him. I remember my mom picking up her order from Sears in the West End and going to Krisy Kreme for a treat. I remember going to Woolworth downtown and Klesslers (sp?) Eating at Paschal restaurant after church and when everything closed early on Sunday so people could spend time with their family. I have lived in Atlanta since I was four years old and love it! I miss the old days and wish my children could experience the Atlanta I grew up with and appreciate this great city! Oh, What happen to Turtle Records?

By David

January 10, 2009 12:35 AM | Link to this

I remember when Underground Atlanta opened. It had a few attractions in it at the time and it was “underground.” I remember it being dark with old street lights glowing along some hallway. There was an old automated steam-powered calliope that played when you dropped a coin in. The calliope was a the base of a deep stairway. I remember there was an room full of old mechanical arcades, music boxes and kinetoscopes from the late 1800’s and early 20th century. You dropped a coin into a viewer and watched the pages of sequential pictures flip, a precursor to motion pictures. The other arcades were mechanical scenes in which belts,gears and cogs moved objects and dolls around a scene. Very intricate. AND they worked!! The calliope and arcade room was removed from Underground after a couple of years…I wondered what became of them?

By Jeff

January 10, 2009 1:40 AM | Link to this

Boy, lots of memories here… I’m also a ‘63 Georgia Baptist “alumnus”, BTW. I couldn’t really experience the ’70s except as a kid, but I knew I was missing something really cool. :-/

Does anyone remember when President Nixon put the whole country on year-round Daylight Saving Time? We all wound up going to school in the dark for a couple of months until they thought better of it once a few kids got hit by cars that way. My parents put red reflector tape all over my bike—I’d wanted a real reflector. One morning, a TV cameraman from WAGA-TV took some footage at the crossing on LaVista Road on my way to Coralwood School (a wonderful school that was only open as a normal school for seven years—that’s what the demographics of new suburbs can do). They told me I got on the news that night, but I never saw it.

Oh, about those “large wooden sticks” at the Pickrick: In 1964, when a group of activists tried to stage a sit-in at the Northside Drive location, they were greeted by a group of Pickrick regulars holding axe handles and Lester Maddox brandishing a revolver. Not a very proud moment for the ATL. Hard to believe Maddox got away with selling those as souvenirs at the Underground location. (BTW, I only got to see the old Underground once, on a field trip with my Webelos den.)

Oh, and they still have free jazz (free as in beer, not free as in Ornette Coleman) concerts in Piedmont Park, at least on occasion. I saw McCoy Tyner there a couple of years ago.

Busing… DeKalb eventually worked out a solution, essentially voluntary busing. Noble goal, but overreaching. OTOH, I can hardly imagine pulling your own kids out of public schools unless they were going to be subject to being bussed across town themselves. Makes you wonder where the “failure” really was.

By Jeff

January 10, 2009 4:18 AM | Link to this

Oh, yeah: Turtle’s was sold to Wherehouse Records, a chain out West, and then Blockbuster bought Wherehouse just a couple of years later. The Turtle’s location on Memorial Drive where I once worked (now a clothing or furniture store or something) remained under that name for years after the purchase for some reason. (Oh, and BTW, I once had it explained to me that “Turtle” was founder Al Levinson’s fraternity nickname!)

Peaches is still around in its apparent home state of Florida, AFAIK, or at least survived until very recently.

By Stan Satin

January 10, 2009 4:22 AM | Link to this

Atlanta was a tremendous place to be in the 1970’s! In 1977 I moved to a male-only boarding house on Pharr Road in Buckhead from my parents home in Conyers. It was my first time to be out on my own at 19 years old.

I discovered the newly opened Wax ‘N Facts Records in the almost completely boarded up Little Five Points and started collecting records and going to concerts. One of the first was Talking Heads and Elvis Costello together on the same bill at the Capri Ballroom in Buckhead in November 1977. I was subsequently motivated enough to form my own band which played the Agora Ballroom (across from the Fox) and New Wave club 688 (up from the Varsity on Spring Street).

Many of my artist friends and musician pals lived in midtown around 17th Street and W. Peachtree. We were a close-knit group in the 70’s and reveled in our newly found freedom inherent in the times.

The memories are many and I’ll forever fondly recall the 1970’s as one of the most exciting times to live in Atlanta.

By keith

January 11, 2009 1:58 PM | Link to this

Very few remember that I85 and 285 had grass medians and only 2 lanes per side.

The old airport became so small that Eastern would take you from the gate, on a bus, to the airplane which was on the tarmac.

The Flames were actually a good team with poor attendance.

The Mets are now our most hated rivalry, back in the seventies it had to be the Dodgers.

The World of Syd and Marty Kroft was a fun place with an 8 story elevator to the entrance at the top. My family was one of the four that went there.

Lawrenceville, Roswell and Acworth were considered out of state.

By Mark Franks

January 11, 2009 2:00 PM | Link to this

I remember Danver’s Roast Beef sandwiches. I lived in Marietta as a small boy, and can still taste them. Or, how about Ogletree’s nutty store decor?

By David

January 11, 2009 11:42 PM | Link to this

Remember when the tallest building in town was the Hyatt-Regency hotel w/ the rotating “space-ship” restaurant on top? You could see the sky-line clearly from there.

I remember when Sid and Marty Krofts’ and Burt Reynolds Place opened at the Omni International building.

Also, when Dr. Robert V. Ozment used to preach at Atlanta First United Methodist Church.  Services were broadcast on WSB-TV.  Dr. Sam Coker was at Grace United Methodist.

 WSB-AM radio used to have music programming, affiliated with NBC network, and had the "Morning Merry-Go-Round" show w/ Elmo Ellis.   Hal Suit and Gloria (?) hosting the T.V. news.

 WTCG-TV Channel 17 with re-runs of "Little Rascals", cartoons, Three Stooges, and my favorite...The Friday Night Scary Movie (old Universal Studio Horrors)hosted by a vampire, with obviously fake plastic teeth,  that would exit his CREAKY coffin before each show.  I heard that vampire was played by Ted Turner himself!

By David

January 11, 2009 11:54 PM | Link to this

Remember when Ted Turner hosted the Friday Night Scary Movie on his fledgling WTCG-TV? He put on a vampire outfit and gray makeup w/ fake vampire teeth and rise out of a CREAKY coffin before the show. Used to show old Universal Horrors. Also remember, George Ellis reprising his role of “The Bestoink Dooley” on WAGA-TV’s Friday night BIG MOVIE SHOCKER? He dressed as an unshaven tramp w/ a raggedy top hat and scarf. He’d introduce each scary movie and tell some funny quips after commercials.

By Drexel Gal

January 12, 2009 5:29 AM | Link to this

Why is it that, after the big buildup for us to send in our photos, you only have five images posted? The same five as always? And all by the same person? Are you asleep at the switch, or what?

By Native Atlantan

January 12, 2009 2:30 PM | Link to this

I was born in 1955, GA Baptist Hospital. At the age of 12, I drove my Cushman Eagle motorcycle around 285. It was NOT finished and not opened. No bridges or exits were completed. Somebody told me it was a circle, and I had to see for myself. I was scared to death after it took me over 2 hours to get back home. Ramblin’ raft races, Misty Waters, Mathis Dairy (I milked Rosebud), South Dekalb Mall, I saw Pete Rose’s streak end. Lots have changed since then.

By Lee

January 16, 2009 9:48 PM | Link to this

I was 18 in 1969. I am astounded that no one has mentioned The Varsity! Still there, turning out 1000’s of chili dogs, onion rings, fried pies and a frosted orange. At the time it was the largest drive in restaurant in the US.
(Thanks to David for the reminder about “Big Movie Shocker!” Music was an integral part of night life in the mid to late 60’s. I spent every available dollar I had to go to concerts by the dozen. The most incredible music memory I have is seeing the Beatles at the Atlanta Stadium. Tickets cost $5.00. Yes, I screamed - I was 13! Some girls tried to leap over the rails on the first row to run onto the field - grabbed by the police of course. Prior to the Omni, the old Municipal Auditorium was the place for big name concerts - I saw Jimi Hendrix, James Taylor, The Doobie Brothers, Carol King, Kenny Loggins, Peter Paul and Mary, and The Band. (All these tickets were $5.00 -$7.50) The small music venues were : The Bistro - Jimmy Buffet just before his first hit, Joe South, Fred Neil, Oliver, Fred Neil. Locals like Silverman were huge draws. The Bottom of the Barrel - Odetta, Buffy St. Marie- Pat Hansen of the Hand Band became a songwriter for Garth Brooks and dozens of other country stars. Great locals also. The Great Southeast Music Hall - had 10 rows of seats, 500 people…the last stop on club tours before supers tardom for The Eagles, Jimmy Buffet, Billy Joel, Steve Martin, Willie Nelson, Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton, Harry Chapin, Emmy Lou Harris, Jim Croce ..just to name a few . Before he became a household name, Steve Martin played there to a dozen people, finally stopped and said “let’s go next door to the bowling alley”, and he paid for the group to bowl.
I think that WPLO was the first FM radio station. Late at night they played entire albums - usually before the public release date. That’s where I first heard the Beatles “White Album”. Albums cost $1.99 and $3.99 for a double album.
Bars were only open till 2am, and midnight on Sat. - no drinking on Sunday. Late night food downtown was nonexistent except for the Majestic and ?? on Briarcliff. Further out was Denny’s,, Krystal, and of course, the Waffle House. You could always depend on slow service and surly waitresses at Denny’s. As a young child I remember riding trolleys, like buses attached to electrical wires. Eating at the cafeteria across from Davison’s before a shopping trip, then a movie at the Rialto or at the Fox. (25c). Going to Sears on Ponce de Leon at Christmas - they had a multi storied building that contained what seemed like 1000’s of toys from the Christmas catalog.
Prior to the Atlanta Braves, there were the Crackers, who played in a small ballpark across the street from Sears.
6 Flags Over Georgia wasn’t built until @ 1970, so once a year we went to the Atlanta (State) Fair that stayed for a week at the old Lakewood Fairground. Rides and corn dogs were 25Cents. The old wooden roller coaster at Lakewood was made famous for being blown to bits in “Smokey and the Bandit- ?#2?”. with Bert Reynolds.
It was a great place to live, mostly safe, and lots of fun.

By Carol

January 17, 2009 3:19 PM | Link to this

Hey Native Atlanta, were you SW DeKalb alumni ? We used to get gallons of beer in a milk jug from the outpost on Candler Rd and carry to the concert at the stadium - GA Jam, Champagne Jam- not a summer went by there was not a concert with ZZ Top, Johnny & Edgar, Allmans, Skynyrd, at the origin of great southern ROCK ! Back then you could also drink underage at bars including Penny Beer Night at Mad Hatter in underground! The age was 18 then and most did not care if you were 16 except Alex Cooley’s Ballroom so you saved that for your 18th b-day. CW Shaws and the Great SE music Hall…..I saw Cher walk thru with Gregg Allman once. Zepellin at the Omni in ‘77. Every show at the Omni would start with our trip to drive thru at the Varsity. There was another cool record store called Oz - You entered thru a wind tunnel, if you bought a cassette, they moved it to checkout in a basked carried by one of monkees (not Davey Jones). I had older brother at tech and these guys could not get dates so I could always attend Tech games and formals. West GA college was called the 13th grade back then but we always spent more time in Atlanta bars like the Capri and Agora. Someone else must remember the Bavarian Alpine Inn and Carlos McGees…… ! Fun Times !!

By Sandy Taylor

January 17, 2009 3:49 PM | Link to this

OMG! I remember so much about the 70s. We went to Uncle Sams all the time and I had a huge collection of the hats that band would throw out. I loved the Beer Mug pizza. We went to the Raft Races, of course. We cruised Peachtree looking at the “hippies”. We would go from one apt complex to another looking for parties - it didn’t matter if you knew anyone there - they were always glad to have a couple more girls. Geez, I remember almost everything mentioned above. Remember that place at Underground that gave away the (or sold I don’t remember) the straw hats. I always got carded no matter where I went. My first party in Atlanta was at a house where our phone installer left us a note to come to a party - sight unseen! You sure couldn’t do today the things we did then. We never felt scared even when we didn’t know the people. It was a crazier time - drugs, alcohol, sex - but safer.

By David

January 17, 2009 6:56 PM | Link to this

Remember WSB-AM before “Talk” (or SCREAM) radio? The days of the “Morning Merry-Go-Round” each weekday with news and features. I believe Elmo Ellis was host. No blathering idiots like Neal Boortz on the Right or Mike Malloy on the Left. Just good music programming. WSB was affiliated w/ NBC network; WAGA was with CBS and WXIA was ABC. Later Gary McKee w/ WXIA-AM featuring humorous curmudgeon “Red Neckerson Commentaries.”

By Yonah

January 19, 2009 11:01 PM | Link to this

I remember a lot of the other’s comments. But let me add a few, too. The Atlanta skyline where the spaceship-like Polaris dominates - Nikolai’s roof. Underground Atlanta, Peaches Records, the funky round gas station at Lenox Mall, Midtown festival where they closed Peachtree street and was filled with bikers. And how about driving through Piedmont Park, the River Raft Race, Bill Tush, and Billy Carter.

By MountainDawg

January 22, 2009 3:57 PM | Link to this

I was just a pup in the 70’s, so no “wild times” for me back then. However, I remember visiting Atlanta for Braves Games (watching the “Bleacher Creature” & “Cheif Knockahoma’s” tent), Falcons games (the Gritz Blitz, Leeman Bennett, Bartkowski), the Cheifs & Flames. When Dad took us to a sporting event, we usually went by the Varsity for some slawdogs & greasy onion rings! I also remember the ice skating rink @ CNN Center & The Sid and Marty Kroft (what wacky shows they had…HR PufnStuf, Lidsville, Land of the Lost, Sigumund & the Seamonsters, etc.). I remember my neighbors went to see Elvis at his last show at the Omni. I also had a crate from “Peaches” in my bedroom closet. I remember going to Turtles for LPs (45 singles & 33 albums). Some good memories from days as the “MountainPup”! ;-)

By Steve from Atlanta

January 23, 2009 4:03 PM | Link to this

The 70’s in Atlanta was incredible. I was born at Crawford Long which most Atlanta babies were in the 50’s. I attended Morris Brandon and Northside High School. Underground was awesome! The mad hatter was so much fun. Hanging out at Peaches Records and Tapes on a Friday night. Going to Lums on Peachtree or playing foosball at the Beer Mug. I watched movies at the Rialto or the Fox theaters downtown. Riding the Pink Pig through Rich’s toy shop at Christmas. This new pink pig train at Lenox is a joke. Lenox Square was an open air mall back then. Storyland on 41 north of the river was fun too. A braves game at the old Fulton County stadium and watching Hank Aaron. Does any remember the “Nitship” right across the street from Jim Salies(?)in the heart of Buckhead? That’s where you could get all your 70’s hippie stuff like black lights. Fortunately, we can still go to the Varsity. Atlanta was fun to hang out in back then. I used to drive 285 when it was a divided highway with 2 lanes each way. The best time was when I was finally of age to get into Alex Cooley’s Electric Ballroom. The most incredible music hall I had ever seen. I saw Leslie West of Mountain there and Carmen. The Agora wasn’t as fun. Remember what was the place before the Limelight on Piedmont? The Harlequin Dinner Theater. But that didn’t last long. Who can forget the Fox Theater. It was incredible to watch Gone with the Wind there. Southeast Music Hall on Piedmont and Lindburgh was a great place to listen to bands too. Remember Broadview Plaza and the kiddie park with a gokart track down on the backside? Remember the birthday rooms which looked like a huge cake? Such fun.

By KAT

January 25, 2009 2:01 PM | Link to this

I was born at GA Baptist in ‘67. From a kid’s eye view I remember a lot of what y’all other kids remember. Let me add: being stuck in traffic in the downtown connector and I-20 construction. Going to the top parking deck at Rich’s downtown & mom driving down the long spiral to the bottom. Rich’s and Davison’s downtown always seemed deserted! Rich’s downtown tree lighting at Thanksgiving. Secret Santa shopping at Sears on Ponce. Shopping at JP Allen, and getting on the elevator with a real person operating it. Buying $1.00 Braves ticket and moving down to the good seats cause the stadium was pretty empty. I remember Burt’s Place at the Omni and mom said we couldn’t go in because it was for adults, and I was mad cause I thought Burt Reynolds was there. I was at Lakewood Fairgrounds when they filmed Smokey and the Bandit and met him, and he was SO nice! Oh, and the Woodruff Art Center was the High Museum. I sort of recall ice skating at a hotel on Peachtree near the museum.

By Julie

January 25, 2009 3:13 PM | Link to this

I lived in some apartments on Roswell Road called the Loft. All I remember is some really horny guy named Boortz that lived next door to me.

By Elaine

January 25, 2009 7:39 PM | Link to this

I lived in Royal Coach apartments…went to Georgia Tech and spent every Friday & Saturday night dancing at Pogo’s on Buford Highway and for a change of pace, we would go dancing at Scooter’s. We drank lots of beer at Spiro’s on North Avenue and ate lots of pizza at M.J. Pippins….and of course, there was nickel beers at One Eyed Jacks and subs at Steverinos. I was there for the “Free Bird” concert and for Freddie Mercury at the Omni…Leon Russell at Alex Cooley’s Electric Ballroom and a very stoned Fleetwood Mac at the T**! Times were good then!

By FCM

January 25, 2009 7:52 PM | Link to this

Too young to have been part of the ‘life’ but do recall growing up in the 70s in Atlanta. Would leave school and hope to see John Schneider at his mother’s house (these were the days of ‘Dukes’). Kiddie City was the only place to get a ‘real’ Cabbage Patch Kid—unless you had gotten it at the art fair at Parkaire. Parkaire had the ice rink right outside the Kroger.

I remember taking the Marta Bus to Sid and Marty Kroft so I could see H R Puff n Stuff. Johnson’s Ferry was only a 2 lane bridge so getting to school (Holy Innocents’) was a drive.

Round the Corner was the place for families to get burgers. You ordered on a phone. Tillie was the all time Teller—-aka the ATM.

Going to get fresh produce meant driving to the stalls at the State Farmers Market—-which were PACKED. The airport was a teal stucture……until the big ‘new’ airport was built and even locals went to tour that HUGE place (Hartsfield). Being a ‘pilot’ for Delta or Eastern was akin to being a nerosurgeon!

Atlanta Chiefs brought soccer to the city. Being a Braves fan was not something you admitted too. Happy Meals arrived….and McDs fries were cooked in animal fat.

Bowling at Lenox was followed by car hop service at the Varsity. Handel’s Messiah was sung in the mall by local choirs.

96 Rock was the cool station. Baseball style shirts were in. Everyone Roller Skated ——preferably at Jellybeans.

By Jeffislonlineagain

January 25, 2009 8:31 PM | Link to this

I was in my teens during the 70’s but I do remember watching The Now Explosion - which preceeded MTV. Then, another show called Music Connection showed up for a little while. I remember 5 dollar jeans at at a blue jeans store called Pant-o-Mine. I also remember looking at Bradford quadraphonic 8-tracks at Grant’s City South in Forest Park. The Banana Splits were on TV and where a part of Sid and Marty Croft who had an indoor amusement part at the Omni for about 6 months.

My parents would move away and then I would eventually go to Auburn, where I saw many 96rock bumper stickers and if my stereo was good enough, I could pick up the station. I would visit Atlanta on weekends and go to Burt’s place there in the Omni.

By Atlanta native 1969

January 25, 2009 8:39 PM | Link to this

I was born at Georgia Baptist Hospital in 1969 and I remember my mom taking me to the pink pig at the old Rich’s on Forsyth Street. We would X-mas shop, eat at their soda fountain/cafe, and then ride the pig! We lived in Cabbage Town on Gaskill Street, and then we moved to SE Atlanta on Macon Drive. By the mid 70’s most of the other white families on our street fled the city, but my dad (he worked for City of Atlanta) decided we would stay.

I remember going to Sid and Marty Kroft at the Omni, and the old Ice skating rink (now the food court) at Omni & CNN center. When Marta opened in 79, we rode the EB train for 25 cents!

Darn, those were the good days. Atlanta is a wonderful city!

By Calvin

January 26, 2009 4:22 AM | Link to this

You could almost sing a song in the streets as you went along your way. The streets were clean and non threatning. You could walk at night without any fear.

By Henry(Crowder)Norman

January 26, 2009 5:55 AM | Link to this

I remember my mother giving me money for a shirt, I took a bus from Adamsville to Downtown,I passed by a record Store that had the Issac Hayes,Theme From Shaft Double Album set..She never let me shop alone again,She died in 1974…Love you Ruby

By karen

January 26, 2009 7:59 AM | Link to this

Great photos and comments. I too was born at Crawford Long in 1956, and remember so much of that time. As a kid, shopping at Santa’s Secret Shop at Rich’s. Riding the original Pink Pig at Rich’s (which I did this year with a friend and her daugther and grandson)! I remember as a teenager seeing the Allman Bros. play at Emory University on Halloween. I was young (13/14) and remember I could not stay long. Saw them a couple of times in Piedmont Park, and had some crazy times in Piedmont Park. 14th and 10th street were our hangouts. I was definately a hippie chick in those days. Remember seeing Johnny Winter at the Fox and seeing Deep Purple, Led Zepplin, Jeff Beck etc. I even remember seeing concerts at the Rialto theater at a young age (Peter and Gordon I think, and Paul Revere and the Raiders). I remember Perimeter Mall opening, and that my high school boyfriend and his family had moved up to Dunwoody, which in those days was really far out there. I remember going to the river too which is actually where my high school boyfriend drowned in 1973. God rest his soul. Memories far in the past but not forgotten. Peace and Love.

By Kevin

January 26, 2009 9:09 AM | Link to this

Ah yes the 70’s gas was 45 cents a gallon then u could go see a flames game behind the Goal for 8.50 i get there 2 hours early see pratice it was cold…also very neat to…i be behind glass so not get hit by the puck at 120 mph if fly one hit seat 2 rows back of me….what fun seein indoor soccer at ommi was great i went to all home games of the chiefs Miss one was sick…If u see a old photo of when we lost playoff i was seen in the AJC photp in sports section….also open was the first steak n shake in atlanta in 70’s i would always stop and eat at one off I-75 n 41 highway…I also sat in 1970’s sat behind home dugout see about 25 games in me old beat up dogdge dart over 344,000 miles on it….watch battin practice got to see and talk to alot of players….i can’t name all anyway cokes then were 35 cents at braves game a hotdog was 45 cents n ommi same but there giant Pretzals were just 75 cents then now for the same today coke 95 cents hotdog over 3.00 dollars n One large Pretzals is 3.75 last remember…and also then was bell bottom pants streakers!

By kevin

January 26, 2009 9:23 AM | Link to this

also then to add more there was No Cable where i live till 86 when dtarted it was called womecto cable tv then…channel 2 was NBC n channel11 was ABC then and waga was CBS also….the first mall ever open was in symera sorry if missspelld…they were the first mall in Ga there was rich’s n winn dixie n A&P also in 70’s n coloinal stores which would become krogers later.there was Big star n Food Giant Foodland n were JC penneys n woolworths store..what 70’s we had Tracks that carried trains was then L&N lines then..also remember Tilly the all time teller started to..Sonny n cher all in the family…etc n so forth!

By really old

January 26, 2009 9:46 AM | Link to this

Yup, I remember Bistoink Dooley and $1 shows at the Lindburg Plaza Theatre. Yellow Submarine and King of Hearts were my favorites. Great Southeast Music Hall - Steve Martin, Jimmy Buffet, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Doc Watson. I cant believe someone remembers the Bistro. There wasn’t room for the band, much less an audience. Saw Chicago at Lake Spivey. Jethro Tull at the Municipal Auditorium. Steppenwolf - Get your motor runnin’ - and Yes at the GT Dome. Allman Bros, The Tams, and Bob Segar at your proms at your graduation dances. The great thing about growing up inside the perimeter was everything was so close —- and cheap. I remember those $1.99 albums at the record shops on Ptree, too. Going down to watch the hippies as a little kid, then being among them as a teenager with sidewalks overflowing into the streets. We’d go to the abandoned haunted house on Ponce. I was one of like 250 people at one Braves game once. Funtown, the Mouse Trap and skee ball (that may have been the 60’s) Who remembers tubing the hooch? we’d leave a car parked on the shoulder at the I-75 bridge.
By the 70’s, I think shopping at Rich’s downtown was really slowing down, but I do remember getting some get knee high, lace up, suede boots at Freidman’s downtown. Man, I was hot stuff. I cringe at the store today when I see those same clothes and colors coming back. How could our kids wanna where something that looks like that? And the short skirts? phew! I guess we could consider those good old days. I feel fortunate to have survived those years. But some of my classmates didn’t. the other day I was thinking of those who crashed into a tree at Briarcliff and Fisher Trail. Killed all four of them. So the drugs and alcohol weren’t all good.

By oldschooldog

January 26, 2009 9:58 AM | Link to this

Peaches Records; their crates were main furniture for many; good post regarding Kiddie Land behind Broadview, probably closed very early 70s?; Sidney Marcus dirt road between Cheshire Br. and Piedmont; ZZ Top opening for Deep Purple at OMNI; escalator to Sid & Marty Croft; never ending construction on 85 north of Brookwood; the water art thing at Columbia Mall that started/stopped with hand clap; Belvedere and Glenwwood youth leagues across street from each other; Misty Waters; the Yellow Jacket; Lakewood Fairgrounds; still got Harold’s!; old Hartsfield airport; the colored balls on lamposts at Lenox; Briarcliff, Walker, Sequoyah, Henderson high schools in Dekalb; Rio Vista.

By BlueSmoke

January 26, 2009 11:28 AM | Link to this

Brave Falcon

Jimmy Orr’s End Zone( I’m really old)

Uncle Sam’s(10 cent beer on Sat afternoon - go home - shower - go back to US’s that nite and stand in line.

Apartment Scene Magazine

Skinny Bobby Harper

Gary McKee - Willis the Guard - Yetta Levitt - The Birthday Monster

Great Southeast Music Hall

Underground in 1970-71(Muhelenbrink’s Piano Red, The Bucket Shop -Keshia Brown singing st the Apothecary

Plaid Polyester Paints (FIRE HAZZARD!)

The Chalet on Peachtree

Brothers Two

I have to stop…I’m crying

By BlueSmoke

January 26, 2009 11:30 AM | Link to this

Brave Falcon

Jimmy Orr’s End Zone( I’m really old)

Uncle Sam’s(10 cent beer on Sat afternoon - go home - shower - go back to US’s that nite and stand in line.

Apartment Scene Magazine

Skinny Bobby Harper

Gary McKee - Willis the Guard - Yetta Levitt - The Birthday Monster

Great Southeast Music Hall

Underground in 1970-71(Muhelenbrink’s Piano Red, The Bucket Shop -Keshia Brown singing st the Apothecary

Plaid Polyester Paints (FIRE HAZZARD!)

The Chalet on Peachtree

Brothers Two

I have to stop…I’m crying

By RJones

January 26, 2009 2:45 PM | Link to this

I lived on the South side, and would start my weekend clubbing at Billy’s, Modine Gunch, and My Brother’s Place. Get on 285 and hit Danny’s and Xanadu’s on the East Side, Pogo’s ( later known as Packet’s ) on Buford Hwy. Scooter’s on Roswell Rd., Limelight on Piedmont, then back to the South side at Pogo’s 2. I would get an entry stamp on my arm at each place, and the next morning my arms were covered in ink. That is how I knew I had a good time!

By RJones

January 26, 2009 3:01 PM | Link to this

The drinking age was 18 and the girls were everywhere. Young, good looking and available. If you had a nice car, they were all over you. I had the mandatory Trans Am ( if you didn’t have one, they issued you one). I wasn’t that great looking or a playboy, but I had all I could handle. I called the period “The Bar Wars”. I had girl friends all over town, so that they would not meet. Sometimes, one of the girlfriends would catch you at a club with another girl and it would be hell. But , you kept doing it anyway because that was just the way that it was. I swear, I miss it every day!

By Larry E

January 26, 2009 9:33 PM | Link to this

Was there a better place to be in the 70’s than ATL? I don’t think so! I lived in Macon and followed the Allman Bros to Piedmont on the weekends in 69 and 70. I moved to to Atlanta in 73 and had a small apt in Buckhead on North Fulton for $150 a month. The Polaris still dominated the skyline and the Agora Ballroom was the place to be if you weren’t at Hotlanta. Underground was going strong and I tended bar at Scarlett O’Hara’s and the Pumphouse. The Uptown Cafe off Peachtree was the late night place to hang with the artists in town after their performances. Mother’s Finest at Chastain, ZZ Top at old Atl Stadium, Jimmy Witherspoon and Eric Burdon together at the Playboy Club downtown, Champagne Jams, all night parties at the Fountainbleu Apts in Sandy Springs, Steve Martin and Dr Hook at the SE Music Hall, Quiksie and Garo Mckee, Skinny Bobby Harper and WGST, that “new” rock station WKLS(96.1), Spam and Grits on WRFG, and late night channel 17 if you had the little round UHF antenna. Remember when Jim Craig (the US miracle hockey team) joined the Flames as our goalie at the Omni,Steve Bartkowski, William Andrews,Lynn Cain,and Greg Van Note with the Falcons, the Penthouse Pets playing softball against radio celebs to draw people to a Braves game. It was a time to feel alive and a sense that you were a part of something extraordinary where anything was possible; looking back, how right we were!

By Davis

January 27, 2009 1:26 AM | Link to this

WOW!, right down my alley, the mid 70s was just the time this country boy from NC was transferred by his job to Atlanta, lived in Sandy Springs and Roswell was beginning to blossom, RICHWAY was new there, Cumming was pasture land, two of our years were at what is now STONE MANOR, had a one bedroom balcony bedroom apartment with bath and half for $190, utilites included, then we moved to what was then ENGLISH VILLAGE at North Springs, now its been razed and now under construction at the site, office -condos, A&P, MORRISONS cafeteria, BONANZA steak house, STEAK & ALE, you will find that we were not the hip party type with what follows, Liberace at the FOX and CIVIC CENTER, Olivia Newton John at the FOX, Elvis at the OMNI, the cast from HAPPY DAYS at CUMBERLAND MALL, my wife kissed ‘the Fonz’, now get this!, though we didnt vote for him, Jimmy Carter’s victory rally, downtown on election night 76, we stayed until the wee hours, WESTERN ELECTRIC, on the hill near Abernathy in Sandy Springs, Elco flea market, once a month at the Lakewood Fairgrounds, WHITE COLUMNS, ie, WSB, S&W at the lower level at Lenox, catching the ‘Exorcist’ at Phipps, TREASURE ISLAND on Buford Highway, BIG STAR grocery where we won $100 with the ‘Lets Go To The Races’ tv game, THE MIDNIGHT SUN at Peachtree Center, STONE MOUNTAIN, fireworks on the 4th of July and the Easter Sunrise Service atop the mountain, WOOLWORTHS downtown and their fried chicken, HAROLDS sandwich shop near FIVE POINTS and what was then, CENTRAL CITY PARK, now WOODRUFF, STANS sandwich shops all over the city, SEARS stand alone in Buckhead, COLONY SQUARE when it was new and the New Christie Minstrels were helping to celebrate, THE WHITE HOUSE MOTOR INN, near Courtland, there for a month during transfer, enjoyed the ‘Su Casa’ room, the MARRIOTT close by, I could go ON and ON, such fond memories, such great times, such a magic experience, exposed to so much diversity and culture, I salute you Atlanta!, thanks for the memories!, really enjoying the posts……..

By B

January 27, 2009 8:24 AM | Link to this

Aunt Charlies and Carnivals in Buckhead and don’t forget the first club 112 by Boston sea party. One more great bar was the Copper Dollar outside 285 on Buford hwy. That was Fun Times

By Atlfan

January 27, 2009 8:52 AM | Link to this

I remember so many of these things. I came to Atlanta in 1971 the day after the Super Bowl, and all the folks in my sister’s apartment complex (Emory Woods) were hung over, but still willing to party. We spent many hours making trips to Green’s on Friday and Sat. nights, drinking Ballentine beer because it was cheap, sitting on the grass and drawing a crowd because one of us played the guitar. Even the older neighbors did not seem to mind. I can remember going to Underground Atlanta by myself, parking in a parking building at night and not being afraid. I remember fondly the Irish Pub, and Hank Gallup when he sang lots of folk music. I also remember most of all the Country Green nightclub on Buford Highway. Brince Manning owned it, and many a night the place would be slap full to its four or five hundred capacity. I saw Willie Nelson at the Great Southeast Music Hall twice. I recently revisited some of my old apartment complexes, and all but Emory Woods seemed to have gone to a bad element. I remember Santa Claus at North DeKalb Mall and selecting a Christmas tree from a lot on North Decatur Rd. Evans restaurant on N. Decatur, too—great home cooked food. Does anyone else here remember the great MARTA bus caper, put on by two of Atlanta’s well-known disc jockey’s? They actually stole a MARTA bus and drove it to Conyers, where they were summarily arrested, resulting in much publicity. Big Jim Morgan was one of them, and Randy something or other from Quixie, I believe, was the other one. Remember Les Reed from PLO, too, though he was not in on the caper.

By Old Cougar

January 27, 2009 11:46 AM | Link to this

OMG, reading some of these is just amazing. I can relate to so many things. We moved to Atlanta in 1968 and I graduated from the old Henderson High School (now a middle school) in 1974. I wasn’t quite old enough to be a hippie in mid-town, but I wanted to be! We’d go for rides with my parents through mid-town to look at the hippies and my parents would make us lock the doors! Someone said they used to go to the old haunted house on Ponce de Leon (its since been converted into condos) - we used to go there, too! Do you remember there was a huge safe the size of a room (or maybe a closet) in the basement? I still have nightmares about getting locked inside! Crazy! Now Explosion on TV - weekend TV was really limited back then and Now Explosion was so cool! Precursor to MTV. I remember going to BAI (Bavarian Alpine Inn) in Buford Hwy because they never checked IDs. Many, if not most bars, had at least 3-for-1 drinks at happy hour. Going to see Led Zeppelin at the Atlanta Stadium on PCP, school dances on LSD, Great Southeast Music Hall (Steve Martin, Jerry Garcia), Electric Ballroom, getting thrown out of Richards because they caught my fake ID. Later seeing Little Feat there. Concerts at the Municipal Auditorium (Black Sabbath & Blue Oyster Cult). Later, after college, Carlos McGee’s and Aunt Charlies - walking through Buckhead alone from bar to bar without a care in the world and no worries about safety. Commodity Exchange in Briarcliff Plaza - nickel beer (or was it a quarter) on Wednesdays. Remember when Northlake Mall was built and hanging out there in the game room - getting thrown out by the security guard for loitering. Hitchhiking (omg!) Tubing down the Chattahoochee. Sorry - I could go on and on - great, great memories. Sex, drugs and rock and roll definitely ruled the day (it’s amazing we survived to become productive members of society)! It was a much, much more innocent time than today.

By SMOKECITY

January 27, 2009 11:52 AM | Link to this

I was here but I don’t remember the 70s in Atlanta. They tell me I had a great time, though!

By Atlfan

January 27, 2009 5:02 PM | Link to this

Dollar days/nights at the Braves’ games. The Brave Falcon. After a night on the town at the Brave Falcon, I felt I had really “arrived” in Atlanta. Jimmy and Suzanne Estes, Gordon D, Paul Peek, Emmylou Harris and Alabama at the Fox. Darryl Rhoades and the Ha Ha Vishnu Orchestra! Atlanta Journal came in the afternoon. Downtown Greyhound station was safe and clean. Old ladies and kids rode the bus without fear of being mugged when they reached their destination in Atlanta. Being glued to the radio, listening to the Falcons’ games, even though they were never a real winner in those days. Records played on console stereo players that were actually pieces of furniture. Roswell was an outpost in North Fulton, and Alpharetta was populated by folks whose families had lived there for generations, not really a city at all.

Driving on I-285 from Roswell to Decatur with a beer or two to pass the time while in traffic as I drove home from work. Also remember the Doraville petroleum fires. Also remember that the very first Monterrey Mexican Restaurant was on Buford Hwy, just inside the perimeter. Later, another on Shallowford Road. Now they are all over the southern states.

Oh, yes. The MARTA bus theft I referred to in a previous post took place because the two disc jockeys had been drinking and playing pool at a place near the MARTA bus lot. They just got a wild hair and took off. I have never forgotten that. The article headlines in the paper said “Radio Pair Arrested in MARTA Bus Theft.” I don’t think either one ever lived that down.

By Stacy

January 27, 2009 9:00 PM | Link to this

As a ‘63 Atlanta baby (GA Baptist Hosp.) and an Atlanta 70’s kid, I mostly remember eating an “Ollie Burger” from one of their carts, getting a crew cut and drinking 6 oz. Cokes at Charlie’s barbershop near Cabbagetown, and eating hotdogs boiled in beer at Lum’s. In ‘76, my parents moved us to the small country town of Alpharetta. At least Alpharetta had a walk up Diary Queen for fast food.

By Joe

January 27, 2009 9:02 PM | Link to this

I was born at Emory University Hospital in 1953. I have watched Atlanta change from a small town with a lot of charm and innocence to an ugly, loud, rude and egotistical urban joke. If this is what “coming of age” means, then I’ll stay young, thank you.

Its strange to hear things called “Atlanta traditions” when they have only been around since the late sixties. Its also strange to have it implied that Atlanta has overcome racial problems, when it is now more racists than ever.

Some of our public schools were the best in the nation; now they are ranked among the lowest. A man’s character used to be more important than his possesions. That is no longer true. The terms “good” and “evil” used to mean something. Now they mean whatever one wishes.

Come of age? What age? 16?

Enjoy your great success Atlanta!

By Aw

January 27, 2009 10:03 PM | Link to this

I try not to think about the drastic changes that have taken place in Atlanta primarily after the Olympics. It is painful to think how beautiful, green, and wonderful this city was. It goes to show that we should be careful what we wish for. THE OLYMPICS WAS A BAD IDEA. The influx of people and also some very undesirables..

By Thomas

January 28, 2009 5:44 AM | Link to this

I remember so much of the 70’s cause I had the pleasure of working at WQXI. Lord the numerous concerts..Stones at the Municipal Auditorium,Dog Days Concert @ Ga. Tech,Chattahoochie Raft races,. Hmmm we had The Great Southeast Music Hall,Agora,and Electric Ballrooms..clubs we had Packets,Penrod’s,Limelight’s,the real 112 and $8.00 concert ticket prices.Working around Gary Mcgee,Willis the Guard,Don Benson,Fleetwood Groover,and yes Kelly Mccoy and Night-Train-Lane.Those were fun times and I’m glad I came thru funtional.

By Doug

January 28, 2009 9:24 AM | Link to this

Bottled Yahoo and Coca-Cola and peanuts at Smallwoods Auto Parts on weekends. Braves game on Pennant Night with Chief Noc-A-Homa running around his tipi. Macy’s tree with Pink Pig Downtown and Kessler’s for a suit and jeans. Sitting on the animals at the Bootery for getting your shoe size. The Olli-train on Bankhead that sold chili hotdogs with my Dad. Church’s Chicken on Bankhead with my Grandad. Riding Marta to the Omni to hear Rick Flair “WHOOO!” and see Tony Atlas “Sleeper Hold” and Dusty Rose “Million-Dollar Elbow” and Mr. Wrestling II - “Knee Lifts” and hear Gordon Solie - “High chop to the solar-plex” with my Aunt. Riding Marta bus with my brother for 30 cents together. Chevolet Impala that will pull by itself without pressing on the gas.

By Doug

January 28, 2009 9:25 AM | Link to this

Bottled Yahoo and Coca-Cola and peanuts at Smallwoods Auto Parts on weekends. Braves game on Pennant Night with Chief Noc-A-Homa running around his tipi. Macy’s tree with Pink Pig Downtown and Kessler’s for a suit and jeans. Sitting on the animals at the Bootery for getting your shoe size. The Olli-train on Bankhead that sold chili hotdogs with my Dad. Church’s Chicken on Bankhead with my Grandad. Riding Marta to the Omni to hear Rick Flair “WHOOO!” and see Tony Atlas “Sleeper Hold” and Dusty Rose “Million-Dollar Elbow” and Mr. Wrestling II - “Knee Lifts” and hear Gordon Solie - “High chop to the solar-plex” with my Aunt. Riding Marta bus with my brother for 30 cents together. Chevolet Impala that will pull by itself without pressing on the gas. WAOK -am radio with Edmond Patterson ” You can get 10 greens for a $1”

By m.deeyall

January 28, 2009 11:36 AM | Link to this

Living in Atlanta for my 42 years i have seen thousands of black atlantans.It’s a shame that out of 43 photos of Atlanta in the 1970’s the AJC could only show 3 with black people in them. One with the police taking a blackman to jail,one showing little black children getting free ice cream,and one with a black man standing by 5 points.The AJC even showed two pictures twice, the opening of the south dekalb mall,and the opening and closing of a store in the omni.I guess the only other pictures they have of black atlantans are those of the klan killing us,or us killing us or wayne williams. why no pictures of mr. mayner jackson?Or any good times we had in the 70’s.What is it,doesnt the AJC like showing positive images of black people….

By bob

January 28, 2009 12:25 PM | Link to this

I remember when the Neely Farm subdivision was Frank Neely’s actual farm.

By RyderofRed

January 28, 2009 1:57 PM | Link to this

I want to honestly thank Steve for mentioning ‘Storyland’. I visited there once with my folks when I was very young and while I had forgotten the actual name of the place, the fairy tale themed exhibits and rides really stuck with me. So whenever I mentioned this ‘really neat little amusement park’ that used to be somewhere around Atlanta, no one seemed to be able to remember it, and without a name I couldn’t seem to find anything about it. I was beginning to think I had imagined it. I appreciate it Steve. I have to respectfully disagree with Joe. True, Atlanta has changed very much, and not all of the changes have been for the better. But most of the good AND evil changes have been the result of progress, and that was inevitable. Like anything else that evolves, we had to experience our growing pains. It’s up the the citizens of this city to promote and encourage the good and resist the evil. It takes an aware, compassionate and involved populace to keep things moving forward. If that same populace is curious and intelligent as well, it makes the whole process a little easier. The alternative has a great deal of some of the less savory things we see today; guns, guards, gates, alarms, being afraid to walk, or even ride for that matter, in certain parts of town. When that becomes the standard everywhere, evil wins—-and the rest of us lose.

By Roe

January 29, 2009 10:12 AM | Link to this

Man, Atlanta in the 70’s. I remember people protesting the war and smoking some good stuff - back when it was almost legal because no one cared and it was dirt cheap. I remember hanging out on the East Side and going to wrestling matches with a different girlfriend every week. I still live in Atlanta and would not live anywhere else. And yeah, I still smoke some good stuff…

By curtis clark

January 29, 2009 10:52 AM | Link to this

I remember the atlanta child murders.

By mexdawg

January 29, 2009 12:53 PM | Link to this

Oh what a great time.So much to remember.In the early seventies Underground Atlanta was phasing down.I remember Ruby Red’s and Kenny’s Alley.They also had a street cart that served the best roast beef sandwich I’ve ever had.I remember some of the great concerts like the Georgia jam held in the old lauching pad.Piedmont Park on sundays.The great Chattohochee river raft race where you could walk across the river from raft to raft.I belive the last one drew about a million people.There were so many good clubs and bars.some of my favorite the Beer Mug,5 Paces,Carlos Meegee’s,Aunt Charlies,Timothy John’s,Alex Cooley’s Electric Ballroom,Richard’s and of course TGI Friday’s on sunday afternoon.There was also plenty of good music like Ben Dover and the Tennessee Tucker Boy’s,Bank’s and Shane and of course Lazy Day’s at meegee’s.I remember Scottie the albano bartender at Meegee’s along with Tony Baloney and the Mayor who were waiters at Panos and Paul’s and would drop by Meegees after work with a pocket full of cash.Man what a great time to be alive.God bless all of those beautiful Atlanta women.

By DBM

January 29, 2009 1:08 PM | Link to this

* Parties at the Thevis mansion ……………Yeah, I was the blonde sitting innocently in the corner with my clothes ON *

By BornAtlMan

January 29, 2009 1:18 PM | Link to this

I am also a “Grady baby”. I was born in 1970, and I remember shopping at Kessler’s, Buying forty five records downstairs at McCrory’s, and also looking for stuff in Woolworth’s by Five Points! And I still love to go downtown just to take it all in. I even remember when they filmed Sharky’s Machine here. I Love My City.

By BornAtlMan

January 29, 2009 1:20 PM | Link to this

I am also a “Grady baby”. I was born in 1970, and I remember shopping at Kessler’s, Buying forty five records downstairs at McCrory’s, and also looking for stuff in Woolworth’s by Five Points! And I still love to go downtown just to take it all in. I even remember when they filmed Sharky’s Machine here. I Love My City.

By Peggy

January 29, 2009 1:48 PM | Link to this

Does anyone out there remember The Electric Eye? I was there almost every Friday and Sat. night listening to the bands; Hydra, Brother Bait, and Choice. I agree with all the other memories. My first concert at the auditorium was the Beach Boys, and my second was the Beatles ,I think I was in the 4th grade, I have older sisters so I was lucky enough that they had to drag me along. After I got in high school,when there was a concert, I was there. I feel very fortunate to have grow up when you could afford to go to any concert without having to take out a loan to buy a ticket. I graduated from Norcross High School in 1974.

Yeah, Flossy from the Varsity, the Great Speckled Bird, the Strip and all of the previous postings about life in Atlanta in the 70’s brings back alot of memories.

By bebe

January 29, 2009 7:14 PM | Link to this

Remember the “Now Explosion” on TV? Or, the Place on Paces, Moes and Joes, Good Ol Days, Aunt Charlies, the Lime Light? Igloo ice skating rink, Try Me Deli, leaving the bars at 18 years of age when they shut down at 2, moving the party over to JWV on Roswell Rd., sneaking in the back door and not leaving until 7:00 in the morning? Skipping school that day and headin’ over to the river to chill until it was time to come home from school? And still livin’ to tell it? Cruising Chastain Park. Two groups of kids heading in two different directions to see who could hitch-hike to Chastain the fastest? Getting dropped off at Lenox Square for a day of fun at Pet Village etc…then hang out for hours on end at the bowling alley? The memories are endless. We “got the goodie outta Buckhead”. That’s the truth. Back in the 70’s.

By RusT

January 30, 2009 11:08 AM | Link to this

I grew up in Virginia-Highland (no, not “the Highlands, yuppie scum!). Born at Crawford Long in ‘62. In ‘73, the forced integration of the schools meant riding a bus all the way across town to O’Keefe Middle School, instead of the four block walk to Inman Elementary. What a cultural education that was! Inman had been 98% white; O’keefe was 85% black. I think this event was key to the success of overcoming racism in Atlanta in the 70’s and 80’s. Kids like me grew up with at least some understanding of each other’s culture. Some fond memories include playing at Piedmont Park, hot Krispy Kreme’s, going to Braves games with the other 2,000 fans, field trips to Fernbank and Atlanta Dairies, the Ramblin’ Raft Race, and the little red brick church we grew up in (Our Savior on Highland). I also remember when they condemned all those houses in out neighborhood for the freeway project that was later sued out of existence. Wish I could have bought one of those little dumps back then; they go for half a mil now.

By wandawoman

January 30, 2009 11:35 AM | Link to this

We saw Ted Nugent at a rock club directly across from the Fox Theater on Peachtree Street in ‘79. At least that is the way we remember it. Does anyone have a clue about the name of the club? Nevermind …

Mexdawg’s post has my answer and it is: Alex Cooley’s Electric Ballroom.

At the Fox Theater in the 70’s we saw David Bowie (after his Ziggy Stardust stage) and Robert Palmer (he reminded us of a young Sinatra).

We went to two Dog Day Rock Fests. The original one was the best.

Wow!! Those were the days. And to think we only lived in Atlanta mid 70’s to early 80’s.

By bebe

January 30, 2009 7:55 PM | Link to this

Was it Alex Cooley’s Electric Ballroom? I can’t remember…but I do remember being in that club across from the Fox for a “toga” party. I was about 17 or so and my big brother caught wind of it and drove downtown, came in and MADE ME LEAVE! LOL!

By the kinky lady

February 2, 2009 5:59 AM | Link to this

The Kinky Lady is still live and well and living in Gwinnett Co. Kinky is planning a Hillbilly Wedding in the spring with lots of live goats so everyone will have a dance partner.

By round2

February 2, 2009 11:46 AM | Link to this

Are we all invited?

By the kinky lady

February 2, 2009 5:45 PM | Link to this

Yes, but bring your own moist towelettes.

By the kinky lady

February 2, 2009 5:47 PM | Link to this

Yes, but remember there’s no such thing as a consenting goat in the state of Georgia, so bring your own bail money.

By the kinky lady

February 2, 2009 5:51 PM | Link to this

On second thought, what do you look like, I could change grooms.

By round2

February 2, 2009 9:01 PM | Link to this

Like Joe the Plumber, but with goat skills. BTW, I like them goats that faint.

By the kinky lady

February 3, 2009 4:25 AM | Link to this

Faint???? hmmmm….got one that can skip, will that work?

By round2

February 3, 2009 8:59 PM | Link to this

How bout a goat named Skip that can skip rocks?

By the kinky lady

February 4, 2009 6:30 AM | Link to this

What about a goat named Rita, dressed in a black lace garter belt and fishnet stockings with lots of junk in the trunk and a weakness for men that can’t hold a job. Rita is a part-time piano player in the “HaHa” room of the Heavenly Body Motel and she can do the Tango in such a provacative way, she’s illegal in 13 states and one Commonwealth. Now thats a goat!

By Natalie

February 4, 2009 4:02 PM | Link to this

I was a first-generation Chinese-American and remember being the only Asian kid in school in Smyrna. My family got all sorts of stares, funny comments (Your English is very good) , some name-calling (chink, gook). Being a non-Black and non-White in the 70’s resulted in a mixture of curiosity, ridicule and affinity from strangers.

We spoke Chinese but my dad preferred Johnny Cash and the Varsity. My mom is a great cook but was also a public school teacher and played Chinese dodgeball with her students. It was an interesting cultural juxtaposition.

If you’re interested in learning more about my family’s immigrant journey from “buddha to bubba” as one of Atlanta’s Chinese-American families, visit my new blog at www.chinesesouthernbelle.blogspot.com or visit www.eveningatemory.org where we’ll be teaching Eggrolls n’ Sweet Tea, a new food/culture course. It’s part of a larger project that celebrates food, family, culture and community. Enjoy and Ni Hao, Y’all!

By Natalie

February 4, 2009 4:14 PM | Link to this

I remember being the only Asian kid in school in Smyrna in the 70’s! My family got all sorts of stares, funny comments (Your English is very good) , some name-calling (chink, gook). Being a non-Black and non-White in the 70’s resulted in a mixture of curiosity, ridicule and affinity from strangers.

We spoke Chinese but my dad preferred Johnny Cash and the Varsity. My mom is a great cook but was also a public school teacher and played Chinese dodgeball with her students. It was an interesting cultural juxtaposition.

If you’re interested in learning more about my family’s immigrant journey from “buddha to bubba” as one of Atlanta’s Chinese-American families, visit my new blog at www.chinesesouthernbelle.blogspot.com or visit www.eveningatemory.org where we’ll be teaching Eggrolls n’ Sweet Tea, a new food/culture course. It’s part of a larger project that celebrates food, family, culture and community. Enjoy and Ni Hao, Y’all!

By RusT

February 6, 2009 1:18 PM | Link to this

Hey wandawoman, wasn’t the little venue across from the Fox called the Agora Ballroom? I don’t remember if it was the same location as Alex Cooley’s, but the name I remember was the Agora. I saw the Dixie Dregs there on Halloween in the early 80’s. Steve Morse was dressed as the grim reaper - very freaky.

By Doug

February 6, 2009 1:31 PM | Link to this

I grew up in Dunwoody in the 60s and we lived on a dirt road. There was nothing out there and we even had a “party line” on our phone. We always came into town for everything. Mom would sit outside in the car and smoke cigs and read Taylor Caldwell novels while we watched Disney movies at the Fox. Flash forward to the 70s and everything we did was from Buckhead to downtown, that was the place to be. My first concert was Chicago at Atlanta/Fulton Co. Stadium. Double dated with my brother and we got stoned out of our minds driving Dad’s Buick. Tons of concerts at the Omni and Electric Ballroom and Agora Ballroom. Then 688 came arouond. It was fun to actually DRIVE through Piedmont Park and cruise guys… Oh, did I mention that transition? Peachtree St. in Midtown was skid row and nothing but druggies and hustlers on Cypress St. Partying at the Locker Room, Sweet Gum Head, Stephen’s, Shelly’s and Encore/Backstreet. Good times…

By Maelstrom

February 7, 2009 12:01 PM | Link to this

I went to Atlanta in ‘71, left after a while, went back in ‘72 and stayed until ‘74. Played in several bands back then all over the South. Opened for Skynyrd a few times at Funocchio’s and The Great Southeast Music Hall. We performed at The Palace and The Burning Of Atlanta Bar in the Underground. Great times to be a rock musician because the girls were not shy…Got some stuff on YouTube if interested. Type “usafbrat50” in search box. Came back to Atlanta in ‘79 and played at the Agora Ballroom and toured part of the South. Read the comments and memories came flooding back. Loved the Tuesday foot-long special at Zesto’s.

By CS

February 19, 2009 11:20 PM | Link to this

I grew up in the 70’s in Chamblee - which is now Raided with Asians/Chinese! Buford Highway was the best times in the 70’s: Food Giant- Zayre - Lionel Leisure Playworld - Putt-Putt Golf - Woolworths - Treasure Island - Grandmamas Biscuits - Playland Skating Rink - The Strip Clubs (on the North Druid Hills side) And - Brookhaven Bobby (the big guy that stood in front of the diner on P’tree Ind. Blvd! Great times - and great memories!

By 70's

February 19, 2009 11:24 PM | Link to this

I remember “OZ” music store on P’Tree Ind. Blvd. I happened to be there when “THE POLICE” made an appearance, before they were famous!

By BR

February 22, 2009 9:42 PM | Link to this

I went to Oakcliff Elementary, do you remember that school? I remember everything you mentioned except the big guy. Do you remember where the old public pool was near the library, or the clock restaurant almost directly across GrandMA’s biscuits next to the old 7-11?

By Denise

February 25, 2009 2:03 PM | Link to this

I was born at Georgia Baptist Hospital in Dec. 1960… lived here all my life. I remember remember we would drive around Atlanta on Sunday’s looking at all the shops in Buckhead on Peachtree just to see the Hippies. I remember the Raft Races, Gary McKee, Yetta Levitt, Willis the guard on AM stations, then on 94Q. I Remember the Limelight, and Stone Pony. I remember the Toys for Tots concerts-the tickets were $10.00 plus a new/used toy in good condition, the concerts started at 1pm and you got to see at least 6 popular groups like Styx, Kansas, Dr. Hook and the Medicine show. Champagne Jams were a blast at the GA Tech football field, the guy who climbed the flag pole. Hanging out at Krystal and Shoney’s on Jonesboro Rd in Forest Park. I could go on and on, MAN THOSE WERE THE DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Phil H. in Houston, TX.

February 26, 2009 7:44 PM | Link to this

Gone from Atlanta since 1975…memories vivid. During the hippie era, Atlanta opened up. Never was a better place than “Whisk-A-Go-Go” on Ponce de Leon. “San Souci” on W. Peachtree was good, as was “The Martinique” on Stewart Ave. with “Lots of Papa” and his band. Spent the better part of ten years at “The Brave Falcon”…even worked the door on weekends for a couple of those years. The local resident bookie, “Doc”, loaned me tuition money several times, helping me graduate from Georgia State. The house band at The Brave, most years, was “The Satisfactions”. “The Brave Falcon” was managed by Atlanta legend, Clarence Busby (of Lithonia). Is he still alive? If so, does anyone know where he lives? How to reach him? We used to leave “The Brave Falcon” after 2:00 AM and go across Cheshire Bridge to “Soul City”…lots of big names and great shows there. Adventurous souls might go to “The Royal Peacock” on Auburn. Real night owls went downtown to “The Steak and Trumpet” which remained open until daybreak. The “in” place to live during those years was on Buford Highway at “The Bordeaux” or “Cherry Hill” or “Sutton Place”. I’m old now and I’m not sure any of these exciting, Atlanta adventures ever actually happened. Maybe I was only dreaming; surely they were too good to be true!

By Elaina

February 28, 2009 6:01 AM | Link to this

I was born at Crawford W. Long Hospital, grew up in Buckhead, turned 18 in 1970, and graduared from a local private university. My best memories of Atlanta precede the ugly side of the downgrading hippie days of the 1970s. Those are not days to memorialize or glamorize, and the scenery in certain places was anything but glamorous.
For those of us growing up whose families were Atlanta born know that certain streets and parts of Atlanta were considered off-limits at the turn of 1970. Beginning in 1969-1970, those Atlanta streets were mostly there for sight-seeing if you could stand the sight of such generational degradation as in disgrace, misery, obloquy, infamy, and shame ). The 70s’ in Atlanta were like a really bad movie, where it all went wrong for so for many, it was a movie you were either acting it in or watching it. Drugs and booze took hold over so many. ATLANTA IN 1970’s WAS THE SCENE OF : • hundreds and hundreds of run-a-ways and transients ; • streets and sidewalks were as dirty as some in New Orleans,
• the smell of illegal pot filled the open air but did not cover up the foul smelling body odors, and gross unclean greasy hair of “hippies” wearing rotten filthy blue jean denim bell bottoms that had not been washed in months, worn by people malnourished and underweight because drugs took the place of food;
• dozens of young girls were sleeping curbside, in doorways of buildings and alleyways with small babies and little ones without shoes or coats in freezing temps, • drug pimps all around, drug dealers on every corner. • on a nightly or daily basis, when the “hippies” weren’t asleep on the sidewalks on in the Park they were stopping traffic begging for money for milk for the babies which they would in turn use the money to buy more drugs;
• urination in public was rampant, partial-nudity, intercourse and oral sex was a common scene on any given drive by, the illicit drugs and their effects did not distinguish the difference of whether it targeted the poor, the middle class, or the upper crust. • Atlanta was slow to get this under control, and it took years for the haunting memories of those scenes to subside only to become mischaracterized depictions by other people of what it was like for those missing what they consider were the good old days.
• I count myself doubly blessed and lucky to have never been a part of that scene and Atlanta sub-culture. My parents took us on one drive-by sightseeing trip through downtown/midtown Atlanta , and what I saw left me mortified, and I remained a better person for it.
• Later I switched my college major from journalism/law to education and thought as a high school teacher I could single handedly save the next generation bound to be effected by the drug craze. My plans derailed from the outset when I confronted the Board Of Education of the things I discovered during Student teaching, and was instructed to ignore it all. Looking the other way was not an option for me, especially after one of the students who was a 15 year old boy died from an accidental drug overdose in his backyard during summer vacation, who was trying to cope with the loss of his older brother who graduated the year before while working a part time job for Pepsi, when gunned down by accident in the wrong place at wrong time during a drug deal gone bad. There are dozens and doznes of stories each one different. I could never bring myself to ever buy a pair of blue denim bell bottoms not even years later. Perhaps the glazed-over blue eyes of the 15 year old who died made it impossible to forget the reality of those trashy street scenes and times , and probably worse in other big cities. Atlanta was better than this and there was a lesson for those who witnessed it. Perhaps it is a reminder for Atlanta that above all else the APD deservers higher pay and better benefits, and Atlanta should strive to have a world class police / detective department who are not afraid to do their jobs. Then and only then can Atlanta be as safe as many recall. PERHAPS AFTER THE 70S AND THE FIRST-HALF OF THE 80s CAME AND WENT, WHAT SOARED TO THE TOP AND GRABBED AMERICA’S ATTENTION WAS MICHAEL MANN, MIAMI VICE AND DON JOHNSON WHO MADE EVERY GUY WANT TO CLEAN UP, LOSE HIS SOCKS AND BELT AND WEAR A HOLSTER TO GO AFTER THE BAD GUYS . SURELY THERE IS A MESSAGE HERE SOMEWHERE!!!!

• In the 1970s: AL’s Pizza Cove and the Red Dog Saloon ( at the triangle in the Buckhead) were favorites, as well as the Victoria Station (a train car restaurant on Piedmont Rd ), Lum’s, the Magic Pan (for the best French Crepes ) & El Chico’s ( best Mexican tamales ) both at Lenox Square ). Atlanta-born singer /composer Joe South performed Bird’s of A Feather , Walk a Mile In My Shoes and Games People Play around town. Baker -Motors Imports Showroom ( with working Ferris Wheel inside glass tower ) was at the corner of Pharr & Peachtree . There was a fabulous upscale Polynesian Restaurant with flaming torches down near Piedmont Hospital called the Luau. The Colorado Mining Company ( Grill & Bar) was popular. There was a Russell Stover Candy Store in the West Paces Shopping Center, and Wender & Roberts Drug Store had a soda fountain bar. Morrison’s Cafeteria was located where there is now Brio’s. There was an awesome Toy Store where the Tuxedo Festival is located. Pappagello’s Shoe Boutique at West Paces closed or moved. Freidman’s Ladies Shoes was down from Jim Salles Records and across from triangle in Buckhead. Northside High School was in the top 1 percent of public schools with teachers and courses equivalent to Lovett . 98.9 % of graduating class were already accepted by a college or university , with 10% accepted at Ivy League Gone are Atlanta’s best delis : SAL’S at the corner of Briarcliff and LaVista, and The Snack N’Shop at West Paces ( is most missed). The very finest restaurants were The Ambassador in the Tuxedo area on Roswell Road, and Fan & Bill’s downtown. Hollywood Movie Star/Singer James Darren ( Gidget’s Moondoggy) used to perform at the Hilton. Elvis was a regular. Gone is the Bolton Drive In, and the Piedmont Road Drive–in. Gone is the Shoney’s on Piedmont. Gone is the old Maier & Berkele. The Rushton Doll Factory disappeared in 1970s. Jim White’s Half-Shell in Peachtree Battle Shopping Center is no longer around, and was frequented by Harmon Wages and Debbie Norville.
Gone is the Rich’s Regency Shops at Lenox that rivaled anything at today’s Neiman Marcus or Saks, gone is the Rich’s Connoisseur Gallery at Lenox that housed some of the finest antiques in Atlanta. Gone is the Rich’s Bake Shop at Lenox which made the best Lemon Coconut Cake ever, and remains a secret recipe. The Crawford W. Long Hospital became known as Emory Crawford Long, and just weeks ago the Crawford Long part was dropped and its now the Emory Midtown Hospital. Within past few months the great English Tudor Estate owned by George Woodruff of Coca-Cola was bulldozed so a new house could be built, and so another important part of Atlanta’s history was lost when the house was leveled to the ground. In the past 8 years, greedy and unintelligent architects and designers of high-end homes have destroyed the integrity of Atlanta real estate in Buckhead by over -saturating the area with mega sized fake mansions.
There is an effort underway to change Atlanta to the point no one recognizes it, at least not by the names by which we know much of it. He overdone mega mansions have been renamed mini-mansions and now they are all rapidly becoming Ghost Mansions along with the Ghost Malls None one thought about the future. Our Nation is in a crisis. Georgia was awarded $250,000,000.00 from the Stimulus Bill to help the Blue Berry Crop. I think everyone is Atlanta’s Buckhead/Garden Hills/ Collier/ Brookwood & Midtown , etc. should have their own Blue Berry bushes.

By Al Whitton

February 28, 2009 8:43 PM | Link to this

Born in and raised in Sandy Springs. Started shooten the Hooch in the early 60s. There was nobody on the river but us. What a great place to grow-up. Country living in a little city, and we knew how good we had it all the time. Chattahooche Plantation just across the river, camping up at Morgan Falls dam. And then the Raft Race came. If it were not for the development of Columns dr in East Cobb, it might still be going on. Its a shame only a few of use new ATL back then. Look what it is now. I can say I am from ATLANTA.

By DAN DEACON

March 1, 2009 5:30 PM | Link to this

Someone mentioned Underground Atlanta and the Madhatter. Man that place was like a warehouse and would hold about a thousand people and did on Wednesday and the weekends. There use to be a line outside to get in. A real hot spot. Does anyone remember a dj by the name of Charlie Obrien? I remember, he started a contest every Saturday night, it seemed and would give a way Madhatter t-shirts to great twisters and dancers. He’d play Chubby Checker and a couple of records like that for the contest and then go right back into Play That Funky Music White Boy and get your blood to going even more.. What fun days those were.

By kerry

March 1, 2009 8:39 PM | Link to this

was trying to remember a comedian that performed at the Great Southeast Music Hall along with Steve Martin, Cheech and Chong, etc!! What a great place it was. This guy had an easy chair and has since done other things as well as been on a sitcom! What is his name????????????? Please help, driving me crazy as if the 70s weren’t crazy enough!

By Denise

March 3, 2009 4:57 PM | Link to this

Wow, I cannot believe I forgot about the best movie ever being film in and around Clayton/Fayette County—Smokey and the Bandit!!

By Cathy

March 4, 2009 9:54 AM | Link to this

I remember all above. Born at Crawford Long, just a little victorian house at the time. Grew up in “the golden ghetto” and went to Margaret Mitchell Elementary School and Northside High. That is when Buckhead was the burbs. My first concert when I was a tween was Herman Hermits, backup band was the Animals. That was the 60’s, but first concert in the 70’s was Fleetwood Mac at the Sports Arena. There were no girls in the band at that time and “OH WELL” was their first big hit. Remember that song? “Can’t help it by the shape I’m in, I can’t say I ain’t pretty and my legs are thin. But don’t ask me what I think of you, I might might not give the answer that you want me to”. I remember smoking pot in front of the security guards and they wouldn’t do anything because 100’s of hippies would beat them up if they did. HA! I worked at Colony Square and the Alliance Theater and saw Pink Floyd do their opening of Dark Side of the Moon FROM BACKSTAGE at the new Symphony Hall. I practically owned the SE Music Hall and ate at the Sizzler’s down the street. Lived on Collier Road and filled up my 64 mustang AND got a pack of cigs for $5 at the Tenneco. Life was good and uncomplicated. Must go to work now as there is a mortgage to pay.

By Cathy

March 4, 2009 9:57 AM | Link to this

I remember all above. Born at Crawford Long, just a little victorian house at the time. Grew up in “the golden ghetto” and went to Margaret Mitchell Elementary School and Northside High. That is when Buckhead was the burbs. My first concert when I was a tween was Herman Hermits, backup band was the Animals. That was the 60’s, but first concert in the 70’s was Fleetwood Mac at the Sports Arena. There were no girls in the band at that time and “OH WELL” was their first big hit. Remember that song? “Can’t help it by the shape I’m in, I can’t say I ain’t pretty and my legs are thin. But don’t ask me what I think of you, I might might not give the answer that you want me to”. I remember smoking pot in front of the security guards and they wouldn’t do anything because 100’s of hippies would beat them up if they did. HA! I worked at Colony Square and the Alliance Theater and saw Pink Floyd do their opening of Dark Side of the Moon FROM BACKSTAGE at the new Symphony Hall. I practically owned the SE Music Hall and ate at the Sizzler’s down the street. Lived on Collier Road and filled up my 64 mustang AND got a pack of cigs for $5 at the Tenneco. Life was good and uncomplicated. Must go to work now as there is a mortgage to pay.

By cathy

March 4, 2009 10:14 AM | Link to this

sorry for the double post.

By Cathy

March 4, 2009 1:00 PM | Link to this

To Kerry: That show was the Steve Martin Mull show at the SE Music Hall. It was Martin Mull in the easy chair.

By Barbara

March 7, 2009 5:31 PM | Link to this

Living on 5th Street, everyone friendly with everyone, barefoot, floppy denim hat, weed plentiful. Neighborhood Vietnam Vets struggling emotionally, mentally. Great Buckhead Saloon (before Limelight was conceived), seeing Harlem Globetrotters at the Omni, seeing a young Harmon Wages and Debra Norville together, walking to Champagne Jam. Bill Tush falling out of his chair, 714’s, weirdo’s propositions, bicyclers too stoned to drive. Loved the time then, love it more now!

By bluesmoke

March 17, 2009 8:38 PM | Link to this

I keep coming back and reading this stuff. I think I knew some of you people. It was long ago and far away.I lived for quite a few years at Kopenhaven Apartments in Tucker. Strange bunch of people

By bluesmoke

March 17, 2009 8:38 PM | Link to this

I keep coming back and reading this stuff. I think I knew some of you people. It was long ago and far away.I lived for quite a few years at Kopenhaven Apartments in Tucker. Strange bunch of people

By Richard

March 18, 2009 8:21 PM | Link to this

The Allman Brothers free concert in the park

By Julie Moore

March 19, 2009 8:21 PM | Link to this

The party apartments were Moonraker, Sundown at the Oasis and Riverbend. I remember watching my parents getting dressed to go to the Save the Fox ball. The Big Chicken was a hamburger place called the Chick, Chuck and Shake. Deep Purple played at my sisters prom. Tommy Nobis came to our school and signed autographed pictures. Zestos in little five points. Kennesaw was considered the “boondocks”. My Mother shopping at Big Star grocery stores. Kentucky Fried Movie and Rocky Horror Picture Show were the midnight movies. Eating at the Yellow Jacket restaurant down from the Varsity. Courtship of Eddie’s Father, Nanny and the Professor , Brady Bunch and Partridge Family were the Friday Night TV line-up. My parents going to the Barn Dinner Theater. Partying at Charlie McGruder’s. Seeing the live alligator at Down the Hatch in underground. I remember finally getting a color TV and a few years later cable TV was available. getting in trouble for bringing my “clackers” to school. Wearing bright pink pom poms on my roller skates. Playing “pong” before Atari came out. Driving through Buckhead , Morningside and Virginia Highlands at Christmastime just to see the houses Christmas decorations. Going to the opening party for Studebaker’s club. Growing up in the 70’s combined with living in the Atlanta area was amazing.

By Linda

March 28, 2009 1:07 PM | Link to this

I remember coming to Atlanta in 1974. I lived on St. Charles Ave. I had never been to a big city before and I thought it was just fantastic! 24 hour stores, Marta buses, drag queens( I had never seen a gay person before), the Plaza on Ponce, the Majestic, and the Fox and Rialto theatres downtown where my husband and I went every weekend to see a movie. AHHHHHH those were the days!!!!!!