Flashback Photos: 40 years ago in Georgia, 1981, Part One

Flashback Photos

Flashback Photos: 40 years ago in Georgia, 1981, Part One

These photos from 1981 prove that Atlanta has always been a popular spot for celebrities, whether they're filming here or just promoting their work. You'll also get a glimpse of how much things have changed over the past four decades in places like Austell, Acworth, Midtown Atlanta and along Ga. 400.

Academy Theatre, in the Erlanger Theater building (583 Peachtree Street), Atlanta, Georgia, June 15, 1981. George A. Clark / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Archives

A look at Peachtree Street between 11th and 10th streets in 1981..

At the time this photo was taken in January 1981, Atlanta police were trying to clear neighborhoods such as this one on Peachtree Street of prostitution.

The area just north of 10th Street in Midtown Atlanta appearing down on its luck in 1981. The view is looking south toward downtown.

Athens band Pylon play among the pylons in Athens. Randy Bewley (from left), Vanessa Briscoe, Michael Lachowski (seated) and Curtis Crowe. Photographed in August 1981.

Reginald Eaves, Jesse Jackson and Henry 'Hank' Aaron at Andrew Young's campaign headquarters on Oct. 27, 1981, after the mayoral election runoff. Young won that election against Sidney Marcus.

Sidney Marcus (from left), his wife Charlotte Marcus and their son Brad on stage at the Omni Ballroom as Marcus was running for mayor on Oct. 6, 1981.

Avondale Estates, located east of Decatur, is one of the very first planned communities in the United States. Formerly known as Ingleside, Avondale Estates was designed and built in the mid-1920s and still maintains the same charm it had from the beginning. (NONA BOYD/AJC staff)

The Tudor-style business district and adjoining residential areas of Avondale Estates, seen here in 1981, were named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. (NANCY MANGIAFICO/AJC staff)

A Volkswagen heads north into semi-rural Cobb County on the South Cobb Drive bridge over the Chattahoochee River in June 1981.

Exterior of Acworth City Hall and Acworth Hardware buildings in 1981.

On April 10, 1981, at Kresge Hall at Clark College, actress, novelist and poet Maya Angelou spoke to college students and others and held a question-and-answer session. (Dwight Ross Jr/AJC staff) 1981

Maya Angelou at an interview with the AJC's Leonard Teel on October 26, 1981. (Dwight Ross Jr/AJC staff)

Maya Angelou at an interview with the AJC's Leonard Teel on October 26, 1981. (Dwight Ross Jr/AJC staff)

Maya Angelou at an interview with the AJC's Leonard Teel on October 26, 1981. (Dwight Ross Jr/AJC staff)

This aerial view shows the end of Georgia 400 at Johnson Ferry Road in 1981.

Acworth in 1981.

Exterior of Acworth City Hall and Acworth Hardware store in 1981.

Downtown Alamo, Georgia, in Wheeler County is quiet on April 17, 1981. (Bill Mahan/AJC staff) 1981

Downtown Alamo, Georgia, in Wheeler County on April 17, 1981. Railroad tracks run through the center of town. (Bill Mahan/AJC staff)

These cars are traveling over the section of Ga. 400 newly opened near Dahlonega in 1981. (Bud Skinner/AJC staff)

The original location of the Martin's Restaurants chain, Martin The Burger Boy has been a landmark in Austell since the early 1960s. It's seen here in May 1981.

One of the many curves on Austin Garner Road, which had just recently been paved when this photo was taken on Aug. 6, 1981. Located off Suwanee Dam Road in north Gwinnett County. (Steve Deal/AJC staff)

View looking south along I-85 at the Monroe Drive exit, showing concrete pillars which will loft an elevated highway.

The Henry County courthouse in McDonough in November 1981, just after renovation.
(Cheryl Bray / AJC staff)

Midtown Square in Austell on April 3, 1981.

Austell in 1981.

Burt Reynolds at the "Sharky's Machine" premiere in Atlanta in 1981.

Hosts Burt Reynolds, Sammy Davis Jr., and Frank Sinatra at the Atlanta Missing and Murdered Children benefit event at the Atlanta Civic Center on March 10, 1981.

Looking across Woodruff Park, downtown buildings from left to right: Muse's, C&S, Flatiron and Healey in 1981. (Dwight Ross Jr./AJC staff)

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Academy Theatre, in the Erlanger Theater building (583 Peachtree Street), Atlanta, Georgia, June 15, 1981. George A. Clark / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Archives

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