A major fire started this morning (Fri. June 19) at the Georgia Theatre in Athens, Georgia. One of the premiere live music halls in the Southeast, the longtime Athens landmark, located at the corner of Clayton and Lumpkin Streets, regularly booked top-selling national acts as well as popular local and regional bands. Recent reports from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the WSB Channel 2 Action News state that blaze likely started around 7 a.m. Friday morning. Major damage is likely.
Athens-Clarke County fire dispatchers reported the fire as a major fire and witnesses told Channel 2 Action News the theater was “fully engulfed in flames.” The daily paper Athens Banner-Herald posted a photo from the scene here.
The Georgia Theatre has been one of the major live music venues in Athens for decades. It sported a large stage and hall, a spacious balcony, and two bar areas. R.E.M., Widespread Panic, the Drive-By Truckers, Vic Chesnutt, and many, many Athens greats have performed here over the years.
In a late-morning update, the AJC posted a statement from Athens-Clarke County Fire Chief Chuck Gulley, who said the fire was contained but that the roof of the building had collapsed. He said there was no evidence that anyone was in the building when the fire broke out around 7 a.m. Gulley added that the cause of the fire had not been determined. “It may be a while before we know,” he said.
Help keep the City Paper free.
No paywalls.
No newspaper subscription cost.
Free delivery at 800 locations from downtown to North Charleston to Johns Island to Summerville to Mount Pleasant.
Help support independent journalism by donating today.