By Ann Taylor Boutwell
Jan. 1, 1949: Just after midnight, the horn-blowing crowd at the Hotel Ansley’s Rainbow Roof at 92-102 Forsyth Street began to disperse. They had danced the last dance of 1948 to Buddy Moreno’s orchestra and sang a rousing version of Auld Lang Syne. Guest had paid $7.50, including tax, for a lavish dinner and entertainment. Many departed carrying the attractive souvenir program and Manager A. Joe Crocy’s message: “Walk the road of 1949 free of burdens and recognize every day the finest in you and those you meet.” The hotel eventually became the Dinkler Plaza and was demolished in 1973.
Jan. 2, 1928: The Alhambra Apartment building on the corner of Peachtree Road and Sheridan Drive was open for public inspection. Three and four room units rented for $60 and $85, featuring front porches, stoves, refrigerators and sanitary clean oil heat. The three-story, Moorish-revival-style structure made of hollow tile brick, stone and stucco was built by J.H. Whisenant, a local developer who sold it in December 1927 for $325,000. The estimated rental value was $45,000 per year. Over time the building’s pink-colored original stucco exterior was changed to a soft cream. Today the landmark condo building stands at 2855 Peachtree Road in the Garden Hills Historic District.
Jan. 4, 1926: Developers broke ground at 675 Ponce de Leon Avenue for the $3 million, 13-story Sears Roebuck site (pictured above). The Atlanta Chamber of Commerce noted the occasion in the City Builder magazine. “Atlanta was selected for the distributing point for the Southeast,” said Sears-Roebuck President C. M. Kittle, “because of the fine transportation facilities. We made a thorough investigation of the fine transportation of the entire section, desiring to serve our patrons with better and quicker service, and finally decided that Atlanta would fill the bill.” Architect George C. Nimmons designed the building, which opened seven months later on Aug. 2. The landmark building eventually became City Hall East and is now being transformed into Ponce City Market.
Jan. 13, 1979: The U. S. Postal Service issued a Martin Luther King, Jr. commemorative stamp honoring the slain civil rights leader with the first day of issue in Atlanta. The stamp was the second in the Postal Service’s annual Black Heritage series.
Jan. 13, 1939: Vivien Leigh signed on to play the role of Scarlett O’Hara in the movie Gone With The Wind. December 15, 2014 will mark the premiere’s 75th anniversary date at Atlanta’s Loew’s Grand Theatre.
Jan. 15, 1986: The Boy King, produced by WSB-TV, was shown locally and at 77 other stations around the United States. The drama marks the first national observance of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday as a holiday. Much of the WSB’s filming took place in the actual homes in the Auburn Avenue area where King grew up. The script was written by Rand Hopkins (1945-2005), a native Atlantan.
Jan. 15, 1903: Piedmont Hotel opened at 108-110 Peachtree Street on the corner of Luckie Street. The owners were George W. Parrott, president; Hoke Smith, vice president; and Samuel F. Parrott secretary and treasurer. It occupied nearly an entire block in the center of the downtown business and theatre district. It was demolished in 1963 to make way for the Equitable Building.
Jan. 24, 1906: Atlanta native Mary Grant Dickson entertained 40 friends in her elegant, new three-story apartment building named the Elysee Palace. Her 800 Peachtree Street address was located between the mansion of Morton R. Emmons at 794 and Cornelius J. Sheehan at 806. The 1898 Fulton County records referred to it as the Grant Dickson property. Today, the greenspace south of the Margaret Mitchell House and Museum marks the spot where the Elysee Palace once stood.
Ann Taylor Boutwell is an Atlanta historian, tour guide and docent at the Margaret Mitchell House & Museum. Email her atannboutwell@bellsouth.net.
