A fire caused major fire damage to Athens, Ga.’s landmark Georgia Theatre earlier Friday. The iconic Theatre, located in the heart of Athen’s historic downtown area, has been the hub of the city’s famed music scene ever since it became a music venue in 1978. It has played host – and quasi-home – to such notable hometown acts as R.E.M., Widespread Panic and the B-52s.
According to the Athens Banner-Herald, firefighters were first called to the Theatre at approximately 7 a.m. after a man reportedly walking through downtown on his way home smelled something burning and noticed smoke billowing from the Theatre’s front doors. Witnesses said the Theatre’s roof collapsed about one hour later. The Theatre was unoccupied when the fire broke out.
“It appeared to have started on the second floor and broke through the roof shortly thereafter,” Iby George, chief of the Athens-Clarke Fire Department told the Banner-Herald. “We’re in defensive mode now. It’s hard to say if they’ll be able to rebuild. There is at least going to be extensive damage.”
Theatre owner Wilmot Greene, however, told the Banner-Herald that his initial inspection found the exterior walls to be “sound,” and that he “planned to rebuild.”
The Theatre is known for its excellent acoustics and intimate atmosphere, with capacity seating for just 620 attendees. Over the years it has played host to such major acts as B.B. King, Derek Trucks, Drive By Truckers, Tom Waits, Wynton Marsalis, Sister Hazel, Hootie and the Blowfish, The Police and Lucinda Williams.
The band Perpetual Groove was scheduled to perform at the Theatre Friday and Saturday night, but those shows have been cancelled. Instead, the band will perform a benefit concert for the damaged Georgia Theatre on Saturday at the Classic Center. Tickets to any of the cancelled shows will be honored at the Classic Center show, and additional tickets may be purchased at http://www.georgiatheatre.com/.
“We’re doing this to help them out and not charging any rent or anything,” Classic Center assistant executive director Philip Verrastro told the Banner-Herald. “We want to help support the Theatre, so we’re simply charging tickets for the expense of labor; we really want to accommodate the show without any extra cost to (the Georgia Theatre).”
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