Southside Atlanta Memories

Gone With the Wind Photo Gallery, southside south (Panama City)

Below  is a link to a photo gallery you may have already seen in the ajc- it's got some nice shots of the premiere in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the book release being celebrated today. I believe the book was first printed and sold the first of May- The Book of the Month Club wanted to have it for July, so it was not officially released till May 30th 1936. Do comment if I have those months wrong- very possible- The "official" celebrations of the 75th anniversary sort of split it down the middle for today, May 14th, which is pretty ok by me, since today is a favorite day and sticks in my mind anyway.

Click here  for gallery, including Margaret Mitchell being presented with a pink camellia corsage at the premiere.

Picked up the above booty at on of the famous Cove garage sales. The '36 Singer is a get from a sale down the street. Appropriate, no?  Talullah Bankhead, as we all know, was pretty hot for the part of Scarlett in Selznick's movie version, which was being "cast" as the book began flying off the shelves that summer. She was a great buddy of Jock Whitney, and tested extensively. Whether her flamboyance could have served the film or not is anyone's conjecture- Talullah was a fantastic, long lasting presence, as we southern pistols often turn out to be, and I enjoy the 1950s television Talullah more than anyone on currently. And of course, we owe the famous name of our childhood, Bankhead Highway, to her grandfather, who was a supporter of the Federal Good Roads project which brought us that road and in Bay County, U. S. 98, which leads through the beaches of our fair panhandle.

OF course, Clark Gable loved the Cove- loved the hunting and fishing offered at the Cove Hotel. He trained at the Gunnery School across Watson Bayou from there, at Tyndall Air Field in 1941 after his enlistment in the Army Air Corps. The Cove Hotel offered guided trips, led often by Wallace Caswell, seen in Panama City Beach: Tales from the World's Most Beautiful Beaches, and none other than George Thomas and various Thomas brothers, all of whom appear in The Cove: Panama City's Historic Neighborhoods.  

The King also enjoyed the dances held at the Cove Hotel, and the lovely lasses he squired there. He frequented Mattie'e Tavern on Beck Avenue in St. Andrews, a stone's throw from every southsider's favorite seafood spot, Hunt's Oyster Bar.

To hear a little of what it sounds like to be at Hunt's on glittering St Andrews Bay on a blue sky day - in the middle of the week! - as well as what it's like to be standing on the white dunes of St Andrews State Park watching dolphins go by,

click the  WKGC link below, scroll down and listen to Panama City Beach: Tales from the World's Most Beautiful Beaches.  wkgc

Of course, as always, the best thing about the cove, or here, or anyneighborhood is the folks, and we here on the East end just welcomed some new neighbors from Chipley, fixing up a nice place on the lagoon, and I got to see George Thomas and the cover girl of the Cove book, his lovely bride Dorothy.  Mr George, 92, was out picking up the paper so I hopped out and we went in and got Miss Dorothy out of bed to say hey.  Then at the sale noted above- one of my youngest Cove friends was helping her mom with her grandmother's home- they were all for giving my the stuff, which of course couldn't be allowed.

But that's what it's like down here- and that's what neighborhoods are all about! Happy 75th Anniversary Day to you and yours!

 

Steven Bramlett, King of the Southside. Long live the King.

What a heartbreak for all, and certainly anyone concerned with Atlanta and Georgia history. Steven

EP photo taken for a far away friend and researcher, looking for signs of her mom. Historic preservation is about more than a name on a social register, or a property title.

Bramlett left us on April 29th at the age of 46.  If you've ever wanted to research Tommy Roe, Marta, Blount Carriage Factory- Bartow M Blount was the founder of the Capital City Club-The Buggy Works,

Click for picture, courtesy Atlanta History Center

Greenbriar, the Airport, Candler Field, Mary Phagan, Leo Frank, the Georgia DOT, Oh -LET"S NOT FORGET- Patricia Radcliff! Mary Shotwell Little, Dianne Shields, Delta Airlines- just to name a few- They're all from East Point.

He was certainly a true friend to Southside Atlanta Memories and to this writer. He always included me in information that I might enjoy, and went out of his way to assist me in my way too infrequent visits to the lovely East Point Historical Society Museum on Norman Berry Drive. 

His knowledge and dedication to East Point and the living historians still there will be irreplaceable. They're not making them like Steven anymore.

Following are excerpts from a letter published in the ajc letters, on the Opinion page. The page is crappily titled "Tri-cities- College Park." Steven would get why that's so ridiculously incorrect, as would my uncle Horace Blount, also irreplaceably gone, and if you are reading this you probably do, too. East Point is its own city, with a rich and important history, and the ajc just throws another clod on its own grave when it stints its few loyal demo like this.

Steven, I pray you are truly resting in peace, with only an uneasy thought now and then of how you left us really needing your passion and your expertise. I hope to see you soon, if not very soon.  You are missed.

Adden. I just went to my files to double check Bartow Blount's name, and I know no one else would appreciate that pieced together chicken scratch -yet well researched- file like Steven. Pang.

From a fun day in East Point. More folks, more fun. More history, more community. More community, more fun.

From Teresa Nelson's Letter to the Editor:

"It takes someone special to chronicle the history of a community. Preserving the bits and pieces of the past requires significant time and dedication. Steve Bramlett was one of those committed volunteers."

Steve loved the work, spending long hours at the Historical Society center organizing and cataloging materials and preparing numerous exhibits. A technology geek, he worked diligently to bring the center’s archaic record keeping into this century. He delighted in finding new material that could shine a light on a forgotten moment in the area’s past. Steve collaborated with other volunteers from Hapeville and College Park to share information and expand the center’s resources. For those seeking historical information on their homes or ancestors, Steve aided in making the center’s resources available.

The Historical Society was once known as being a stagnant organization, and Steve sought to change that reputation. The exhibits became more engaging, and the board and the center’s resources now better reflect the area’s diversity.

The center often is used for community meetings. Steve worked to open the facility’s doors to local neighborhood associations. After an initial visit to attend a meeting, he found people returned to do research and then became supporters of the center.

Steve’s greatest fear was for the facility itself. Local politicians coveted its highly visible location in East Point’s Spring Park. Steve made supporters aware of periodic efforts by the city of East Point to terminate its lease with the facility. He notified key people in the community to create a network of volunteers that would work behind the scenes or go before the council to protect the facility. Though the threat resurfaces periodically, for now the center is not going to be moved to some hidden location or worse, to fade away altogether.

The shock of Steve Bramlett’s sudden death can be readily seen in people’s faces as they learn the news. It was thought he would always be a presence at the East Point Historical Society."

 

Panama City Beach- Thunder Beach Spring Rally 2011

Well, this is what you've been missing if you stayed in Newnam this weekend- a few sights , and LOTS of sounds-the roar of the bikes, as well as great music, and seagulls; the roar of the waves, and talk with friendly folks. There's always next weekend though- come on down and make some Southside Atlanta Memories right here in Panama City Beach.

If you can't get enough of Panama City Beach memories, check this out- it's on Amazon and Borders' websites already, as well as History Press. should be in stores this week; might be a nice Mother's Day gift, to go with the diamond earrings you've already picked out.

Panama City Beach! Thunder Beach Spring Rally 2011 schedule, reviews-

Have been reviewing last fall's excellent music line-up- this 2011 Spring Thunder Beach is rockin' with Geneva, the Southern All Stars, and this afternoon (Sat. 4/30/11) at the Shoppes at Edgewater, the Ms. Thunder Beach Pageant, 2:00 p. m. 

CLICK TO GO DIRECTLY TO SCHEDULE

Eli's comin'- to Sandpiper again, WHAT a SHOW they always put on.

I think that's the bottom line. From Pat Travers to the newest recruit, these folks are having  FUN giving it up for the audience. Sure, it's a living, but if you've ever run the roads, it's hard work. All of the musicians here look like they are happy to be with us. It shows, and there is no substitute. Ever.

{October, 2010] Edgar Winter wowed the crowd at The Shoppes at Edgewater Friday night.
His now sliver white locks sport bobbed bangs- analogous with his show- classic, yet cutting edge.  He brought  support ,  Doug Rappaport on a nice black Les Paul,  kOko [sic] Powell beating the bass, and Jason Carpenter cheerfully rising  to the daunting task of drumming WITH Edgar Winter.  Make no mistake, it was WITH; Winter is still the master of his instruments- playing his trademark keyboard strapped around his neck , as well as augmenting percussion on a darkened stage with lighted drumsticks during a perfect “Frankenstein.”  He brought out some saxophone blues showing the amazed crowd just who is the “Texas Tornado.”  Like Bugs Bunny with the maestro, Winter had the group laughing and stunned at the same time as he tormented the guitarist ; Winter scatting a solo,and commanding  Rappaport to match it, increasing the range and difficulty each time, until the good natured (and excellent, aside from the shtick) guitar player just looked at the fans and shook his head sadly.  Speaking of fans- they were within touching distance of the stage, and the musicians leaned as far as they safely could to accommodate any desire for closeness or camera phones.  Winter himself shook hands during songs, never missing a beat.   With Molly Hatchet at Shoppes at Edgewater and ELI at the Sandpiper Beacon Beach Resort, (They're there NOW, Spring 2011!) the problem is whom to see.

Each has so much southern rock cred and jam potential. Rocking happy people and a night of really good boogie was pretty much guaranteed, since both groups are made up of musicians who’ve been touring the South for, say, a few years. To paraphrase a local morning show talker, don’t ever say there is nothing to do in Panama City Beach.
And Thunder Beach? This reviewer rides a bicycle, but had a fantastic time at the week’s festivities and has never seen so much rock and roll. For free.

Another lovely day to nap on Panama City Beach! Thunder Beach Spring Rally 2011

Sun, breezes, and the distant roar of the bikes, as well as the surf. What a beautiful place to be today!

 

Rick Derringer was here last year, along with Pat Travers, Edgar Winter, and our southside faves, Eli, who willbe back Friday and Saturday night.

Click here for the music schedule.

[In October 2010] on Thursday night, folks in the know gathered at Club LaVela to witness Rick Derringer and his band, Charlie Torres on bass, and Tommy Curiale with the drum kit. Derringer, the guitar player's guitar player, led the guys showing off uncanny versatility, expected from someone known for everything from “Hang on Sloopy” to “I'm an American”; he toured with Led Zeppelin on their last tour.  RD’s even done a Christian rock album with his kids. It was all crazy guitar jive Thursday night- rocking some very happy fans.

 

The south (side) invades the Gulf (of Mexico): Thunder Beach Spring Rally 2011

 Well, here we go again! All the pretty horses are rolling onto the sandy pavement on Panama City Beach- I hear them rumbling a few streets over as I type. It's daytime- this is not an unwelcome sound to most of us at all. Come enjoy this fabulous place with us!
Easter Sunday 2011 (three days ago!)

In the last three years I have had the pleasure of welcoming southside friends here for Thunder Beach Fall and Spring Rallys and have enjoyed every minute of it, save having to drive around folks out on the *big road* when they are not wearing helmets.

What's your favorite part of the Bike weeks-Thunder Beach in particular?  I've cut out several frustrating clicks for the schedule >>Click here for this year's festivities on the official page.

Check out the Josh Adams Band- they are here, and gave us a preview on the Morning Show today- they are sharp and smokin'!

Last fall I had the privlige of covering some of the music events- I STOOD ON THE STAGE WITH PAT TRAVERS. No. Really. I thought it was going to be simply a nostalgia trip- but some of you may remember, I was in for a BIG surprise! One that includes Rick Derringer, and Edgar Winter!

Oh My! Part in the One of Jeannie's Big Adventure:

“Don't ya know I'm never gonna lose that funky sound-
Rock & roll, hoochie koo”

In fact, they haven’t . The performers here at the Thunder Beach Fall Rally 2010, that is, including Rick Derringer, quoted above.  Evidently if a player survives the initial tidal wave of rock n roll success and excess, he just gets better and better.
Read the headline entertainment line-up for this year’s Fall Rally. Pat Travers, Rick Derringer, Edgar Winter, Molly Hatchet.
 Wednesday night,  Pat Travers and co. were the first pleasant surprise.  Everyone recalls “Boom Boom (Out go the lights!)” with some degree of loathing or fascination, and Travers has been revered among the guitar savvy guys for his chops, earning  a solid following for his high energy live shows. Pat and his current crew (Kirk McKim on guitar, Rodney O’Quinn on bass, and Sean Shannon manning the drums) are grooving right through, looking sharp and fit, laughing; having a good time and giving a GREAT one.  “Crash and Burn” was if anything, better than the 1980 album cut, technically proficient but infused with a little more bluesy feeling, yet retaining that Canadian hard rock coolness.  “Josephine”  contributed a little more of the cryin’ good blues; featuring Travers’ sliding and bending, and later Shannon backed up his mates as they displayed some crowd pleasing three guitar action.

 

Atlanta Motel on 19 & 41- Those confounding post offices.

The genius at Atlanta Time Machine has a treat for us! That's right- some southside goodies. Click here for a turquoise delight of the Atlanta Motel. ATM gets a little confused because of the USPO (at the time) having a policy of using the following post office monikers seemingly interchangeably - Jonesboro, Riverdale, and College Park. During the 1970s as well, Old National was included in the confusion, and I remember my Aunt Mitzi's mailing address flipping back and forth from "Riverdale" to "College Park." Of course, the Atlanta Motel was in Jonesboro, on what we called 1941, also known as Tara Boulevard, and Nine-teen and Forty-one. This federal highway goes down past - guess where? Zebulon, near Warm Springs, and then 19 goes down to Tampa. 41 joins back in from its wanderings to become The Tamiami Trail.

Here's a little experiment merging Airchexx and old maps- 19, and 41 being major arteries for the Florida trip of yore. Great old radio talk from Gary McKee at Quixie in Dixie, WQXI, or Super-Q, as they are calling it here. One of the prizes on the Great Summer Giveaway is the new Allman Bros Band album, Brothers and Sisters.  Click here, and put the pedal to the metal...

Southsiders loving Panama City Beach-

So yesterday morning- clear, warm, blue- I was running (in the car) fast as I could to Publix and to pick up an eyeglass prescription, before the Spring Break traffic became impassable. I was approaching the Joan Avenue/North Lagoon intersection, and I spy a lady picking up garbage! A nice looking lady, and a Suburban parked on the shoulder. In other words; I guessed she wasn't doing community service- no stripes, no deputies. I couldn't believe my eyes. I had to turn my nosey tail around investigate!

One less piece of plastic to choke this egret, here on Grand Lagoon

I enquired as to whether she was the owner of the lot, which I suspected, and introduced myself and was treated to the most encouraging tale! It is NOT her lot. Her name is Missy Thomas and she does this regularly. Usually with her teenage twins. They dispose of the garbage and recycle the aluminum cans, of which there are many during Spring Break; more than you can even imagine. It is foolish to make judgements in this wrecked economy, but I did not apprise her to need the money for food. She said she wanted her children to learn a work ethic.

She regaled me with tales of the folks she met while picking up trash; I knew there were enterprising folks who collected the cans on the beach; I never even pick those up myself, because I know someone will  be there soon to get them. She's found $20.s, dollars, Toms shoes, you name it.

But mostly she's making the place look much better, and saving a dolphin or two.

I went to deposit some of the straws and cellophanes I found while we were talking into the dumpster. 

A lady came out of a building and said, "What group are you with? I want to thank you so much! My son usually comes in and does this [this is taking place on a Saturday morning] but he didn't come in with me." I told her the improbable tale and was delighted to find myself talking to Lenora Wiser, the manager of one of my favorite signs ever, Sugar Beach Condos.  She was a delight.  (The link does not include the sign, much to my chagrin.) It was one of my inspirations as I began work on the forthcoming "Panama City Beach: Tales from the World's Most Beautiful Beaches"  and alas- I did not get any good pics in the book, either. Will try to do something upcoming on the goofy Facebook page, Panama City Beach: Creature from the Grand Lagoon.

A few straws were kept out of the lagoon, and I made two friends. Who besides a Southsider would stop on the side of the road and pick up trash? Exactly! Another southsider! Mrs Thomas's husband is (fortunately!) retired from Delta, and she is still a Delta employee! She has lived with us in Riverdale, Fayetteville, and now they are here! She commutes!

 

Panama City Beach Spring Break is HERE! Rock on, college kids- a little bit about my old school

Yes, it's that time again! Sprong Break is Sprung! Krazy kids doing what we've been doing for a number of years- and then some, I'm sure- but the only time I ever see them is in the middle of the day or at 3:30 in the morning, so I never have any problem with them. But- today it's raining, so I thought I'd take the time to catch up on what some Eagles are up to these days; specifically "Student Media" alums. Make sure to hit me up on folks I'm missing, too!

This here's Joe's Blog: Joe Hotchkiss, formerly of the George-Anne, is on the Editorial Staff of the Augusta Chronicle! A fine writer and sharp thinker, he slayed me with the title of his recent blog. I am Joe's Blog. I read every installment in the 1970s Reader's Digests. Click here for a particularly well lay-ed out, and you remember Joe- funny as heck post featuring the news on Skippy Peanut Butter, and Wilma Flintstone. Today's post has a Lenten theme. Yay, Joe.

This was a fun surprise. LAST Spring Break, the weather was rainy, AND cold. We had had no reprieve in February as we usually do, and did this year. As my oldest dau and I had the same week off for Spr Break, we took advantage of the 2 weeks of free tanning at Club Sun, a pleasant stroll down from our house here.  We loved the attendant, and had to listen to the piped in radio music in the tanning beds. (I had not been in a tanning bed since my next door neighbor had one in his home 20 years previous, and haven't been in one since, but soothing- wow.) Anyway- I got to listen to the cutest radio show, probably the most popular one here. You can check it out here: Island 106 and That Guy Kramer. Wel, his high spirited cohort is Miguel, who's always mixing it up. Lots of fun and energy and heart. Naturally. He's an Eagle, too! He attended Georgia Southern U in the days of 91.9 The Buzz. Yeah, no comment- what I heard last time in Statesboro was no Veege, for sure, but it hadn't been as sharp even in the late 90s when I left. Sometimes guidelines (censorship- gasp!)  can bring out the creativity in a medium; one has to figure out methods to get attention and laughs without being explicit.But Miguel is cute as a button and you'll be proud of this little hatchling- I believe you can listen and watch what goes on in the studio during the broadcast.

And this little Eaglet is wishing she could go to a Georgia Southern baseball game this season. Sigh...Look to the left of the page for more Eagle memorabilia and pics from alma mater. Here's a shot from the Miscellany 1991. It even has a pic of Jordana Childree (York) - it was originally intended as a birthday present for her mom; I didn't have the money to get anything else, so I made this.
Something else was in the show, and our dept' head at the time wanted to buy the towel rack I'd made, but for whatever reason I didn't want to part with it. My youngest has it in her room now.Oh, yeah, I have a book coming out with old pics, just not pasted to a board. It's a lite history of the east end of PCB- Thomas Drive, the State Park, Captain Anderson's, St. Andrew's Bay- History Press (Charleston)  brings it out in April. 

Bill Neville, to whom we arguably owe all of this, is at a place that us Georgia folks might, I say, night have scoffed at. The school that dare not speak it's name... UAB. No kidding. the thing I have to report, is, well, it's a good school. My meanderings have led me to many great projects from books to documentaries brought out by the place in Birmingham. On the road I've listened to shows that I discovered were produced at their station. Well. So Bill is up there prodding on another generation of goat headed college students, and checking out some excellent live shows, so he say.

Here's to Academic Excellence! GO EAGLES!

Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton, Ponce, Conyers, Fayette moviemaking! Oh joy!

 

My favorite saying: what's old is now again...

More film on the southside! Woot! Evidently the Queen and Dolly were on the SS for real in the past couple of, and look there's Anna in the ajc. buzz, right here.

 

According to The Buzz, the story of the movie, A Joyful Noise, centers on efforts to save an ailing gospel choir. Of course we know black and white can always come together when it comes to a good gospel choir! I believe Dr. King, when he was still just Martin, had to sing in one during the Premiere festivities in December of 1939. You know, the Atlanta premiere of Gone With the Wind? the one Hattie McDaniel was NOT invited to attend? Hattie McDaniel, you know, the first black to win an Academy Award?

These folks were allowed to represent her, I presume.  From Gone With the Wind Three Day Atlanta Premiere, Herb Bridges

 

Oh well, glad things have changed a lot in some ways. And to the commenter who was too shy to hollar at Queen Latifah riding down 75? I sure would have been waving furiously.

If you were in on any of the Fayette or Coweta filming, let us know! According to this article, filming will commence in Conyers tomorrow. What if they went and filmed in the tabernacle? I would leave wk for that, I think!