What to do with a camera on gray days? Since there have been so many lately, I decided to look for displays of lights to photograph. It is sort of my approach to “if you can’t beat them, join them!” The historic Marietta square is a mixture of old and new—of renovated and unrestored. Thankfully, the Strand theater falls into the category of renovated and restored.

The theater is located on the well-used corner of North Park Square and Cherokee Street. From 1935 to 1976, it operated as a movie theater. Then the crowds that once packed its auditorium to view the latest movie releases opted for newer theaters located near local malls.

Through the years, several businesses tried to save it from the wrecking ball but nothing worked. By the early 2000’s, it seemed the theater was destined for destruction until the community group, “Friends of the Strand” stepped forward to save and to restore it. Finally in 2009, the Strand reopened to rave reviews, especially when it came to the restoration of its 1935 Art Deco interior. While it’s the home to the Atlanta Lyric Theater, the production group that runs the theater also shows classic movies, along with plays and concerts. The effort seems very reminiscent of the  “Save The Fox” movement in the late 1970s and early 80s. A list of powerhouse sponsors watch over the Strand including AT&T, Coca-Cola, Georgia Power, Marietta Power, and many more.

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