Our Story
In 1949, Jack Jones, Sr.,
Berinice Kiker Tilley, and W.H. Tilley, Jr. (known as “H” Tilley) purchased the Rialto and Royal Theatres, Blue Ridge, Ga. from Willard and Betty Mowbray. Shortly after the purchase, Bernice sold her interest to Jack and “H”. The Rialto Theatre had been built in 1946 and 1947 and shortly after it was completed, the old Royal Theatre was closed and movies were shown only at the new Rialto. Mr. Mowbray had come to Blue Ridge in the late twenties or early thirties and had started showing movies in the brick building located on West Main Street where the fire department is now located. Mowbray showed movies in this building until he built the Royal Theatre on East Main Street, this theatre was small and could only seat around 200 people, as the area grew the seating capacity was too small and the new Rialto was built that could seat 500 people. The Rialto was built on East Main Street in the same block the old Royal theatre was located. At the time Jack and “H” purchased the theatres the Royal had been closed and only the Rialto was in operation. There was no television in Blue Ridge at this time and the movie going crowd was so large they opened the Royal Theatre again and showed movies at both places. The price of a ticket was .32 for adults and .15 for children. At the Saturday matinees, adult tickets were .25 and .10 for children.
In 1955 Jack and “H” built the Swan Drive In Theatre that is located on 651 Summit Street, Blue Ridge, Ga. Building this drive-in was a real challenge. Locating a piece of property large enough that was suitable for a drive-in theatre would turn into a big problem. The first property purchased for the drive-in was on E. First Street where Blue Ridge Supply and several other buildings are now located. They would be forced to build a tall fence on the street side of this property to keep the car lights from shining on the screen, they were advised by engineers that the property was not suitable. The City Of Blue Ridge owned a large area of property known as the Willingham Circle and they were able to lease several acres from the City, on which, to build a drive-in theatre. The property they leased had large gullies, hills and valleys that had to be graded. The grading was much more than had been expected and several times they almost gave up. They considered quitting as it was such a large job, after they started the grading they hit slate rock and dynamite was the only thing that could move it. The grading was done by Mr. Raleigh Hembree, a local man that was an expert at his work whom encouraged them to keep on trying. After the land was graded, wired for the speakers, paved, the concession stand and the box office built, there was another LARGE problem. The screen tower would have to built on the ground and then raised in parts. There was not a crane any nearer than Atlanta that was big and tall enough to lift the screen tower. A crane large enough to lift it was found at Atlanta Steel Erectors, many of the construction workers and “lookers-on” held their breath as this job was completed. The cost of the crane was one hundred dollars. This drive in theatre was the beginning of the real growth of Blue Ridge. People came from miles around to see movies on a large screen.
WHY THE DRIVE-IN THEATRE WAS NAMED SWAN
During World War 11, Mr. Tilley was stationed in England part of the time before being sent into The Omaha Beach Landing in the Normandy Invasion, while in England he admired the Swans swimming on the lakes and ponds. They were so beautiful and peaceful he suggested this name “Swan” for the new drive-in. Mr. Jones also liked the name as it was short and would be easy to use a neon sign with. This is why the drive-in was named “SWAN”. Mr. Jones served in the Marines before World War 11. During the first part of the World War 11, he was stationed in Panama helping build an Air Force Base, next he helped in the construction of an Air Force Base in West Palm Beach Florida.
Jack Jones Sr. and W.H. Tilley, jr. operated these theatres until 1959 when Mr. Tilley sold to Mr. Jones. The Swan Drive-In is still operating and is one of four Drive-In theatres left in the state of Georgia. The old Royal Theatre is still standing on East Main St., Blue Ridge, GA and has been converted into Doctor’s Offices. The Rialto Theatre was partially burned in 1963 and has been re-built as a Retail store.
History page written by Blanch Tilley and approved by Mrs. Jack Jones.