The Georgia Theater before the Fire (photo by Natalie Blackburn via Flickr)
After months of negotiations, Georgia Theater owner Wilmot Greene has secured a bank commitment for the majority of the loan needed to start re-building.
The theater has been a major venue for the Athens music scene since the 1970's. Famous rock bands and jazz musicians like R-E-M, Widespread Panic, and B-B King have played there. Greene says he still needs to raise at least 200-thousand dollars to complete the project.
One fund-raising effort kicks off this weekend – an e-Bay store with theater memorabilia and signed band posters. According to Greene, the restoration should take about 10 months and adds new features to the theater, including a roof-top restaurant.
