According to the Swan Drive-In website, which goes into much greater detail on the history of this landmark, Jack Jones, Sr., and W. H. Tilley, Jr. built the Rialto in 1955 to accommodate ever-growing crowds of moviegoers in Blue Ridge. It’s still open after all these years and remains a popular destination. It’s one of just four remaining drive-in theatres in Georgia.
Upon learning that Johnnie’s Drive In would soon be a memory, I decided to take my camera and record some of the energy that makes this place so special. It’s important to many people for many reasons. It’s an anchor of my memory, where I’ve spent many evenings with dear friends who worked and socialized here, and where I’ve always felt at home. But it represents more than sentiment. It’s among the last generation of roadside diners and beer joints that rose to popularity during World War II where kids hung out beside juke boxes and car hops came to you and took your order. The car hops at Johnnie’s were gone by the late 1990s but I remember them well. Many thanks to Phillip Joe Luke for sharing this wonderful history. His words are in italics.
Johnnie and his family moved to Fitzgerald from Columbus in late 1930s.
The first family restaurant was in the 800 block of North Grant Street and it was called The Silver Moon. (It was opened by Johnnie’s father, John Franklin Wise). About 1943 or so they opened Johnnie’s Drive In. The Johnnie scrambled hamburger (better known as the Johnnie Burger) was his creation. The scrambled dog idea came from the Dinglewood Pharmacy in his native home of Columbus (it has a slightly different recipe).
On the same lot of Johnnie’s Drive In was the old motel and the Princess Club. The Princess Club burned down many years ago and the remains of the motel are still there.
The name of the motel has been long forgotten.
Beer was served, along with fried shrimp and fried oysters on the short order menu. The Scramble (not Scrambled, as many call it today) Dog and the Dog Cicle were popular items from the start, but the Dog Cicle, akin to a corn dog, has been gone for many years.
Johnnie died in 1969 and my grandmother carried on the tradition for many years.
All of my family members dedicated their lives to Johnnie’s until their health failed and could no longer operate the restaurant. Uncle Coot managed during the day, Uncle Carl at night.
Uncle Flop scrubbed that exhaust hood every Monday until it sparkled. Aunt Betty worked there off and on through the years. Even my mother served as a carhop while I was inside in a play pen. Many of you will remember Mary McElroy as one of the finest cooks in the history of Johnnie’s. Mary left us way too soon. We are so thankful that Jimmy and Carolyn Puckett came along to manage the restaurant in the mid 1980s. Restaurant management is not an easy task and Carolyn succeeded and made it look easy. Thank you so much. And thanks to all of the faithful customers for 70+ years of business in Fitzgerald. We couldn’t have done it without you.
Carolyn Chambers has managed Johnnie’s for over 25 years and kept this landmark alive. Customers think of her as family and Johnnie’s a home away from home.
Carolyn’s sister, Estelle Stapleton, has been cooking here for years. People love her as much as they love her food.
Ruby Chambers, Carolyn’s sister-in-law, usually knows your order when you walk in the door. Love this lady!
Denise Jordan helping Carolyn. I’ve known Denise all my life, too.
I want to thank Carolyn for giving me access for these photographs. I know she doesn’t really like to have her picture taken so it means a lot. I love all of you at Johnnie’s, past and present.
We had breakfast for our last meal at Johnnie’s. Estelle’s cooking is a great substitute for home cooking.
Johnnie’s really was a part of our family and we were always made to feel like we were a part of theirs. I know many share this sentiment and will miss it as much as I do.
Opened in 1948 by Ward Riggins, Sr., as the Family Drive-In, the Jesup Drive-In Theater is the oldest and one of just four remaining in the state of Georgia. It was briefly closed in the 1960s, reopened as the Jesup Twin Drive-In and has been going strong ever since. Today it’s owned by Ralph and Jamie Hickox, who have really improved it while keeping its nostalgic feel. It’s a real treasure for Southeast Georgia.
Long abandoned, the Cordele Drive-In was once operated by R. T. Moody and was constructed in the mid-1960s. According to Fred Gleaton, another drive-in, which closed around 1960, was located south of town and later became the fairgrounds.
This drive-in theatre on Highway 56 just outside Swainsboro was opened in 1952 by Tommy Bellamy, Sr. It operated until the 1970s when drive-ins all over the country were closing. Mr. Bellamy’s sons revived the theatre briefly in the late 1980s, but it didn’t stay open for long. This marquee stands as a reminder of a place full of memories for many local folk.
“Bing” Hedge opened Shady Lane in 1966. Mark Redlinger purchased the business in 1971 and continues to operate it today. Many locals swear they have the best chili dogs to be found anywhere.
