You know that feeling when a place just feels right? Not because it’s fancy, but because it has soul. That was the United Artists Tara Cinemas 4. For decades, if you lived in Atlanta and wanted to see something that wasn't a Michael Bay explosion-fest, you went to the Tara. It sat there on Cheshire Bridge Road, a low-slung building that basically served as the city's living room for prestige cinema. It wasn't just a theater. It was a vibe.
Honestly, the Tara is one of those rare spots that managed to survive the aggressive corporate reshuffling of the American movie landscape for a surprisingly long time. Most people just called it "The Tara." It had this distinct, old-school energy that modern multiplexes—with their heated reclining seats and overpriced cocktails—simply cannot replicate. It felt like history. It felt like movies actually mattered there.
The United Artists Tara Cinemas 4 Legacy
Let’s look at the facts. The theater opened back in 1968. Think about that for a second. That’s over fifty years of flicking on projectors. Originally, it was a Lefont theater before United Artists (UA) took the reins. Eventually, Regal Cinemas swallowed up United Artists, which is why the branding got a bit confusing for a while. You’d see the United Artists Tara Cinemas 4 sign, but you were using a Regal Crown Club card to buy your popcorn. It was a corporate Russian nesting doll situation.
The design was classic. It wasn't a "luxury" spot by 2026 standards, but it had those iconic curtains. Remember those? The red curtains that would slowly part before the movie started? It added a layer of drama that made you feel like you were at a premiere, even if you were just there for a Tuesday matinee of a subtitled French drama.
Most people don't realize how pivotal this specific location was for the "Art House" circuit. If a movie was gunning for an Oscar but didn't have the budget of a Marvel flick, it lived at the Tara. We’re talking about the 1990s indie boom, the rise of Miramax, and the foreign film imports that defined "cinema" for a generation of Atlantans. It was the only place in town for a long time where you could guarantee a quiet crowd. No teenagers throwing popcorn. No glowing cell phone screens every five minutes. Just people who really, really liked movies.
Why the Location Was Actually Genius
Cheshire Bridge Road is a weird, wonderful stretch of Atlanta. It’s got a bit of everything: legendary strip clubs, high-end furniture stores, old-school Italian joints like La Grotta, and tucked-away mid-century modern neighborhoods. Putting the United Artists Tara Cinemas 4 right there at the corner of Johnson Road was a masterstroke. It was accessible but felt slightly removed from the chaos of Buckhead or the sprawl of the suburbs.
People would drive from all over the metro area. Why? Because the programming was fearless. While the big box theaters at Atlantic Station or Phipps Plaza were playing the same three blockbusters on twenty screens, the Tara was busy showing "The Whale" or some obscure documentary about a monk. It held onto that "small-town theater" feel despite being owned by one of the biggest theater chains in the world.
The Heartbreak of 2022 and the Plot Twist
If you were following Atlanta news in late 2022, you probably felt that gut punch. Regal (under Cineworld’s bankruptcy proceedings) decided to shutter the Tara. It was devastating. People left flowers at the door. There were literal vigils. It felt like the end of an era because, frankly, it was. The United Artists Tara Cinemas 4 name was officially retired from the marquee.
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But here’s where things get interesting.
Usually, when a theater closes, it becomes a Spirit Halloween for three months and then gets bulldozed for luxury condos. Not the Tara. Chris Escobar, the guy who runs the Plaza Theatre (another Atlanta icon), stepped in. He saw the value that the corporate bean-counters missed. He understood that the "Tara" brand wasn't just about a logo; it was about the community.
What People Get Wrong About the "UA" Brand
There’s a common misconception that United Artists was just another faceless corporation. In reality, UA was founded by Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, and D.W. Griffith. It was literally created to give artists control over their own work. The fact that the Tara carried that UA banner for so long was poetically fitting.
By the time it was United Artists Tara Cinemas 4, the UA name had mostly become a "brand tier" for Regal. They used the UA name for their older, smaller, or more "prestige" locations. It was a way to signal to the audience: "Hey, this isn't the place with the IMAX and the arcade; this is the place for film."
The transition from a corporate-owned United Artists site to an independent powerhouse is one of the greatest "save the theater" stories in the South. It proved that despite the rise of Netflix and Max, people still crave a shared physical space. They want the smell of the lobby. They want the weirdly specific acoustics of a 1960s theater hall.
The Technical Specs That Made It Unique
The Tara wasn't a technical powerhouse, but it was reliable. It had four screens—hence the "4" in United Artists Tara Cinemas 4.
- Screen Size: They weren't massive, but they were proportional. You didn't feel like you were watching a TV, but you weren't overwhelmed either.
- Sound: It used standard Dolby Digital for years. It wasn't Atmos, but for a dialogue-heavy indie film, it was perfect.
- Seating: Before the 2023 renovation (under new ownership), the seats were those classic, slightly squeaky theater chairs. They had character.
- The Lobby: Tiny. Seriously, if more than twenty people were waiting for popcorn, it felt like a mosh pit. But that was part of the charm.
How to Support Local Cinema Today
If you miss the days of the United Artists Tara Cinemas 4, the best thing you can do isn't just reminisce. It’s to actually show up. The theater is back open now under the "Tara Theatre" name, independent and thriving. They’ve even brought back 35mm and 70mm film projectors—something the corporate owners had basically abandoned in favor of easy digital files.
Seeing a movie on actual film at the Tara is a transformative experience. There’s a flicker, a warmth, and a slight grain that digital just can't mimic. It’s like listening to a vinyl record versus a Spotify stream.
Actionable Steps for Film Lovers in Atlanta
If you want to keep the spirit of the old UA Tara alive, here is how you actually do it:
- Check the "Now Playing" list weekly. Don't wait for a big marketing campaign. Independent theaters often book films on short notice or for limited runs.
- Buy the concessions. Theaters make almost zero profit on the ticket price (that goes to the studios). They survive on popcorn and soda sales. If you want the lights to stay on, buy the snacks.
- Join the membership programs. Most indie theaters (including the reborn Tara) offer memberships that give you discounts and early access. It’s a recurring "vote" for the theater to stay in business.
- Spread the word on socials. Tag the theater. Post a photo of the marquee. In the age of algorithms, local "word of mouth" is the only way these places compete with the $100 million marketing budgets of Disney.
The United Artists Tara Cinemas 4 might be a name from the past, but the building is very much alive. It’s a reminder that in a world of digital everything, there’s no substitute for a dark room, a big screen, and a room full of strangers all feeling the same thing at the same time. Go see a movie. It's literally the only way to keep history from becoming a parking lot.
To truly honor the legacy of this landmark, your next step is simple: skip the streaming queue this weekend. Head over to Cheshire Bridge Road, look for that iconic neon, and buy a ticket for something you’ve never heard of. That is how the Tara survives. That is how cinema stays alive in Atlanta.