ATLANTA AIRPORT SCENES FROM THE 1950s
A circa 1954 view of the ticket counters, facing east. Delta merged with Chicago and Southern Air Lines in 1953 and operated as Delta - C&S until 1955. Just below the photo of the Atlanta skyline, at center, were doors leading to the observation platform that overlooked the aircraft parking area. The double doors at far left, beneath the East Gate lettering, led to the area in the next photo.
This September 1952 photo of an Eastern pilot's retirement send-off also provides an excellent view of the east exterior of the temporary terminal. The "east gate" doors seen in the previous photo led to the walkway seen just below the word "passenger" here.
Passengers appear to be enjoying the fresh air while waiting to board their flight at gate 10 in this 1951 photo from the Vanishing Georgia archives. I have to say, assuming it's not raining or 99 F degrees, I'd much prefer this to the current set-up at Hartsfield-Jackson! The covered walkways at the temporary terminal were constructed with wood from the old Army barracks at no cost to the city, thanks to airport manager Jack Gray.
Aerial photo taken February 23, 1951 showing extensions of the east-west and northwest-southeast runways. Initial grading for the southwest-northeast runway 3/21 can be seen at the center of the photo. It would be completed in 1952.
A Southern Airways DC-3 pictured at Atlanta in August 1951.
Circa 1950 view of passengers heading to the terminal, dwarfed by the tail of Delta Douglas DC-6 N1902M (msn 43140). This aircraft flew with Delta from 1948 to 1968.
This absolutely fantastic color slide of the temporary terminal comes from flickr user What Makes The Pie Shops Tick? Thanks to Greg Germani for bringing this photo to my attention. I love everything about this: the women conversing in the foreground, the kids on the observation deck watching the planes, the long shadows and golden light of the setting sun. Perfect.
This nicely framed postcard view shows a trio of Eastern Constellations on the ramp.
A mid-1950s postcard view showing a Delta / C&S DC-7 and Convair 340/440 at left and an Eastern Constellation parked at the east wing at right.
An Atlanta airport diagram revised July 12, 1955 showing five active runways. Runway 27L/9R seen here is still in use today as runway 26L/8R. From the collection of John Hewson.
Aerial view of Atlanta Municipal Airport circa 1955 facing north
Aerial view facing southeast circa 1955 with the temporary terminal near bottom right.
By 1956, Atlanta airport was the 6th busiest airport in the U.S. and the busiest in the nation for domestic traffic. During 1955, 2.1 million passengers passed through the temporary terminal, an incredible increase over the 1.2 million passengers in the previous year. This Eastern Air Lines training poster from 1956 shows the hectic conditions during the "noon push".
I've often wondered how the above photo and similar elevated photos of Atlanta's "Temporary Terminal" were taken. The answer was found in the January 29, 1956 edition of the Atlanta Journal. The photographer was armed with a wide-angle lens and positioned atop the 65-foot ladder of an Atlanta Fire Department fire engine!
