In 1952, a band of color appeared to announce the first "yellow pages" section of the directory.
In 1954, the Southern Bell belle replaced the 1914 "Genius of Telephony" statue on the book.
On the back cover, she touted long distance.
The books for 1955, 1956 and 1957 heralded the conversion from six to seven-digit telephone numbers. The exchange Cherokee, for instance, became Cedar 3. "DO NOT USE this directory until 2:01 A.M. Sunday, August 21, 1955," the book orders, as if anyone in Atlanta was up at 2 A.M. in 1955.
"DO NOT call from memory!"
The first four-color book came out in 1958, still emphasizing the inclusion of Chamblee, Clarkston, Smyrna and Stone Mountain. "Metro Atlanta" did not yet exist.
The books for 1959, 1960, and 1961 were similar.
From 1960 until 1964, a slender supplemental directory was also published which reflected the enlargement of the Atlanta non-toll calling area.
1962 featured the first thematic cover, Atlanta's greatly expanded airport.
In 1963, Atlanta's skyline was featured over its soon-to-be-forgotten nickname, "The Gate City."
The 1964 New York World's Fair, Bell System Exhibit Building.
1964 Supplemental book.
1965 introduced the term "Metropolitan Atlanta" and Direct Dialing.
1965 also marked the introduction of the "Yellow Pages" as a separate publication.
1966, 1967, and 1968 were similar to the 1965 book.
In 1969, the first four-color photograph was featured, again the skyline but with the addition of the Hyatt-Regency, among other "skyscrapers."
1970 (missing); 1971 the seals of the many Metro jurisdictions.
1972 was the final book to acknowledge Atlanta's past, as "Metropolitan Atlanta" became "Greater."
with the notation (lower right):
The 1973 book featured the Arts Alliance (now Woodruff), with the Symphony on the cover:
and on the back cover, the High Museum, the Atlanta College of Arts, and the Alliance Theatre.
The Alliance production in close-up. Can anyone name the production?
In 1974, Southern Bell's image as a public-spirited utility was irreparably tarnished when they announced plans to purchase and demolish the FOX Theatre. This article from the Constitution, May, 1975:
From 1974 forward, the Atlanta book covers became "generic." The 1976 book:
Southern Bell ceased to exist altogether in 1983.
(c) 2015 Bob Foreman