The Unforgettable Reunion: A Mother's Wallet Rediscovered After 65 Years
A time capsule from the 1950s emerges, revealing treasures hidden for 65 years: a raffle ticket for a 1959 Chevrolet, vintage credit cards, and nostalgic black and white family photos, all found behind a bathroom wall in the Plaza Theatre
Hidden behind a bathroom wall at the Plaza Theatre lay forgotten treasures: a raffle ticket for a 1959 Chevrolet, magnetic strip-less credit cards, and old family photos. Decades passed before contractors renovating the theater stumbled upon a secret space, revealing a dusty, untouched burgundy wallet frozen in time.
Plaza Theatre owner Chris Escobar was committed to returning the wallet to the family, describing it as a "portal back in time" and expressing the desire to reunite it with the real people who lived in the neighborhood for 65 years. He told CNN, "Imagine if we could find them."
The Plaza Theatre, Atlanta's oldest cinema and a cultural icon, houses a variety of vintage items. Escobar discovered old popcorn displays with marquee letters and out-of-style bottled spirits. However, uncovering a wallet that hadn't been seen for fifty years was a unique moment, according to Escobar. He described the wallet as "rich with history," providing him with a strong lead in locating the owner's family.
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The wallet was found behind this wall during renovations.
Courtesy Plaza Theatre
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Contents of the found wallet.
Courtesy Plaza Theatre
The name listed on the license inside the wallet belonged to Floy Culbreth, the owner. However, Escobar encountered a challenge - women were typically identified by their husbands' names during that time, making it difficult to find information using Culbreth's name.
To assist in locating the wallet's owner, Escobar enlisted the help of his wife Nicole, whom he affectionately refers to as an "internet sleuth."
She successfully located Roy Culbreth's obituary, the husband of Floy. This discovery led them to uncover a network of children and grandchildren, eventually leading to the Culbreth Cup website. The Cup is a charity golf tournament organized by the Culbreth family in support of a cerebral palsy nonprofit. Through their investigation, they were able to trace the family line to Thea Chamberlain, the Culbreths' daughter.
"I already feel incredibly honored to oversee and manage this historic area," Escobar expressed. "But to return specific family history is an extraordinary gift."
Chamberlain fondly recalled how her mother was likened to the beauty of Myrna Loy and had the spirited personality of "a spicier version of June Cleaver." She remembered neighbors commenting that spending time with her mother was even more enjoyable than watching "I Love Lucy."
Culbreth was deeply engaged in her community, teaching Sunday school, participating in the garden club, and dedicating herself to nonprofit work to support individuals with cerebral palsy, according to her daughter.
Chamberlain discovered some of her own items in the wallet, including insurance cards and a doctor's appointment note. At 71 years old, she recalled being just 6 years old when her mother lost the wallet.
The trinkets in the wallet undoubtedly belonged to her mother, according to Chamberlain. She could picture Culbreth wishing to win the Chevrolet raffle or tucking away her shopping cards.
"Chamberlain was moved," he said. "A wave of memories flooded back, and it almost felt like she was here again."
In November, the Culbreths came together to retrieve the wallet and honor their family.
"Kids, grandkids, and even great grandkids were there with us," Escobar explained. "It was a gathering of several generations of Culbreths coming together to reclaim this lost piece of our family history."
Chamberlain observed her two grandchildren, ages seven and five, delicately examining the receipts and photos, eager to learn about their family's past.
"They knew it was something to be treasured, she said. "That this was a special moment."
