The Princess was open as early as 1910. An ad in the December 6, 1910 Victoria Advocate listed three features at the Princess – “The Hustler Gets the Coin” (comedy) and “The Path of Duty” and “The Hand of Fate” (both dramas).
The Rita opened on May 5, 1934 at 1:00 p.m. It was operated by Jefferson Amusement Company. The premier features were Will Rogers' “David Harum” and Randolph Scott’s “The Last Round-Up”.
The Meyerland Plaza 8 lists William Riseman and William Riseman Associates as the respective architect and firm for that theater. Was that also true of the Northline? Can anyone confirm?
The Meyerland Plaza 8 lists William Riseman and William Riseman Associates as the respective architect and firm for that theater. Was that also true of the Gulfgate? Can anyone confirm?
May 20, 1977, to be exact. The premier features were “Silver Streak” (on two screens), “The Gumball Rally”, “Twilight’s Last Gleaming”, “Forever Young, Forever Free”, and “The Ritz”.
A “VIP Night” was held the previous evening, and Mayor Charles Carsner Jr. cut a filmstrip in lieu of a ribbon to formally open the Salem Six.
Above the ticket counter was a color-coded marquee to indicate which movie was showing on each of the six screens.
sepiatone
commented about
Cineon
Apr 27, 2010 at 7:04 pm
Try 1214 Sam Houston Avenue. This street was apparently renamed at some point, since the next street over is Avenue M.
There wasn’t much advertising for this theater when it was new. The Houston Chronicle made no mention of it. There were no grand opening announcements in the Post, only an ad on April 16, 1949 stating that the Bellaire was a new theater and that “Easter Parade” with Fred Astaire and Judy Garland was playing there.
The Saks opened on July 24, 1974, and was originally called the Loews Twin in Saks Center. Opening days ads announced, “Boy, have we got a theatre for you!” The premier features were Charles Bronson’s “Death Wish” and Warren Oates' “The White Dawn”.
The Rice Drive-In opened at 7:00 p.m. on March 24, 1951. Among the first movies shown there were George Brent’s “Silver Queen”, Lex Barker’s “Tarzan’s Magic Fountain”, and “The Sundowners” with Robert Preston.
Thanks, Ken, for the information. This is slightly off-topic, but was the passing train in “Two Boys” a Southern Pacific train? Back in the day, there was an SP railroad crossing down the street from the Rio (It’s now a Kansas City Southern track). I wonder if that’s where the train scene was filmed.
According to opening day ads, Sharpstown Theatre was the original name. Mr. Foy Myrick was the first manager. The premier feature was “Mirage†with Gregory Peck and Diane Baker.
This theater should be updated to “demolished”. The Chase Tower and the Houston Chronicle now occupy the 800 Block of Texas Avenue. Graeme’s hunch is correct.
According to original 1910 ads for this theater, O.W. Mitchell, with the firm of Mitchell & Halbach Company of Chicago, Illinois, was a decoration design consultant.
The Zoe Theater opened at 5:00 p.m. on October 10, 1914. Mr. John E. Davis was the first manager. The premier feature was “America†with Bert Shepherd and Arthur Voegtlin.
The Granada Theater opened at 11:45 a.m. on December 7, 1949. The premier feature was “You’re My Everything†with Dan Dailey and Anne Baxter. Opening day ads for the theater exhorted you to “Give yourself a treat! You’ve never seen anything like Houston’s new, modern, magnificent Granada.†The correct address is 9231 Jensen Drive, Houston, 77093.
The Almeda should be updated to “demolished”. A dialysis center, a check cashing service, a thrift shop, and an abandoned service station occupy the 5600 block of Almeda Road. The architectural firm for the Almeda was the Houston firm of MacKie and Kamrath.
The Princess was open as early as 1910. An ad in the December 6, 1910 Victoria Advocate listed three features at the Princess – “The Hustler Gets the Coin” (comedy) and “The Path of Duty” and “The Hand of Fate” (both dramas).
The Uptown opened on February 19, 1931. The premier feature was “Stolen Heaven” with Nancy Carroll and Phillips Holmes.
The El Rancho opened on February 2, 1940 at 6:45 p.m. The premier feature was “Geronimo” with Preston Foster and Ellen Drew.
The Rita opened on May 5, 1934 at 1:00 p.m. It was operated by Jefferson Amusement Company. The premier features were Will Rogers' “David Harum” and Randolph Scott’s “The Last Round-Up”.
You have the right intersection, John. The building on the northwest corner (to the left of the silver Cadillac) is the Queen Theater.
The official address was 6366 Bellaire Boulevard. Yes, this was the northwest corner.
You’re welcome. Not all theaters go my way, but I do try.
The Meyerland Plaza 8 lists William Riseman and William Riseman Associates as the respective architect and firm for that theater. Was that also true of the Northline? Can anyone confirm?
The Meyerland Plaza 8 lists William Riseman and William Riseman Associates as the respective architect and firm for that theater. Was that also true of the Gulfgate? Can anyone confirm?
May 20, 1977, to be exact. The premier features were “Silver Streak” (on two screens), “The Gumball Rally”, “Twilight’s Last Gleaming”, “Forever Young, Forever Free”, and “The Ritz”.
A “VIP Night” was held the previous evening, and Mayor Charles Carsner Jr. cut a filmstrip in lieu of a ribbon to formally open the Salem Six.
Above the ticket counter was a color-coded marquee to indicate which movie was showing on each of the six screens.
Try 1214 Sam Houston Avenue. This street was apparently renamed at some point, since the next street over is Avenue M.
The street number for the Lamar Theater is 206 Morton Street.
According to opening day ads, “The Counter Jumper” with Larry Semon and Lucille Carlisle was the first film slated to play here.
There wasn’t much advertising for this theater when it was new. The Houston Chronicle made no mention of it. There were no grand opening announcements in the Post, only an ad on April 16, 1949 stating that the Bellaire was a new theater and that “Easter Parade” with Fred Astaire and Judy Garland was playing there.
The Saks opened on July 24, 1974, and was originally called the Loews Twin in Saks Center. Opening days ads announced, “Boy, have we got a theatre for you!” The premier features were Charles Bronson’s “Death Wish” and Warren Oates' “The White Dawn”.
The Rice Drive-In opened at 7:00 p.m. on March 24, 1951. Among the first movies shown there were George Brent’s “Silver Queen”, Lex Barker’s “Tarzan’s Magic Fountain”, and “The Sundowners” with Robert Preston.
Thanks, Ken, for the information. This is slightly off-topic, but was the passing train in “Two Boys” a Southern Pacific train? Back in the day, there was an SP railroad crossing down the street from the Rio (It’s now a Kansas City Southern track). I wonder if that’s where the train scene was filmed.
According to opening day ads, Sharpstown Theatre was the original name. Mr. Foy Myrick was the first manager. The premier feature was “Mirage†with Gregory Peck and Diane Baker.
This theater should be updated to “demolished”. The Chase Tower and the Houston Chronicle now occupy the 800 Block of Texas Avenue. Graeme’s hunch is correct.
According to original 1910 ads for this theater, O.W. Mitchell, with the firm of Mitchell & Halbach Company of Chicago, Illinois, was a decoration design consultant.
The Zoe Theater opened at 5:00 p.m. on October 10, 1914. Mr. John E. Davis was the first manager. The premier feature was “America†with Bert Shepherd and Arthur Voegtlin.
The Granada Theater opened at 11:45 a.m. on December 7, 1949. The premier feature was “You’re My Everything†with Dan Dailey and Anne Baxter. Opening day ads for the theater exhorted you to “Give yourself a treat! You’ve never seen anything like Houston’s new, modern, magnificent Granada.†The correct address is 9231 Jensen Drive, Houston, 77093.
The Ritz Theatre opened on April 15, 1926. The premier feature was “The Fighting Buckaroo†with Buck Jones and Sally Long.
Houston’s Bush Airport didn’t exist in 1950, and Hobby Airport is approximately 16 miles away, so the Airway name remains a mystery.
John J. McNamara was the architect for the Loew’s Sharpstown.
The Almeda should be updated to “demolished”. A dialysis center, a check cashing service, a thrift shop, and an abandoned service station occupy the 5600 block of Almeda Road. The architectural firm for the Almeda was the Houston firm of MacKie and Kamrath.