Old Spanish Trail Theater

The Old Spanish Trail Theatre is an important landmark along the Old Spanish Trail in Houston. Reflecting its connection with the 1920's transcontinental Old Spanish Trail highway (St. Augustine, Florida to San Diego) the theater is one of only a few businesses to retain the OST name along the entire length of the trail. This section of the OST has fallen on hard times, and the theater is a stubborn reminder of its earlier days as a vibrant neighborhood. We'll post a picture of the theater once the "add a photo" function is operable. John W. Murphey, DrivetheOldSpanishTrail, www.drivetheost.com

From 1949 to 1954 I lived at Calhoun Road and Marietta Lane just a couple of miles from the OST. You could look from our house out across the vacant lots and see the theater off in the distance, and even the old Shamrock Hotel WAY off in the distance. I went there almost every Saturday morning and saw almost all the chapters of the "Captain Video" serial. Dana Grantham (see above) probably took my ticket. I remember seeing the original "War of the Worlds" (beware of imitations) at the OST--or rather, not seeing it: being eight years old, I was so scared I hid under the seat. Many years later, when coerced into seeing the Tom Cruise remake ("Yes, dear...") I wanted to hide again; but this time it was because the movie was so bad. Unfortunately, now I was too big to fit under the seat.
In 1983 I was in Houston on business for several weeks and went by to see the OST for old times' sake. It looked closed, but there were signs of recent operation. The character of the neighboorhood had changed considerably.
This link http://www.cinematour.com/picview.php?db=us&id=15374 shows a picture of the OST in 2004. I don't remember it as having a balcony, but an upper-level fire escape is visible.
Here's to Captain Video, and good luck and good counting to all!

I went to the OST Theatre every Saturday morning for the Kid show..usually started about 10:45 am...then could stay all day and watch the main features...loved to just spend the day there...Mr. Foster was the manager...think of that place often, had lots of friends and loved the atmosphere...Mr Wingo, it had a balcony, seated about 100 people up there..when the lower level filled with people Mr. Foster would open it up...

I grew up two blocks away on Charleston St and didn't miss a show for years in the 50's. In the late 60's and 70's it was taken over by a Porno chain and called the Paris Theater. I haven't been in that area for many years, but if you look on Google Earth, it seems as if the structure is still there.

Here is a 2008 photo of the Old Spanish Trail Theater.

1983 Photo

My mother would take me to the OST Saturday mornings when I was nine years old. It was my regular thing to do on Saturday. That was in 1957. I loved going there. It cost a quarter to get in and I’d usually buy a candy bar. I did not know the building was still there until I found this site.

This is another photo of the Old Spanish Trail Theater.

Here is a recent photo.

The OST opened on February 15, 1947. The premier feature was “Rendezvous with Annie” with Eddie Albert and Faye Marlowe. The OST's general contractor was Paul Marxten and the structural engineer was Francis J. Niven.