Arnett Benson Theatre
105 University Avenue,
Lubbock,
TX
79401
105 University Avenue,
Lubbock,
TX
79401
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The August 5, 1950 Lubbock Morning Avalanche said that the Arnett-Benson Theatre would have its formal opening that night. The owners of the new neighborhood house were Mr. and Mrs. Preston Smith, who had entered the theater business when they opened the Tech Theatre in Lubbock on June 2, 1936. By 1950 the Smith Theaters chain included the State Theatre, the Plains Theatre, and the 5-Point Drive-In.
I was the projectionist here in 1971-1972. My older brother was the projectionist during the night of the tornado. I always liked the Arnett Benson. I also worked the State and the Village as a projectionist and the Winchester as a usher and doorman in 1970. Fond memories of there theaters, it’s a shame none are left.
This opened on August 5th, 1950. Will post the grand opening announcement at movie-theatre.org.
another good pic is in this collection:
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search “Arnette”
Many Lubbock theaters shown. El Capitan; Plaza; Clifton; Lindsey; Cactus; Westerner Drive-In; Corral; Broadway; Midway; Plains Drive-In; Arnett-Benson; Arcadia.
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From the drop-down box choose: Buildings-Commercial-Movie Theaters
Search theatre and drive-in and there are other arial shots of other drive-ins, etc.
ENJOY!
The theater is still standing with retail in front. Several furniture rental businesses, pawn shops and the like have occcupied it. Auditorium is used as a warehouse. Neighborhood is still known by the same name.
Oh … I see what happened to Winchester. That place was incredible!
The AB was open a little later (I think) than 1975. My friend was manager there and we saw Logan’s Run and the inevitable Rocky Horror there until around 1978.
But what ever happened to the Winchester? I think that was where he took the money at night. It was the best in town back then!
This theatre wasn’t much to look at, being pretty plain both outside and in. Even though it was located some distance from downtown and in a nondescript part of Lubbock, it showed first-run movies for a while in the 1950s and ‘60s — I think I remember seeing “Psycho” there. Not sure whether it’s still standing.