Alabama Theatre
2922 S. Shepherd Drive,
Houston,
TX
77098
2922 S. Shepherd Drive,
Houston,
TX
77098
17 people
favorited this theater
The Alabama Theatre opened on November 2, 1939 with the feature “Man About Town” starring Jack Benny and Dorothy Lamour. After the Alabama Theatre closed it became a bookstore. In this use it was meticulously maintained, and resembled a theatre inside, though one with bookshelves and no seats. The screen was still present.
The bookstore closed on September 15, 2009, relocating to another unit in the mall. Preservationists are worried that the beloved Alabama Theatre is at risk of demolition. In 2012, it was operating as a Trader Joe’s.
Contributed by
Mina
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Recent comments (view all 80 comments)
This interior photo is not the Alamaba Theatre. Actually it’s an early shot of the River Oaks Theatre on West Gray – currently operated by Landmark.
Here is an interior shot of the Alamaba Theatre http://www.cah.utexas.edu/db/dmr/image_lg.php?variable=e_bb_1495
Stan. That link didnt work. You are probably right that is not the interior of the Alabama.
The Alabama ran some of the big 70mm road shows. Sound of Music ran for over a year. Lawrence of Arabia played there. It was magnificant. The Tower was the first 70mm house. Mike Todd was there for the opening of Oklahoma. He made them take out the pop corn machine to add some dignity to the occasion. They replaced it when he left. There was a push to equip theaters with 70mm. The Delmon, Village, The Uptown, and some others made the expensive switch.
westawesta, don’t let your guard down. Fight as hard as you can. Weingarten’s only care about what hits their pocketbook. There’s been mention of Trader Joe’s moving into the Alabama. Most recently, though, the report is that murals have been removed & the floor filled in with sand & no mention of Trader Joe’s whatsoever.
Cement going into floor thttp://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2011/10/readying-for-trader-joes/o level it for Trader Joes,
Proscenium arch & murals destroyed! http://www.ghpa.org/news/?m=20111129
http://www.ghpa.org/news/?p=104
Remember seeing “The Poseidon Adventure” here, among other films. Great theater.
According to The September 2012 issue of Signs of the Times, the Alabama Theater tower sign is being restored by Coast Graphics and Signs of Stafford, Texas.
Described in this 1940 trade article, which also covers the River Oaks Theatre: Boxoffice
Alabama Theater is now a Trader Joe’s grocery store. The facade and marquee are still in place, but there is almost nothing left of the theater decoration inside.
This link has several photos of the building: http://www.houstondeco.org/1930s/alabama.html