Edna Theatre
201 W. Main Street,
Edna,
TX
77957
201 W. Main Street,
Edna,
TX
77957
7 people
favorited this theater
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I LOVED the theater, and in the early 1990’s worked with a group to raise interest in hope of restoring it; delighted that although I’m no longer in Edna, a dream is coming true. Blessings to my friends there— Lina Hill Hybner
The Edna was sold last september and plans to re-open it as a live theater. The property next to the theater was just bought to have extra room for restrooms and dressing rooms along with set building for live musicals. The renovation has started with a planned late 2012 early 2013 opening. The same owner purchased the Lynn theater in Gonzales Texas which opens March 2012.
The Edna Theater is in the running for a $250,000 grant from Pepsi Refresh. Please go to the link below to vote daily and please tell others as well!
http://www.refresheverything.com/ednatheater
From what I’ve seen of it, it had to be a very special, modern theater in it’s day. I wish them all the luck in the world.
From the Victoria Advocate, March 16, 1950:
New Theater At Edna Is Opened.
Edna, March 16â€"With true carnival spirit, some 3,000 or more citizens of Edna and the surrounding territory witnessed the opening of the new Edna Theatre here Tuesday night (March 14, 1950).
For eight years the people here have been attending the movies in a remodeled store building with a very limited seating capacity. The only theater burned down eight years ago and because of the war it was impossible to build another.
The new Edna Theatre, operated by J.G. Long Theatres, Inc., of Bay City, opens a new world for local movie-goers.
The theater is as modern as one can be built at this time.
Eighty tons of refrigeration will cool the theatre in summer and a large heating plant will make it equally as comfortable during the winter.
Previous to the opening a parade and band concert by the Edna Cowboy Band, conducted by R. J. Kluge, entertained the several thousand persons awaiting admittance. During a short dedicatory ceremony in the auditorium after the opening, L. O. Wallace of the Long organization acted as master of ceremonies and he introduced Glenn McClain of the Long chain, Mayor Harry Mauritz and Dr. R. E. Lee, president of the chamber of commerce of Edna, for short talks. Fred M. Smith was introduced as the manager of the new theatre.
In addition to the theatre, the Edna, the building also houses four business firms, including a modern grocery store. The theatre seats 1,000 and is reported to be one of the finest shows between San Antonio and Houston.
The premier feature was “Father Is a Bachelor†with William Holden and Coleen Gray.
Become a fan of the Edna Theatre Restoration Project on Facebook.
If you use 201 W. Main as the address, the theater shows up. Using Business 59 puts you some distance away.
Here is a Christmas Eve 2009 photo of the Edna. I hadn’t seen it at night before other than in pictures. Really special theater. T\Smythe, the owner of the Ganado theater has access to the theater if you are in the area. He has a neat theater too. He has a new sign and neon as of this past thanksgiving 09.
View link
The Theater is owned by a group in Jackson co. The restoration and future operations fall under the Texana Arts Council who have been working very hard this last year to bring the entire project from vision to reality. EmaI me for more info .
Excellent photographs “JohnS,” you brought back some memories. The last film I saw in the theater was Star Wars, back in 1977. Nevertheless, are you the owner? Will you be the one to refurbish/reopen the theater? If not, do you know who the owner is? I would be much like to get in contact with that person. I hope your evening goes well…
Great photos JohnS..thank you for sharing.
Here are some photos I took May 13, ‘09. Neat theater. Would have liked to have seen it when it was new.
View link
Here are some 1984 photos:
Photo1
Photo2
Photo3
You can have items placed on the billboard by contacting the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce!
Who do we contact to have a name placed on the billboard there for a birthday? I am born and raised in this area and have never had the chance to do that. Someone special to me is having a birthday on April 18th and I would love to have her name up there. She was born and raised here too.
Ideas?
Jeff Prukop
Taylor: I don’t have an actual copy of the magazine. A scan is currently available online from Issuu. Try a Google search using the terms:
issuu boxoffice “edna, tex”
That will fetch scans of several issues of Boxoffice with items mentioning the Edna Theatre. The scans are not available for download, but you might try contacting Boxoffice Magazine through their own web site to see if they could make CD or printed copies of scans available. I don’t know what the magazine’s long-term intentions are regarding their archives. Some magazines, such as The New Yorker, have put their entire archives onto CD ROMs that can be purchased.
Here are some shot take January 21, 2009. After the broken neon was all replaced. Marquee all restored in these shots.
Let me know if these links don’t work. Trying something new.
Joe, Do you have a copy that you can share?
Like Ken Pryor mentioned in an earlier post from 2006, any pictures or documentation you can share would be great, even after we complete the restoration. Either email or fax to Ken Pryor OR send to me at .
The March 25, 1950, issue of Boxoffice Magazine includes the Edna Theatre in its list of new houses opened the previous year. It gives the cost of the project as $250,000.
Here is a video taken the night we turned on the lights. Listen to the crowd when is was the marquee was turned on. It’s that community love and support for this project that keeps us hard at work to complete this project.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtsRH9hWavE
I just happened to be going thru Edna when I was in Houston, and got sent to McAllen. May not be going thru anytime in the foreseeable future, but I’d love to see a nice night pic of the neon, if anyone has any.
One more comment here: THe Edna Theatre seated 1024 people, not 333.
That was 800 in the auditorium and 224 in the balcony.
The restoration committee will replace 1000 seats.
The neon is to be used to complete the marquee soon. The Tower is lit everynight and is beautiful.
The red arrows are from an asbestos abatement study.
The interior is in fantastic shape.
There is a talented group of Historical Commission appointee’s who are working hard to start restoration and should be able to start sometime this year.
Anyone of pictures of the interior?
I seen pictures of the Edna on the website Cinematour…What a beautiful movie theater