Village Theater
3425 Gulfway Drive,
Port Arthur,
TX
77624
3425 Gulfway Drive,
Port Arthur,
TX
77624
1 person
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Originally built as a single screen theater in the late-1940’s, it was later converted to a three screen configuration. The projector for the original screen was retained, with the film feed system converted to a platter system. Matching projectors were obtained for the two added screens.
Contributed by
Steven Domingue
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
1983 photo of the Village Theatre.
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The theater was converted into a three screen cinema after the roof of the original caved in one rainy Saturday morning. The cave in happened a couple of hours before the Saturday kids showing was to screen.
Bet this was a really nice moviehouse.
John, it was a nice movie house. I watched movies in the balcony of the Village, the Jefferson and just about every theater in Jefferson county. It wasn’t until I started college in Wharton Texas that I discovered the segregation between the balcony and the main floor. In my time there I sat in the balcony with friends and on the main floor with friends of every race, color, creed, etc. I don’t know the reason the practice wasn’t in Jefferson. We had our share of racial difficulties, but the theaters weren’t party to it.
Any interior shots?
The photo that Chuck1231 posted…Doesn’t that look like crap?
JohnMessick, if you are referring to the quality of the photograph, then you are correct. If you are referring to the content of the photograph then I must disagree. Neither look like crap. The theater had a full balcony and two isles on the main floor. The remodeling and additions made the Village look more up to date. It was not as magnificent as the Loew’s State and the Metropolitan next to it in Houston. Both were demolished some time ago, sadly. Photos of the interior of these classic movie houses seem to be in short supply. Some that haven’t been demolished have been restored and offer more than movies. This is true of the Silver theater in Silver Spring, Maryland. The American Film Institute was instrumental in saving that grand full size theater. The Jefferson theater in Beaumont, TX has been restored to a very polished look without destroying the classic roman interior. I suppose crap is in the eye of the beholder.
John, I just read through the postings again and I note that you earlier mentioned you thought this must have been a nice movie house. As such, I do believe your are referring to the quality of the photograph. While, I still don’t think it looks like crap, I agree it is not the best. Also, I apologize for not reading all of the posts again before I posted. I stand by everything else I wrote. Ken
Ken, I should have explained myself better. True the photo is crap. You must admit that painting the building that color makes it look crappy. I hate to see when people paint over a beautiful brick building. Wouldn’t you agree?
John, I do agree with you. My apologies for not thinking longer about what you had written.