New Isis Theatre

lostmemory on April 29, 2009 at 4:30 pm

Another 1982 photo is here.

Hayshome on June 27, 2009 at 12:16 pm

Hello…So glad I found this site. My Daddy was Lonnie Wallis,
manager of the New Isis theater for MANY years. I have fond
memories growing up and accompanying my Dad to his “work"
every Saturday. Free popcorn until my heart was content!!
Double features every Saturday and a visit from Smiley Burnett.
It would be awesome if the theater was restored and put back
into action. The Northside/Stockyard area would finally
be complete with its restoration. Would appreciate any comments
and or updates. Thanks!
Sissy Wallis Hays

JoelNelson on September 13, 2009 at 10:54 am

I attended this theatre almost every weekend from 1971 (age 11) to the 80s. My grandmother took me to the Isis to see Night of the Living Dead there in 1968. My family all went to the Isis throughout the 40s 50s etc.
The separate section with 2 rows of seats in the very back of the balcony was known as the “crows nest” as this was segregated seating for Blacks in the era. Im sure that item is not well known to most folks. I own a postcard photo of the Isis in the 40s on a night when Ginger Rogers made an appearance there.
In the late 70s to its closing, the owner “Mr. Griff” had the Cates and Wilkins family manage and run the theatre. Everyone from the box office to the ushers were related. I grew up with the Cates family too and therefore had the run of the place. Met my first girlfriend there. And many more later. Someone posted some photos of the inside of the place now, what a tragedy! Too bad Fort Worth doesnt make a real effort to do something with it.

RyanBrennan on September 19, 2010 at 7:31 pm

Back around 2000, give or take a year or two, the Fort Worth Film Festival was interested in establishing its offices at the New Isis. To that end we took a tour of the building, which I had not been in since seeing the James Coburn movie HARRY IN YOUR POCKET there. During that time period the theater was running triple bills for $1.00!

Frankly, a restoration would mean gutting the building and starting over due to the poor condition of the auditorium. The structure itself seemed sound save for the roof.

The wooden seats were falling over and would need replacing. A hole in the ceiling had let flocks of birds into the building, not to mention rain. The area between the first row of seats and the theater “stage” looked like a creek bed because there was so much mud and rock debris there.

Naturally, new projectors would be necessary.

It was quite sad. Consequently, it hasn’t surprised me that no one has purchased the building given the tasks that lay ahead.

Rogue on March 17, 2011 at 9:24 am

Makes me sad every time I pass thru Cowtown. :(