Jefferson Theatre
345 Fannin Street,
Beaumont,
TX
77701
345 Fannin Street,
Beaumont,
TX
77701
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The Jefferson theatre opened on November 14th, 1927. Grand opening ad posted.
https://www.genealogybank.com/nbshare/AC01110225224715029151606589350
Lots of childhood memories associate with the Jefferson. Loved looking at the chandelier and statues. Favorite movie experience was “House on Haunted Hill” which I also saw at the Temple in Meridian, Mississippi. Ten year old boys and a horror movie; doesn’t get better than that!
Excellent photos of the grand re-opening in 2003. http://www.savetheorgan.org/jefferson/index.htm
Pictures of the interior… View link
The Jefferson Theatre has a new website: www.beaumont-tx-complex.com/jeffersontheatre.html Apparently the Jefferson is now part of the Beaumont Civic Center Complex, which consists of several buildings.
This was the theater where KTRM Radio DJ Jape “The Big Bopper” Richardson set the record for on-air DJing: 122 hours and 8 minutes, playing a total of 1,821 records! That was in May 1957; the following year, he struck gold with a little ditty he wrote and recorded called “Chantilly Lace”.
In 1937, Jefferson Amusements owned the Rio Theater in Beaumont. I’m not sure if this was a predecessor of the Jefferson or a separate theater.
The Jefferson Theater was owned by The Jefferson Amusement Company, which was run by Mr. Julius Gordon.
The Jefferson Theater has now been lovingly restored and some films and theater events are being held.
Another print – this time of the interior with children at a talent show (may be slow to load):
http://randywelborn.com/003.shtml
You can see a beautiful print at this link:
http://randywelborn.com/007.shtml
The web site for theis theatre can be found at: http://www.jeffersontheatre.org/history.asp
The Jefferson Theatre seated 1878 people.