25th Street Theatre

1006 N. 25th Street,
Waco, TX 76707

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Showing 1 - 25 of 151 comments found

Driveintheatre2001
Driveintheatre2001 on December 26, 2012 at 6:33 pm

I took a few photos of the 25th Theatre. Sad to say, it’s not looking good. Real bad shape from what I could tell.. Seen here from July of 2012..

Randy A Carlisle Historical Photographer

JVanek
JVanek on June 17, 2011 at 8:14 am

Yes there IS a reunion on Sept 3, 2011……. If anyone has a Facebook page, all the details are on it.
I hope MOST of the people can attend this event, because this is the LAST reunion, that I will be having anything to do with. I have always loved the 25th Street Theatre (before and after it was a club), but it’s time to move on. I am sure the building will be saved and I will be apart of that, but the club years are long gone as are the theatre years. Little Richard always said “quit living in the past”, and he was right….some of us (myself included) have held on to the past for far too long. It’s time let go of the past (and some people from it) and look to the future, not only for the building, but for ourselves.
As I stated, there is a reunion in September, and if you would like to attend, either do a search on Facebook for it, or email me

Milks4Pooter
Milks4Pooter on June 17, 2011 at 4:16 am

Jake, is there a 25th Street Theater (nightclub) reunion happening in September (2011)? I hope racegirl8 and the others will contact you if the answer is ‘yes’. Would love to see the old gang again.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on June 16, 2011 at 5:37 pm

Good Comment and update,racegirls.

racegirl8
racegirl8 on May 12, 2011 at 5:39 pm

Hi All! checking back in after 6yrs to see how everyone is doing. I guess there’s nothing new to report on the 25th theatre as I would’ve heard about it. It still sits abandoned and rotting away but all the memories remain that I was proud to be a part of! Hopefully one day somebody with a big heart and a bank account to match will take possession of it (before something causes its possible demise) and fix it up so everybody can enjoy it once again. I have since moved to Dallas enjoying life up here. However, if by some chance something is done to save the 25th, I’ll most definitely come down to take part in any restoration efforts offering any help I can to bring it back to life! Yall don’t give up hope and keep the faith as I have a very good feeling there’s something wonderful meant for that place in the future! Long live the 25th!!! : )

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on July 11, 2010 at 12:52 pm

Speaking of Grim I just noticed on the map the side street of the 25th. Ave. Theatre is Grim Ave.

rej25th
rej25th on July 10, 2010 at 8:12 pm

dubnstein or milks4pooter? how in the Hell do you know about milk for pooter? robert-bob

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on April 22, 2010 at 6:47 pm

Very good comment!Thats a great name for the album.Might be copywright problems though.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on April 22, 2010 at 6:43 pm

Ticket to nowhere.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on April 22, 2010 at 6:39 pm

Very grim ken mc,would make a nice album cover though.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on April 22, 2010 at 5:15 pm

Here is a rather grim view of the theater:
http://tinyurl.com/267wjl9

Milks4Pooter
Milks4Pooter on March 24, 2010 at 5:42 pm

This information is like a reprieve for a death-row inmate. She will not go down without a fight, apparently.

I am broadcasting a request photographs of the interior light grid if anybody is willing to share them. Myself and a couple other acquaintances of Richard would like to create as accurate a blueprint of this show-piece as possible. Your photographs of the grid and light shows (even if they are blurry, dark or out just plain useless otherwise) will help accomplish this goal. Who knows. If the old girl is revived, we might be able to install a light system exactly like we remember. It is my personal opinion that, with her passing the structural integrity inspection, we have the best opportunity to do this the way Richard would like. Jake, thanks for all of your hard efforts. Robert, the same goes for you.

texas25th
texas25th on March 18, 2010 at 10:10 pm

Just for eveyones information, the city of Waco has requested that the buildings on Grim street down the side of 25th theater be demolished due too structural failures in the roof. The demolition should start in the next month or so. It should be noted that the buildings schedualed for demolition were built several years after the theater and are seperate structures and most recently housed a law firm, beauty shop and print shop. The theater itself just passed a structural inspection which the city of Waco also requested, a true testiment to it’s buliders!

tivy
tivy on February 11, 2010 at 9:05 am

Hello all, I am curious if anything has been done with the status of the theater. My grandparents used to own the antique store across from MC’s. I always remember seeing your crowns down at the theater and just wishing I was old enough. Please fill me in. Jake, keep this thing going.

awooten
awooten on December 6, 2009 at 3:55 pm

Hey. if anyone knows whats going to happen to the 25th st. theatre please get into contact me. im really interested in the theatre and i dont want it to get demolished. if you have time contact me at my name is Andrea.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on November 5, 2009 at 3:54 pm

Nice night time pictures,all the old theaters always looked better all lit up.

atmos
atmos on October 28, 2009 at 9:10 pm

John and Drew Eberson designed a theatre in Waco around 1945 and this could be it.

texas25th
texas25th on October 16, 2009 at 10:45 pm

Hey 25th Light Fan. The 25th was stripped of all of its lighting gear many years back along with any and all electronic equipment as well as its 70mm film projection and sound equipment. The structure is basically empty with only asbestos and mold remaining. Due to a very poor roof dating back to the club days it has suffered extensive water damage. Plans are still underway to save her and bring her back. Hope this helps!

apexdjs
apexdjs on September 28, 2009 at 9:34 am

Does anyone know what happened to the lights? I was a regular back in the day and have ventured into renovation and installation of sound & light systems in clubs. How can one obtain access to the building to examine the the extent of damages. I am interested in the rebirth of the great “25th”. I’m curious as how much renovation it would really take to put her back together.

25thStreetinWaco
25thStreetinWaco on May 13, 2009 at 6:55 pm

I’ve done some recent research and have an update on the status of the theatre. The title to the theatre property belongs to Richard Keifer and the estate of Richard Olsen. There is a lien on the property that belonged to Richard Olsen’s paternal grandfather, Carl E. Olsen, Sr. Richard’s father is the executor of Richard’s estate, which is still not closed after 15 years. He is also now the owner of the lien on the property as the heir of his father’s estate. The taxes on the property are up to date but, as pointed out here, the property is in terrible physical condition and has been “red tagged” by the City of Waco. Effectively that is a notice of condemnation but there are negotiations in progress between Mr. Olsen and the City that would keep the building from being destroyed. There are no guarantees at this point but the wrecking ball has not appeared yet so there is still hope for saving the old lady.

lostmemory
lostmemory on May 1, 2009 at 9:32 am

Here is a 1984 photo.

jhawk
jhawk on January 22, 2009 at 1:22 pm

hello everyone, james hawk here aka jimmie, aka hawk, aka jehovahawk. i was one of the dynamic tio of robin, bob, and james. wow, nice to see some old familiar names here. it really brings back the memories all the way from ‘dance down’ on the back wall of outer limits, to wall dancing in the old theater herself. if anyone is interested in contacting me my email is .com, cheers!