Rig Theatre

154 E. Ymbacion Street,
Refugio, TX 78377

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dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on December 22, 2021 at 8:36 am

Eugene Low, Jr. launched the Low’s Theatre on June 14, 1935 with “Folies Bergere de Paris” to complement his Low’s Rialto Theatre in downtown Refugio. On June 1, 1937, Low sold both venues to F.R. Hansen and Jack Pickens of San Antonio. The pair renamed the venues as the Rialto Theatre (immediately dropping Low’s) and, after a refresh, the Rig Theatre reopened on October 29, 1937 with June Travis in “Join the Marines.” N. Bergvall was the architect. The theatre closed in 1942 for three years though used for some live events and in support of the War efforts.

With a growing Hispanic population, the theatre changed its policy at another reopening on September 16, 1945 showing Spanish-language films. After another closure and refresh, the theatre switched to widescreen to show CinemaScope at a final relaunch on December 24, 1954. That appears to have been the last effort with the theatre closing in 1955.