Ritz Theater
401 South Main Street,
Big Spring,
TX
79720
401 South Main Street,
Big Spring,
TX
79720
1 person
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 26 comments found
From the 1980s a photo of the Ritz Theater in Big Spring.
Screen in header should list 2 screens.
That is what I am afraid of…… I am trying to contact Don Snyder right now. I think today I might go out to Big Spring and check out the old place. I would just really like to get into the place. I contacted the chamber of commerce to try and find out who the owner is.
In a search there are no show times listed on any site for the Ritz, when calling the current phone number it has been disconnected, so I would say that the Ritz is closed.
Here is a copy of a post card of the Ritz from 1935.
View link
Here is apress release from 28, Feb. 2008. I haven’t found anything since this article though.
Back to the Ritz?
Saturday, 23 February 2008
Big Spring residents may not have to travel to metropolitan cities like Dallas and Austin to visit a drafthouse theater, as work is under way to restore the downtown Ritz Theater to its long-lost luster.
The Ritz Theater in downtown Big Spring is in the process of being restored. It has been purchased by the Settles Hotel Development Company and is being renovated under the R&R Ritz Theater.(HERALD photo/Ron Midkiff)
Kristopher Ryan, general manager of the Settles Hotel Development Company LLC, said the building has been purchased by the group and work to seal the building and prepare it for restoration is already under way.
“The building isn’t being restored under the SHDC name,†said Ryan. “It’s being restored under the R&R Ritz Theater LLC name, which was the original name of the theater many years ago.
“We’re in the preliminary stages right now. We’re sealing up the building and working on the electrical and plumbing systems situated so work can begin. The Historical Preservation Service will be the first to work on the building, so we’re getting everything in line right now.â€
Ryan said the theater, once restored, will resemble drafthouse theaters in some of Texas’ larger cities.
“What we’re looking at doing is similar to the Alamo drafthouse in Austin,†said Ryan. “There are similar drafthouses in Dallas and Denton. The one in Denton has done very well over the years, and we’re hoping the Ritz can enjoy that kind of success here in Big Spring,â€
The Alamo Drafthouse serves drinks and dinner â€" including appetizers, salads and entrees â€" in addition to showing movies.
As work begins on the Ritz Theater, Ryan said restoration work on the historic Settles Hotel is still in its initial phases.
My grandfather was the Robb who built the ritz, unforunitly I was never able to meet him, due to his untimely death. If you know anything about him or the theater please contact me
Yes, it does, Thanks Vitonet. It looked much better in 1984.
Link to Google Street View – This might work…
I remember my parents taking me to see movies at this theater in the early 80s when I was a little boy and lived in the area. I remember seeing the re-release of Snow White and I think Superman 3 at this theater.
As a side note, the last time I was in Big Spring, about 1999, the theater was open and I think the marquee was still in place. I saw Carrie 2 there at a late night show. haha *If you want a more updated view of it, google street view as what looks to be a pretty recent shot of it.
This was the Ritz in 1984.
I was a projectionist at the Ritz in the 1950’s and 1960’s when the Ritz was a grand theatre. I also ran the Lyric and State in downtown Big Spring. The Lyric closed in 1955. The State is still there but has been closed for many years. These theatres were owned by R&R theatres and they went into disrepair when the Robb’s faded away.
I am still in the business after 59 years.
Don Snyder
The Ritz Theater is listed in 1955 with 800 seats.
Hello CyNdILaUpEr. Your best bet would be to contact the Big Spring Chamber of Commerce.
longislandmovie’s posting above says it was listed at one time on “loopnet”, but they charge to show their complete listings.
Don…
Any info as to if its for sale, and whom to contact?
A 1990 photo of the Ritz Theater showing “Jewel of the Nile” with the old Hotel Settles in the background.
My photograph showing the back of RITZ.
www.flickr.com/photos/lastpictureshow/308682404
My photograph of the RITZ.
www.flickr.com/photos/lastpictureshow/297344898
for sale loopnet $120,000.oo
update -screens should say twin
That’s an OLD press release. The Northrock in Wichita has had their system removed, and I believe McClurg Court in Chicago has closed.
The Ritz, by the way, DID have the system installed. They’ve shown at least a couple movies digitally, including “Star Wars: Episode II – Attack Of The Clones” and, recently, “The Island.”
The Ritz is on a list of theaters that was supposed to install the Boeing Digital Cinema System that replaces 35mm film. Maybe the conversion was so expensive that they had no money left for a marquee.
The Boeing Company Brings Latest Digital Cinema Technology to MoviegoersSEAL BEACH, Calif., May 9, 2002
“The Boeing Company [NYSE:BA] is makingDigital projection of full-length motion pictures a reality with the installation ofThe Boeing Digital Cinema systems in markets across the United States and in London.
Moviegoers will consistently enjoy clear images, free of all the defectstypically associated with 35-millimeter film such as scratches, dirt, mechanical jumps and other degradation. The Boeing system, which utilizes satellite, fiber optics and physical media technologies, will be installed in 23 theatres bynext week. Other theatre locations will be announced as systems are installed.
Digital Cinema will give theatres using the Boeing system a competitive marketing advantage and attract more moviegoers because every showing of a digital movie will be as sharp and full of detail as the first viewing,“ said Frank Stirling, executive director, Boeing Digital Cinema, part of BoeingSpace and Communications (S&C), a business unit of The Boeing Company. "Thisbrings the cinematic experience closer to what was actually shot during filming. Moviegoers will see and hear the film the way the filmmaker intended.
Boeing Digital Cinema allows the secure delivery of a single movie file tothousands of theatres around the world. The system provides secureend-to-end transmission using encryption technology that has been endorsed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for protection of commercial and government information. From encryption upon receipt of content to decryption at projection in designated theatres, Boeing’s end-to-end multi-layered security system ensures protection at each step of the process and reduces risk offilm piracy".
Theatres that are installing Boeing Digital Cinema include:
Dickinson: Northrock 14, Wichita, Kan.
Emagine: Cinema Hollywood, Birch Run, Mich
Loews: Boston Commons, Boston, Mass.;
Magic Johnson, Los Angeles, Calif.;
McClurg Court, Chicago, Ill.;
Sony Metreon, San Francisco, Calif.;
StarS Theatre, S Southfield, Mich.;
Universal Cineplex Odeon, Universal City, Calif
Malco: Cordova Cinema, Memphis, Tenn.;
Majestic 20, Memphis, Tenn.;
Malco S TownS Cinema, Rogers, Ark.
Oasis: Ritzy, London, U.K. S Ritz:
Ritz Theatre, Big Spring, Texas
UltraStar: UltraStar Chula Vista, Chula Vista, Calif.;
UltraStar Del Mar S Highlands 8, San Diego, Calif.;
UltraStar LaCosta 6, Carlsbad, Calif.;
UltraStar S Poway Creekside, Poway, Calif.S Vulcan:
Cinerama, Seattle, Wash
At least it is still functioning as a motion picture venue.
What kind of business doesn’t even have a sign on the building?! Do you have to know the secret password to buy a ticket?
This is the strangest theatre I have ever seen. You would think they would at least put a flat marquee on the building.