Iris Theatre
211 W. Moore Avenue,
Terrell,
TX
75160
211 W. Moore Avenue,
Terrell,
TX
75160
5 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Robb & Rowley-United Inc., Rowley United Theatres Inc.
Functions: Live Theatre, Movies, Retail
Nearby Theaters
The Iris Theatre was opened in 1925. By the early-1940’s it was operated by Robb & Rowley United Inc. It was closed in 2001.
The neat vertical sign spelling out IRIS has been rewired and lights up again in 2015. A bookshop operates in the front of the building. In the auditorium movies are presented and also stage plays.
Contributed by
DonLewis
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Recent comments (view all 20 comments)
A 1980s photo of the Iris Theater when it was still open as a movie theater. It still had a marquee and “Friday the 13th” was showing.
The owners of the building are having the old Iris sign repaired. Soon it will be lighting up Terrell again. I have posted pictures of the building as it looks today at my site.
View link
This theater was featured in a 1953 theater owners' documentary about the financial devastation wrought by the 20% federal tax, plus other encroachments on the box office, such as television.
The doc is called “The Case Against the 20% Federal Admission Tax on Motion Picture Theaters” and is a treasure trove of theaters operating but in imminent trouble, including long looks at their still-open theaters, marquees, etc., and interviews with the owners.
There are also plenty of shots of already-closed theaters; the writing was really on the wall already.
TCM ran this movie on 11/1/09 at about 6am and I stumbled upon it by accident; I don’t know when it will screen again but it is well worth seeking out.
If you are seeking interior photographs of the Iris Theatre, you might visit your local library, city hall or put out a request for help from possibly a seniors club, etc.
Good luck and “GO FOR IT”
P.S., You have a very famous black movie star hailing from your city (sorry, his name escapes me) but if you are non-profit, why not ask for his backing, especially for publicity and re-opening!
My husband and I currently own this wonderful old building. We do have Books and Crannies in the front part which is a used bookstore. In the back, we have a small black box theatre with a movie screen where we show classic movies two nights a month. Admission is free – it is a fun night. The Vagabond Players are a local theatrical troupe who produce and perform live theatre on our stage 3-4 times per year. We have had the marquee sign rewired and it again lights up the night. And a recent addition is murals of old movie posters on the back of the building. We love this old building and are happy to be her caretakers. As for her name – when the building was about to be opened in 1925, the owners ran a contest to choose her name. A local lady suggested “The Iris” because she loved the Irises that bloomed in her yard. If you are in Terrell, please feel free to stop in!
This web page about the murals in Terrell includes a paragraph about the movie poster mural on the back wall of the former Iris Theatre building, and includes this information about the theater’s history:
Once operated by United Artists.
The Isis Theatre did suffer damage by a fire in late 1970, which reopened after repairs. Its marquee once fell to the ground during a severe weather outbreak in 1985.
Occupancy is 34 seats in the theatre, according to the Bookstore website
Before its closure in 2001, it last operated with 603 seats.