Rex Allen Theater
150 N. Railroad Avenue,
Willcox,
AZ
85643
150 N. Railroad Avenue,
Willcox,
AZ
85643
1 person
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The building which was built in the 1880’s is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Rex Allen Theater opened in 1927 as the Mystic Theater. It was later known as the Willcox Theater. The Rex Allen Theater remains open today. It is owned by the Rex Allen Museum, and is a community supported 501c3 charity.
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
The style of this theater is listed as art deco. On the Rex Allen Theater website it says that the building is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
You can view photos of this theater here:
http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=1397
Here is another photo of the Rex Allen Theater in Willcox.
From ahwatukee.com:
Rex Allen Theater
130 N. Railroad Ave., Willcox
(520) 384-4244
Named for the Western movie star who was born in this southeastern Arizona town, the classic art deco building was constructed in the late 1800s. Originally called the Mystic, it has been a theater since 1927 and at one time hosted live stage productions.
When movies took over, the theater had a single screen and a balcony, but in recent years has been converted into a twin screen theater. In the smaller theater, the images theatergoers see on the screen are produced by a Motiograph 35 mm projector, made about 1935. It is the oldest operating movie projector in the state of Arizona. The building is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
Take the time to visit the Rex Allen Museum next door. Early photos, elaborate costumes and posters from some of the 19 movies Allen made for Republic Pictures between 1950 and 1954 trace his career.
Now playing, Beauty Shop and Guess Who.
A cira-1940s view of the Rex Allen Theater when it was called the Willcox Theater can be seen here.
Here is a 2006 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/c3rcd4
In 1955 the Wilcox Theater had 405 seats.
This is a 2008 photo.
Here is a 2009 photo.
This theater closed down in October 2011. Plans are in the works to open again but as of this date theater is not operating.
A reopening is likely to happen soon; the Wilcox Historic Preservation Society, Inc. has struck a deal to acquire the theater from and resolved issues involving access with the Rex Allen Museum Board. {View article](http://www.willcoxrangenews.com/news/article_59238156-17e2-11e2-87b4-001a4bcf887a.html)