Opened in 1950, the Cuero Drive-In closed for the season in 1963 without reopening. The VFW lodge built its facility on the drive-in although it used the snack bar beginning in 1967 and turned it into a barbecue food center.
The Home Drive-In Theatre launched on April 13, 1950. According to the paper, it was closed following a ten-year lease not opening in 1961. However, it could have been reopened thereafter.
Nov. 17, 1948 was the opening date. Vincent Rainey of San Francisco was the architect of the $300,000 theatre built for owners Fred and Ethel Stamm. The theatre features six luminescent murals on its walls and ceiling
The Mid-City Shopping Center opened theatre-less in Menands in July of 1961 anchored by an F.W. Woolworth’s dime store, a Topps Variety Store and a Food Fair grocery. In October of 1972, Mayor John F. Faris joined the principles of a proposed Jerry Lewis Twin Cinema for a groundbreaking with the theatre set to open in 1973 in the plaza. But between planning and the actual opening in 1973, the theatre had dumped the Lewis nameplate and opted for the Star Twin Cinema. Its opening films on May 2, 1973 were “Cabaret” and “The Getaway.”
Only in development stage was this venue was called the West Theatre. Its opening name was the West Twins Theatre and not the West Theatre. The genesis of this name is from Wilfred Robert Frank and partner Oscar Woempner who had created the Rosebud Twins on the site of the former Royal Theatre in Minneapolis in 1924. They weren’t twin theaters but twin operations (the Rosebud was a combination of theatre and candy store/soda shop at opening).
The “twins” was an interesting concept well-placed in the Twin Cities. Frank and Woempner would operate the Boulevard, Franklin, Lyndale, Park, Rosebud turned Avalon and rebuilt Avalon, Chateau and Lasalle in Minneapolis among other theaters elsewhere.
Here, the West Twins consisted of the West Twins Theatre and an adjoining restaurant once known as the West Twins Inn both launching in 1939. The Perry E. Crosier design deftly blends the two operations together with a unifying style. Another Frank Twin operation was the Boulevard Twins which was a re-launching of the Boulevard Theatre in 1948. Frank paired the Boulevard Twins Theatre and adjoining deli / pastry shop, the Boulevard Twins Restaurant. They were advertised as the Boulevard Twins Theatre – Restaurants and had a period where you could do dinner and a show for one price.
The West Twins Theatre went out of business in 1967 with the entire facility up for sale in 1968 with the restaurant soldiering on. A request to the city for a license to reopen the theatre was denied unanimously in 1970. The space was used for other retail purposes
The Inwood hired Architexas, a historic preservation architectural specialist in Dallas in 1983, to bring the theatre its bar and multi-screen operation.
The Bellaire represents the spectrum of movie exhibition from Post-War to the Video Era as well as any Houston theatre. Built as a neighborhood house during the Post-War theatre boom, the theatre launched April 16, 1949 with “Easter Parade” the day prior to Easter.
The theatre struggled in the 1970s with the theatre experimented with martial arts films and Indian films and then live stage shows. In 1976, the theatre became an X-rated cinema on a ten-year lease by Tercar Theatres.
In 1986, Metro Cinema took on the property and hired Architexas, a historic preservation architectural specialist in Dallas who had done a similar job at the Inwood Theatre there, to create a five-screen theatre with car. The new art house launched November 26, 1986. But when that failed, the theatre went back to sub-run discount feature films. “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” was a rare bright spot for the theatre. Its lease was ended at the terminus of a five-year period on December 1, 1991. A campaign brought the theatre back with no success closing for good August 2, 1992.
The theatre was repurposed for other retail ventures including a Discovery Zone party venue and grocery stores. Because of its conversion, it is in no danger of being razed.
Technically, the Royal Theatre – a one-story wood framed building – burned down and its remains removed after a January 25, 1924 fire. Brandt and Dutton rebuilt a brick structure (see photos). Their new theatre launched as the Rosebuds Twins on April 12, 1924 though quickly was known as the Rosebud Theatre as the “twin” appears to be an adjoining candy store and soda fountain. Its moniker derives from the 1920 novel by Sinclair Lewis, “Main Street" and its adaptation to a 1923 feature film. In the novel, the name of the theatre in Gopher Prairie, Minnesota – and on its first edition cover – is the Rosebud Movie Palace. The film version prominently features the setting as the Rosebud Theatre. This Rosebud theatre opened about a year after the film version.
That theatre became the Reno Theatre and, under new ownership with new sound system, became the original Avalon Theatre. The Rosebud(s)/Reno/Avalon was also knocked down replaced by a new build theater, the “new” Avalon Theatre which was a 1,000-seat venue built on the lot beginning at the corner of Lake and 15th Street or 1500 Lake.
A little late to the party but can confirm that Joe Vogel is correct (10 years ago). The Royal Theatre burned down on January 25, 1924. Brandt and Dutton rebuilt a brick structure as the Rosebuds / Rosebud Theatre and Candy/Soda Shop in 1924 that became the Reno and Avalon. If the trade press is correct (and the pictures seem to indicate), the Avalon is a completely new build beginning on the lot on the corner which was a 1,000-seat venue while the previous building was not incorporated into the new Avalon and was razed.
As for the name of the former Rosebud theatre, it derives from the 1920 novel by Sinclair Lewis, “Main Street" and its adaptation to a 1923 feature film. In the novel, the name of the theatre in Gopher Prairie, Minnesota and on its first edition cover is the Rosebud Movie Palace. The film version prominently features the setting as the Rosebud Theatre.
120 West Central was the address and had originally housed the IOOF Lodge. The facility’s east building was expanded to house the Belmont and Palace theaters. The building existed into the 21st Century but had been completely retrofitted for other retail purposes.
Mr. and Mrs. J.P. Barkwill launched the Royal Theatre on April 15, 1916 with “The Girl of the Golden West” and “Cruel, Cruel Love.” The Royal closed in 1922 and the space in the W.F. McGinnis building was retrofitted for other retail interests.
The steeple from the church was removed and the fare changed to burlesque at the corner of 14th and Lucas Place (now Locust) and – in its third and final show business moniker shown here – the Gayety Theatre in what was once called the Lucas Place neighborhood.
The Villas Theatre launched on September 5, 1916. The theatre appears to have closed after a triple feature on November 13, 1960 of “The Bat,” “The Bride & the Beast,” and “World Without End.”
This was a million dollar theatre that launched on March 13, 1927 with a $25,000 Barton organ. It went out of business on November 4, 1951 after showings of “Big Carnival” and “Angels in the Outfield.” On August 22, 1952, the Palace Bowl launched in the refurbished former theatre. It was renamed the Cermak Bowl and the City Council bought the business andvoted to raze the building in 2004 which occurred in 2005.
The Electra Theatre launched July 4, 1911 with photoplays in downtown Victoria. At the end of a ten-year lease, the Electra closed. In a little over a year, the venue would have five operators and three different names.
The operator of the Queen Theatres in Cureo and Yoakum, Texas, E.H. Peters of Dallas took on the Electra in 1921. On May 4, 1921, he rebranded it as the Queen Theatre with an Air Blizzard cooling system. Peters offers $5 in gold to the student who could best describe the Air Blizzard system. Peters sold out that October to new operators who sold to new operator F.S. Ferguson of the Princess Theatre that December. On January 20, 1922, he renamed the theatre the Royal Theatre
Ferguson closed the Royal Theatre and, under new operators, the theatre relaunched under its former Electra Theatre moniker on December 21, 1922. That lasted until M.M. McNeese of Dallas bought the theatre and converted it the Vicotria Theatre on July 24, 1924 likely on a ten-year lease. Under Frels Circuit operation in 1926, the theatre was equipped with a giant lit sign reading, Frel’s Victoria. On September 15, 1929, Rubin Frels installed a sound system for talking pictures. The adjoining Post Office Confectionery Store was a favorite pre-show stop for patrons beginning in 1934.
Later that year, the movies stopped and the venue was used for live wrestling and other live events. Frels left after a 10-year lease and the space became the Norge Shop and other retail interests.
Frels returned to the Strekfus Building installing a massive 35-foot high sign in place and back under the name of the new Victoria Theatre. The building contained half of the old theatre and a completely new half. Frels launched the 400-seat Victoria on August 8, 1941 with “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” The theatre closed at the end of 1960 and perhaps under new operators on a sublease, it relaunched as an Hispanic Theatre in November of 1961. Despite surviving Hurricane Carla in 1961, the Victoria Theatre signage was finally felled by high winds in May of 1965. But the theatre continued operations.
Under new operators in 1971, the Victoria Theatre became an adult films house through 1972. It was then an Hispanic house back under Frels from 1972 to 1985. In 1986, Frels Realty allowed the space to became home to the Victoria Community Theatre under the name Theatre Victoria doing live shows through 2004. They moved to a new location that year.
The Princess Theatre was opened April 1, 1909. Taylor & Taylor took on the theatre relaunching it as the Paramount Theatre on January 19, 1915 with “The Dancer and the King.”
In September of 1915, the operators of the Park Theatre took over the Paramount and rebranded the venue under its former name, the Princess Theatre. on October 19, 1915. In July of 1928, the Frels Circuit took on the Princess and transitioned it to sound Vitaphone films. Feels closed in January 30, 1931.
The Jefferson Amusement Company took on the Princess and renamed it the Queen Theatre – the town’s second Queen Theatre – with a new Western Electric system for sound films. The Spanish architecturally-themed Queen relaunched April 5, 1931 with “Their Own Desire.” Long Theaters Circuit took over the location and closed it in 1940 after launching two new downtown theatres in the Rita and El Rancho. On a ten year lease, the building was used for other purposes.
E.H. Brooks took on the former theatre and renamed it the Venus Theatre relaunching as an Hispanic theatre on June 12, 1951 with “En Cada Puerto un Amor.” The film transitioned back to discount, sub-run double features. Its final films were “The Big Country” and “The Tingler” on November 11, 1960 when the Venus Theatre burned down.
The Campus Theatre was designed as a 664-seat quonset hut cinema near Victoria College built in 1949. (It was never called the College Theatre.) It launched August 3, 1950 with “Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House.” The Campus Theatre closed on January 23, 1952 after a showing of “Steel Helmet.” It was then used as a church and, in 1957, became the Woodlawn Bowling Center.
Closed by Cinemark on May 10, 2001 when Cinemark launched its 12-screener. It closed as a discount house with What Men Want, The Mexican, Snatch, See Spot Run and Down to Earth
Cinemas 1-4 had 238 seats each and 5-6 had 136 for 1,224 seats at opening on May 20, 1977. Closed on May 10, 2001 when Cinemark launched its 12-screener.Demolished August 28, 2006 .
Opened November 1, 1951 with the film, “Dear Brat”. Closed on October 29, 1956 with “Dakota Incident.” It does not appear to have reopened.
Opened in 1950, the Cuero Drive-In closed for the season in 1963 without reopening. The VFW lodge built its facility on the drive-in although it used the snack bar beginning in 1967 and turned it into a barbecue food center.
Good job all. The newspaper says “west of the city” but it’s clearly to the East in the aerial view at 1010 FM 1579 at US 90 and near Humplik Lane.
The Home Drive-In Theatre launched on April 13, 1950. According to the paper, it was closed following a ten-year lease not opening in 1961. However, it could have been reopened thereafter.
Nov. 17, 1948 was the opening date. Vincent Rainey of San Francisco was the architect of the $300,000 theatre built for owners Fred and Ethel Stamm. The theatre features six luminescent murals on its walls and ceiling
The Mid-City Shopping Center opened theatre-less in Menands in July of 1961 anchored by an F.W. Woolworth’s dime store, a Topps Variety Store and a Food Fair grocery. In October of 1972, Mayor John F. Faris joined the principles of a proposed Jerry Lewis Twin Cinema for a groundbreaking with the theatre set to open in 1973 in the plaza. But between planning and the actual opening in 1973, the theatre had dumped the Lewis nameplate and opted for the Star Twin Cinema. Its opening films on May 2, 1973 were “Cabaret” and “The Getaway.”
Only in development stage was this venue was called the West Theatre. Its opening name was the West Twins Theatre and not the West Theatre. The genesis of this name is from Wilfred Robert Frank and partner Oscar Woempner who had created the Rosebud Twins on the site of the former Royal Theatre in Minneapolis in 1924. They weren’t twin theaters but twin operations (the Rosebud was a combination of theatre and candy store/soda shop at opening).
The “twins” was an interesting concept well-placed in the Twin Cities. Frank and Woempner would operate the Boulevard, Franklin, Lyndale, Park, Rosebud turned Avalon and rebuilt Avalon, Chateau and Lasalle in Minneapolis among other theaters elsewhere.
Here, the West Twins consisted of the West Twins Theatre and an adjoining restaurant once known as the West Twins Inn both launching in 1939. The Perry E. Crosier design deftly blends the two operations together with a unifying style. Another Frank Twin operation was the Boulevard Twins which was a re-launching of the Boulevard Theatre in 1948. Frank paired the Boulevard Twins Theatre and adjoining deli / pastry shop, the Boulevard Twins Restaurant. They were advertised as the Boulevard Twins Theatre – Restaurants and had a period where you could do dinner and a show for one price.
The West Twins Theatre went out of business in 1967 with the entire facility up for sale in 1968 with the restaurant soldiering on. A request to the city for a license to reopen the theatre was denied unanimously in 1970. The space was used for other retail purposes
The Inwood hired Architexas, a historic preservation architectural specialist in Dallas in 1983, to bring the theatre its bar and multi-screen operation.
The Bellaire represents the spectrum of movie exhibition from Post-War to the Video Era as well as any Houston theatre. Built as a neighborhood house during the Post-War theatre boom, the theatre launched April 16, 1949 with “Easter Parade” the day prior to Easter.
The theatre struggled in the 1970s with the theatre experimented with martial arts films and Indian films and then live stage shows. In 1976, the theatre became an X-rated cinema on a ten-year lease by Tercar Theatres.
In 1986, Metro Cinema took on the property and hired Architexas, a historic preservation architectural specialist in Dallas who had done a similar job at the Inwood Theatre there, to create a five-screen theatre with car. The new art house launched November 26, 1986. But when that failed, the theatre went back to sub-run discount feature films. “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” was a rare bright spot for the theatre. Its lease was ended at the terminus of a five-year period on December 1, 1991. A campaign brought the theatre back with no success closing for good August 2, 1992.
The theatre was repurposed for other retail ventures including a Discovery Zone party venue and grocery stores. Because of its conversion, it is in no danger of being razed.
Technically, the Royal Theatre – a one-story wood framed building – burned down and its remains removed after a January 25, 1924 fire. Brandt and Dutton rebuilt a brick structure (see photos). Their new theatre launched as the Rosebuds Twins on April 12, 1924 though quickly was known as the Rosebud Theatre as the “twin” appears to be an adjoining candy store and soda fountain. Its moniker derives from the 1920 novel by Sinclair Lewis, “Main Street" and its adaptation to a 1923 feature film. In the novel, the name of the theatre in Gopher Prairie, Minnesota – and on its first edition cover – is the Rosebud Movie Palace. The film version prominently features the setting as the Rosebud Theatre. This Rosebud theatre opened about a year after the film version.
That theatre became the Reno Theatre and, under new ownership with new sound system, became the original Avalon Theatre. The Rosebud(s)/Reno/Avalon was also knocked down replaced by a new build theater, the “new” Avalon Theatre which was a 1,000-seat venue built on the lot beginning at the corner of Lake and 15th Street or 1500 Lake.
A little late to the party but can confirm that Joe Vogel is correct (10 years ago). The Royal Theatre burned down on January 25, 1924. Brandt and Dutton rebuilt a brick structure as the Rosebuds / Rosebud Theatre and Candy/Soda Shop in 1924 that became the Reno and Avalon. If the trade press is correct (and the pictures seem to indicate), the Avalon is a completely new build beginning on the lot on the corner which was a 1,000-seat venue while the previous building was not incorporated into the new Avalon and was razed.
As for the name of the former Rosebud theatre, it derives from the 1920 novel by Sinclair Lewis, “Main Street" and its adaptation to a 1923 feature film. In the novel, the name of the theatre in Gopher Prairie, Minnesota and on its first edition cover is the Rosebud Movie Palace. The film version prominently features the setting as the Rosebud Theatre.
Sorry -1922
120 West Central was the address and had originally housed the IOOF Lodge. The facility’s east building was expanded to house the Belmont and Palace theaters. The building existed into the 21st Century but had been completely retrofitted for other retail purposes.
Mr. and Mrs. J.P. Barkwill launched the Royal Theatre on April 15, 1916 with “The Girl of the Golden West” and “Cruel, Cruel Love.” The Royal closed in 1922 and the space in the W.F. McGinnis building was retrofitted for other retail interests.
The steeple from the church was removed and the fare changed to burlesque at the corner of 14th and Lucas Place (now Locust) and – in its third and final show business moniker shown here – the Gayety Theatre in what was once called the Lucas Place neighborhood.
Opened at 117 east Fifth with Death of a Champion and closed April 13, 1952 with Elephant Stampede . Demolished 60 years later
Original William H. McElfatrick architectural design from 1917 in photos.
The Villas Theatre launched on September 5, 1916. The theatre appears to have closed after a triple feature on November 13, 1960 of “The Bat,” “The Bride & the Beast,” and “World Without End.”
This was a million dollar theatre that launched on March 13, 1927 with a $25,000 Barton organ. It went out of business on November 4, 1951 after showings of “Big Carnival” and “Angels in the Outfield.” On August 22, 1952, the Palace Bowl launched in the refurbished former theatre. It was renamed the Cermak Bowl and the City Council bought the business andvoted to raze the building in 2004 which occurred in 2005.
Just to add a bit to the above:
The Electra Theatre launched July 4, 1911 with photoplays in downtown Victoria. At the end of a ten-year lease, the Electra closed. In a little over a year, the venue would have five operators and three different names.
The operator of the Queen Theatres in Cureo and Yoakum, Texas, E.H. Peters of Dallas took on the Electra in 1921. On May 4, 1921, he rebranded it as the Queen Theatre with an Air Blizzard cooling system. Peters offers $5 in gold to the student who could best describe the Air Blizzard system. Peters sold out that October to new operators who sold to new operator F.S. Ferguson of the Princess Theatre that December. On January 20, 1922, he renamed the theatre the Royal Theatre
Ferguson closed the Royal Theatre and, under new operators, the theatre relaunched under its former Electra Theatre moniker on December 21, 1922. That lasted until M.M. McNeese of Dallas bought the theatre and converted it the Vicotria Theatre on July 24, 1924 likely on a ten-year lease. Under Frels Circuit operation in 1926, the theatre was equipped with a giant lit sign reading, Frel’s Victoria. On September 15, 1929, Rubin Frels installed a sound system for talking pictures. The adjoining Post Office Confectionery Store was a favorite pre-show stop for patrons beginning in 1934.
Later that year, the movies stopped and the venue was used for live wrestling and other live events. Frels left after a 10-year lease and the space became the Norge Shop and other retail interests.
Frels returned to the Strekfus Building installing a massive 35-foot high sign in place and back under the name of the new Victoria Theatre. The building contained half of the old theatre and a completely new half. Frels launched the 400-seat Victoria on August 8, 1941 with “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” The theatre closed at the end of 1960 and perhaps under new operators on a sublease, it relaunched as an Hispanic Theatre in November of 1961. Despite surviving Hurricane Carla in 1961, the Victoria Theatre signage was finally felled by high winds in May of 1965. But the theatre continued operations.
Under new operators in 1971, the Victoria Theatre became an adult films house through 1972. It was then an Hispanic house back under Frels from 1972 to 1985. In 1986, Frels Realty allowed the space to became home to the Victoria Community Theatre under the name Theatre Victoria doing live shows through 2004. They moved to a new location that year.
The Princess Theatre was opened April 1, 1909. Taylor & Taylor took on the theatre relaunching it as the Paramount Theatre on January 19, 1915 with “The Dancer and the King.”
In September of 1915, the operators of the Park Theatre took over the Paramount and rebranded the venue under its former name, the Princess Theatre. on October 19, 1915. In July of 1928, the Frels Circuit took on the Princess and transitioned it to sound Vitaphone films. Feels closed in January 30, 1931.
The Jefferson Amusement Company took on the Princess and renamed it the Queen Theatre – the town’s second Queen Theatre – with a new Western Electric system for sound films. The Spanish architecturally-themed Queen relaunched April 5, 1931 with “Their Own Desire.” Long Theaters Circuit took over the location and closed it in 1940 after launching two new downtown theatres in the Rita and El Rancho. On a ten year lease, the building was used for other purposes.
E.H. Brooks took on the former theatre and renamed it the Venus Theatre relaunching as an Hispanic theatre on June 12, 1951 with “En Cada Puerto un Amor.” The film transitioned back to discount, sub-run double features. Its final films were “The Big Country” and “The Tingler” on November 11, 1960 when the Venus Theatre burned down.
The Campus Theatre was designed as a 664-seat quonset hut cinema near Victoria College built in 1949. (It was never called the College Theatre.) It launched August 3, 1950 with “Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House.” The Campus Theatre closed on January 23, 1952 after a showing of “Steel Helmet.” It was then used as a church and, in 1957, became the Woodlawn Bowling Center.
Still open – https://www.facebook.com/twindolphinstheater/ It opened on January 24, 1973.
Closed by Cinemark on May 10, 2001 when Cinemark launched its 12-screener. It closed as a discount house with What Men Want, The Mexican, Snatch, See Spot Run and Down to Earth
Cinemas 1-4 had 238 seats each and 5-6 had 136 for 1,224 seats at opening on May 20, 1977. Closed on May 10, 2001 when Cinemark launched its 12-screener.Demolished August 28, 2006 .