The New Rialto Theatre opened August 15, 1936 with the film, “Love Begins at 20.“ On Wednesday, March 15, 1945, a fire gutted the auditorium taking the life of a theatre employee who tried to douse the flames. The former Rialto turned Rex was the main movie house for the community changing films four times a week.
Hall Industries requested permission to rebuild the Rialto from the War Production Board. It got the go ahead and rebuilt the third Rialto auditorium with superior fireproofing relaunching November 16, 1945 with “Hold that Blonde”. The auditorium now held 800 people and the building was a story taller than its predecessor.
Hall Industries built a new theatre in downtown Taft called the Rialto Theatre launching on May 1, 1929 with the film, “Avalanche.” The 360-seat venue was purchased by Texas Midwest Amusement Circuit which renamed it the Texas Theatre beginning in 1937. The Texas closed April 17, 1948 with “Gone with the Wind” as it was ostensibly replaced by the Leland Theatre was built in 1948. The Texas Theater’s space was converted for the Cage Furniture store which also launched in 1948.
Grand opening was June 29, 1950 with “Pride of the Yankees” likely on a 20-year lease. Last ad was August 27, 1969 with an English language/Spanish language bill of “The Devil’s Eight” and “Blue Demon vs. el poder satánico” which times out with the end of lease.
Theatre was launched by J.V. Carter, Jr. and Flossie Tate-Carter who had leased the Ritz Theatre, bought out the competing Majestic in its old building, purchased the Arch Adams Building to locate the New Majestic. The theatre was known as the New Majestic Theatre for at least ten years.
The New Majestic Theatre opened on August 31, 1936 with Jane Withers in “Pepper.“ It operated into the video age. The local paper reported the completion of the razing of the former Majestic Theatre on August 26, 1993.
The Lyric Theatre opened in 1914 by Frank M. Smith, Jr. It was likely this building. H.L. Ardis who had opened the original Majestic in 1911 bought his competitor running both theatres. New operators take on the Majestic and appear to both change the theater’s name and close it. Then a grand opening as the Ritz Theatre by Mrs. Nadine W. Story on June 16, 1930 with “Under a Texas Moon.” She and her husband then opened the New Majestic elsewhere in August of 1936. Final show for the Ritz was “Last of the Mohicans on January 1, 1948. It was then used as a church and then a retail store.
A new-build theatre, the Fain Theatre launched in August of 1948. It replaced a 300-seat Fain Theatre that dated back to the silent era. The theatre appears to have gone out of business on April 30, 2015.
Opened by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Jungenman built this venue in 1926 launching as the New Theatre. They sold the New to John R. Forsyth who sold it to R.N. Smith. Smith rebranded the New on April 29, 1938 as the Cactus Theatre opening with “Fools for Scandal.” Smith would build the Pioneer Theatre.
After inactivity, the Best Theatre was reopened briefly in 1976 before closing with its contents untouched for ten years. In 1987, an auction house moved to the site and auctioned off the equipment and ephemera which included over 350 movie posters going back to Tom Mix and the silent era.
This venue launched January 6, 1923 as the Palace Theatre. Robb & Rowley closed the Nolen in November of 1950. The local Russell’s Department Store took on the property and extended its store incorporating the former Nolan Theatre relaunching its larger store on October 24, 1951.
The American Theatre was in the George E. Holland Building and 5th and Main according to the local paper. The former American Theatre became the No Name Theatre relaunching on October 31, 1934 with Rocky Rhodes and Tombstone Canyon. On December 7, 1934, after a contest, the No Name became the New Starland Theatre. The Starland closed in 1937. After being purchased by Jefferson Amusement, the circuit transformed the theatre to the Bengal Theatre relaunching December 25, 1940 with “The Hit Parade of 1941.”
The Gem Theatre launched December 1, 1934 with Barbara Stanwyck in “Gambling Lady” and Lane Chandler in “Gun for Hire.” The Jefferson Amusement Circuit transformed the existing Farwell Building into the Gem by adding 22' to its rear.
J.E. Martin purchased this retail building in 1910 and converted from retail to motion picture theatre on December 13, 1913. Two owners later, new operators East Texas Amusement changed the name of the theatre to the Titus Theatre, the name of Mt. Pleasant’s county. In 1935, the Lutzer Brothers changed the name back to the Martin. They would then demolish all but two walls of the theatre creating a new Martin Theatre relaunching
The new Martin Theatre launched September 10, 1937 with the film “Wild and Wooly.” The local newspaper had a 24-page special edition to commemorate the new Martin.
Opened August 1, 1917 during World War I, the Liberty purchased a Phototone disc system bringing talkies to town in March of 1929. It appears to have ceased operations at the end of 1960.
Launched April 28, 1949 with “A Connecticut Yankee.” Ad in photos. It closed after a 20-year lease expired. It re-opened again later in 1969 and appears to have closed shortly thereafter.
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.”
The New Rialto Theatre opened August 15, 1936 with the film, “Love Begins at 20.“ On Wednesday, March 15, 1945, a fire gutted the auditorium taking the life of a theatre employee who tried to douse the flames. The former Rialto turned Rex was the main movie house for the community changing films four times a week.
Hall Industries requested permission to rebuild the Rialto from the War Production Board. It got the go ahead and rebuilt the third Rialto auditorium with superior fireproofing relaunching November 16, 1945 with “Hold that Blonde”. The auditorium now held 800 people and the building was a story taller than its predecessor.
Appears to have opened in 1946 and closed in July of 1961. A classified ad on July 26, 1961 offers the entire theatre for sale “cheap.”
Hall Industries built a new theatre in downtown Taft called the Rialto Theatre launching on May 1, 1929 with the film, “Avalanche.” The 360-seat venue was purchased by Texas Midwest Amusement Circuit which renamed it the Texas Theatre beginning in 1937. The Texas closed April 17, 1948 with “Gone with the Wind” as it was ostensibly replaced by the Leland Theatre was built in 1948. The Texas Theater’s space was converted for the Cage Furniture store which also launched in 1948.
Grand opening was June 29, 1950 with “Pride of the Yankees” likely on a 20-year lease. Last ad was August 27, 1969 with an English language/Spanish language bill of “The Devil’s Eight” and “Blue Demon vs. el poder satánico” which times out with the end of lease.
Theatre was launched by J.V. Carter, Jr. and Flossie Tate-Carter who had leased the Ritz Theatre, bought out the competing Majestic in its old building, purchased the Arch Adams Building to locate the New Majestic. The theatre was known as the New Majestic Theatre for at least ten years.
The New Majestic Theatre opened on August 31, 1936 with Jane Withers in “Pepper.“ It operated into the video age. The local paper reported the completion of the razing of the former Majestic Theatre on August 26, 1993.
The Lyric Theatre opened in 1914 by Frank M. Smith, Jr. It was likely this building. H.L. Ardis who had opened the original Majestic in 1911 bought his competitor running both theatres. New operators take on the Majestic and appear to both change the theater’s name and close it. Then a grand opening as the Ritz Theatre by Mrs. Nadine W. Story on June 16, 1930 with “Under a Texas Moon.” She and her husband then opened the New Majestic elsewhere in August of 1936. Final show for the Ritz was “Last of the Mohicans on January 1, 1948. It was then used as a church and then a retail store.
A new-build theatre, the Fain Theatre launched in August of 1948. It replaced a 300-seat Fain Theatre that dated back to the silent era. The theatre appears to have gone out of business on April 30, 2015.
Vaudeville performer Thomas Jefferson “Stout” Jackson built his first indoor theatre in Falfurrias in 1948 and his Alameda opened in October.
Opened by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Jungenman built this venue in 1926 launching as the New Theatre. They sold the New to John R. Forsyth who sold it to R.N. Smith. Smith rebranded the New on April 29, 1938 as the Cactus Theatre opening with “Fools for Scandal.” Smith would build the Pioneer Theatre.
After inactivity, the Best Theatre was reopened briefly in 1976 before closing with its contents untouched for ten years. In 1987, an auction house moved to the site and auctioned off the equipment and ephemera which included over 350 movie posters going back to Tom Mix and the silent era.
The drive-in closed during the 1957 season. It was offered for salvage sale in March of 1958.
This venue launched January 6, 1923 as the Palace Theatre. Robb & Rowley closed the Nolen in November of 1950. The local Russell’s Department Store took on the property and extended its store incorporating the former Nolan Theatre relaunching its larger store on October 24, 1951.
The American Theatre was in the George E. Holland Building and 5th and Main according to the local paper. The former American Theatre became the No Name Theatre relaunching on October 31, 1934 with Rocky Rhodes and Tombstone Canyon. On December 7, 1934, after a contest, the No Name became the New Starland Theatre. The Starland closed in 1937. After being purchased by Jefferson Amusement, the circuit transformed the theatre to the Bengal Theatre relaunching December 25, 1940 with “The Hit Parade of 1941.”
The Gem Theatre launched December 1, 1934 with Barbara Stanwyck in “Gambling Lady” and Lane Chandler in “Gun for Hire.” The Jefferson Amusement Circuit transformed the existing Farwell Building into the Gem by adding 22' to its rear.
J.E. Martin purchased this retail building in 1910 and converted from retail to motion picture theatre on December 13, 1913. Two owners later, new operators East Texas Amusement changed the name of the theatre to the Titus Theatre, the name of Mt. Pleasant’s county. In 1935, the Lutzer Brothers changed the name back to the Martin. They would then demolish all but two walls of the theatre creating a new Martin Theatre relaunching
The new Martin Theatre launched September 10, 1937 with the film “Wild and Wooly.” The local newspaper had a 24-page special edition to commemorate the new Martin.
Closed for the season in 1960 and the management decided not to re-open for the 1961 season.
Opened August 1, 1917 during World War I, the Liberty purchased a Phototone disc system bringing talkies to town in March of 1929. It appears to have ceased operations at the end of 1960.
Launched April 28, 1949 with “A Connecticut Yankee.” Ad in photos. It closed after a 20-year lease expired. It re-opened again later in 1969 and appears to have closed shortly thereafter.
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.”