The Marfa Opera House was where local residents saw their first films. The venue was first transformed into a movie house at the end of the silent era getting its Palace moniker / sound era name. The theater suffered a projection room explosion which destroyed both it and City Hall following its January 7, 1937 showtimes. Its current streamline moderne look occurred in a rebuilding of the showplace in 1937 by operator Oscar Korn launching as the Palace Theatre June 19, 1937.
Fiesta ads begin appearing early in 1951 - possibly its first season - as operated by Hodge’s H & H Theatres. The last ad for the Fiesta on October 30, 1967 “Africa: Texas Style!” likely at the end of its season. It appears to not reopen the following spring. The venue was rocked by a 1969 hail storm and high winds likely dooming the damaged property which purportedly was not operating at the time of the storm. It was later demolished.
The State Theatre was opened in 1937 by Homer Hodge at 106 South Main Street. Griffith Amusements operated it for a stretch with Hodge returning later. It was equipped with widescreen projection in 1954 to present CinemaScope films. The State closed on June 9, 1979. Homer Hodge offered the building as a donation to the City of Winters in 1981 (which it declined). The building was retrofitted as a professional building in 1983 and is used - as of the 2020s - as a retail building.
211 West Dale Street - Demolished in the late 1990s. Last film December 31, 1951 - “Cyclone of Fury.” Looks like Homer T. Hodge opened the Queen here in 1922. Installed sound on Mar 21, 1929 with “The Trail of ‘98” to remain viable.
A tip of the hat to the half dozen film hard top theater in Seymour’s history. Here’s the Texas Theatre on North Washington Street from 1933, 1940 and 1952
There were two Cozy Theater locations - both spelled with the letter “Z”. The first was the Queen Theatre in the silent era becoming the first of two Cozy locations. Homer Mulkey of th Pastime moved the Cozy to the Bosher Building with a streamlined theater seating 350 and bathed in green glass. The Pastime also got a new sound system allowing the “New” Cozy to have an upgraded hand-me-down sound on film system.
The New Cozy launched on October 18, 1935 with Tom Mix in “The Miracle Rider.” The former Queen turned Cozy was remodeled for retail purposes. The theatre burned down on February 28, 1945 prompted a new theater which became the Mulkey Theatre.
The New Plaza Theatre was a re-imagining of an existing 1884 landmark H. Schwartz Dry Goods Store building by C.D. Leon Theaters. The Spanish Colonial building opened on November 6, 1946 and its first film was “Aloma of South Seas.” A blue and buff lobby entered into an auditorium bathed in brown and red. They advertised “The Concert for Bangladesh” on June 16, 1973 and no more after that. Likely they continued but there is no advertising to go by.
September 21, 1950 grand opening ad with “Saddle Tramp” in photos. Architect was Harvey C. Allen of Lamesa. Ads are discontinued following Disney’s Tarzan on August 1, 1999
This theater became the Rio in 1938 and remained under that name until the opening of the new build Carlile Theater in Sep. 1950. The former Rio was remodeled in 1952 as the Westernn Hardware Store.
The Cinema Theatre opened next to Munden’s Discount Center on September 13, 1971 with “Little Big Man” and “Song of Norway.” Cinema I had 132 seats at launch with Cinema II with 238 seats for 370 total seats. Family films were featured in auditorium II.
Mr. and Mrs. Don McGinty built the post-War Mac Theater opening in 1947. Scuffling, it was sold to George Burke. Burke then sold it to Don Rogers. Rogers sold it to Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Potts who decided it was time to mix in unnamed Mexican films with “regular” films beginning in September of 1956 as audiences dwindled, in part, due to the success of television.
The Potts were looking but couldn’t find a buyer closing up in 1958. Mr. and Mrs. Russell Faulkenberry took on the Mac in the Fall of 1962 operating to it 1964. At that point, they may have placed the fatal knife in Mac.
Ted Borum closed the Earth Theatre permanently on September 30, 1971 and sold off the equipment from both the Earth and the Sunset - which was damaged in 1969 storm. The last advertised film for the Sunset Drive-in appears to be “Tarzan and His Boy” on November 17, 1968.
Ted Borum closed the Earth Theatre permanently on September 30, 1971 and sold off the equipment from both the Earth and the Sunset - which as noted closed in 1969 - at that time.
Kevin Ritz and James Best ran the Ritz - I believe - from 1999 to 2006. They got the theater up and running in time to play the “Phantom Menace” in 1999. Then they made headlines for being an early adopter of DLP digital cinema in April of 2003 playing some files digitally (often for a dollar more) and analog 35mm prints. The Ritz was one of two theaters in Texas playing “Attack of the Clones” in DLP so we drove to see it there. It was easily the smallest population area to have a DLP exhibition at that time.
The Ritz closed for contemporary film in 2006. It was purchased in 2008 and opened sporadically for limited, special screenings into 2010. in May 1999. They charged $1 extra for DLP digital titles into 2006.
In March of 1946, The Texas Tech trio of alums, Wendell O. Bearden and Preston E. Smith and Irma Mae Smith, continued their journey into Lubbock film exhibition. They decided to plunk down $10,000 to convert the former Hays Grocery turned Cafe into the Plains Theatre. The venue opened on July 27th, 1946 becoming their third theater after the original Arcadia (1939) and Tech Theatres (1936). Smith put his name in the ad in promoting the opening films, “Outlaws of the Stampede Pass” and “Wild Horse Stampede” supported by two cartoons. The group would soon open the New Arcadia turning the original Arcadia into the Chief. And they would open the Sunset and Red Raider Drive-Ins.
By the drive-in’s opening, Preston Smith was on his way from Texas House member, to State Senator, to Lieutenant Governor all the way to the Governor. The Plains carried on from 1946 to 1948 with Smith testifying in an antitrust hearing that he was unable to secure downtown Hollywood features at the Plains. Hiram Parks would come in from Brownfield, Texas and found gold in playing virtually nothing but Spanish language films. Parks knew that clearing Spanish films was a snap compared to Hollywood films. Parks then built the Teatro el Capitán which opened next door in 1950 also very successfully screening playing Spanish language films.
The two theaters went unadvertised and virtually uncovered by the English language newspapers simply referred to - at times - as the “two Spanish language theaters.” As for the transition to adult fare, it certainly is possible but not covered by the local press. The building housing the former Plains was still hanging around in the mid-2020s though was biing used by a bails bondsman. The El Capitan’s footprint became a parking lot.
The Marfa Opera House was where local residents saw their first films. The venue was first transformed into a movie house at the end of the silent era getting its Palace moniker / sound era name. The theater suffered a projection room explosion which destroyed both it and City Hall following its January 7, 1937 showtimes. Its current streamline moderne look occurred in a rebuilding of the showplace in 1937 by operator Oscar Korn launching as the Palace Theatre June 19, 1937.
The $35,000 Palace pened September 2, 1929 with “Broadway Melody”
Fiesta ads begin appearing early in 1951 - possibly its first season - as operated by Hodge’s H & H Theatres. The last ad for the Fiesta on October 30, 1967 “Africa: Texas Style!” likely at the end of its season. It appears to not reopen the following spring. The venue was rocked by a 1969 hail storm and high winds likely dooming the damaged property which purportedly was not operating at the time of the storm. It was later demolished.
The State Theatre was opened in 1937 by Homer Hodge at 106 South Main Street. Griffith Amusements operated it for a stretch with Hodge returning later. It was equipped with widescreen projection in 1954 to present CinemaScope films. The State closed on June 9, 1979. Homer Hodge offered the building as a donation to the City of Winters in 1981 (which it declined). The building was retrofitted as a professional building in 1983 and is used - as of the 2020s - as a retail building.
211 West Dale Street - Demolished in the late 1990s. Last film December 31, 1951 - “Cyclone of Fury.” Looks like Homer T. Hodge opened the Queen here in 1922. Installed sound on Mar 21, 1929 with “The Trail of ‘98” to remain viable.
Last advertised show was November 30, 1975 with “Race with the Devil.”
A tip of the hat to the half dozen film hard top theater in Seymour’s history. Here’s the Texas Theatre on North Washington Street from 1933, 1940 and 1952
To the left of Buck’s is the Ritz Theatre in downtown Seymour
The Nu-Vue opened Jan. 21, 1949 with an open house and plaing Lassie in “Hills of Home.”
The Rita opens in 1936
There were two Cozy Theater locations - both spelled with the letter “Z”. The first was the Queen Theatre in the silent era becoming the first of two Cozy locations. Homer Mulkey of th Pastime moved the Cozy to the Bosher Building with a streamlined theater seating 350 and bathed in green glass. The Pastime also got a new sound system allowing the “New” Cozy to have an upgraded hand-me-down sound on film system.
The New Cozy launched on October 18, 1935 with Tom Mix in “The Miracle Rider.” The former Queen turned Cozy was remodeled for retail purposes. The theatre burned down on February 28, 1945 prompted a new theater which became the Mulkey Theatre.
The New Plaza Theatre was a re-imagining of an existing 1884 landmark H. Schwartz Dry Goods Store building by C.D. Leon Theaters. The Spanish Colonial building opened on November 6, 1946 and its first film was “Aloma of South Seas.” A blue and buff lobby entered into an auditorium bathed in brown and red. They advertised “The Concert for Bangladesh” on June 16, 1973 and no more after that. Likely they continued but there is no advertising to go by.
Closed in 2024
September 21, 1950 grand opening ad with “Saddle Tramp” in photos. Architect was Harvey C. Allen of Lamesa. Ads are discontinued following Disney’s Tarzan on August 1, 1999
This theater became the Rio in 1938 and remained under that name until the opening of the new build Carlile Theater in Sep. 1950. The former Rio was remodeled in 1952 as the Westernn Hardware Store.
October 15, 1954 grand opening ad with “Four Guns to Border” in photos
The Cinema Theatre opened next to Munden’s Discount Center on September 13, 1971 with “Little Big Man” and “Song of Norway.” Cinema I had 132 seats at launch with Cinema II with 238 seats for 370 total seats. Family films were featured in auditorium II.
Mr. and Mrs. Don McGinty built the post-War Mac Theater opening in 1947. Scuffling, it was sold to George Burke. Burke then sold it to Don Rogers. Rogers sold it to Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Potts who decided it was time to mix in unnamed Mexican films with “regular” films beginning in September of 1956 as audiences dwindled, in part, due to the success of television.
The Potts were looking but couldn’t find a buyer closing up in 1958. Mr. and Mrs. Russell Faulkenberry took on the Mac in the Fall of 1962 operating to it 1964. At that point, they may have placed the fatal knife in Mac.
Ted Borum closed the Earth Theatre permanently on September 30, 1971 and sold off the equipment from both the Earth and the Sunset - which was damaged in 1969 storm. The last advertised film for the Sunset Drive-in appears to be “Tarzan and His Boy” on November 17, 1968.
Kevin Ritz and James Best ran the Ritz - I believe - from 1999 to 2006. They got the theater up and running in time to play the “Phantom Menace” in 1999. Then they made headlines for being an early adopter of DLP digital cinema in April of 2003 playing some files digitally (often for a dollar more) and analog 35mm prints. The Ritz was one of two theaters in Texas playing “Attack of the Clones” in DLP so we drove to see it there. It was easily the smallest population area to have a DLP exhibition at that time.
The Ritz closed for contemporary film in 2006. It was purchased in 2008 and opened sporadically for limited, special screenings into 2010. in May 1999. They charged $1 extra for DLP digital titles into 2006.
The Circle was still operating in 1984… but clearly not using studio-approved publicity materials in their marketing efforts.
In March of 1946, The Texas Tech trio of alums, Wendell O. Bearden and Preston E. Smith and Irma Mae Smith, continued their journey into Lubbock film exhibition. They decided to plunk down $10,000 to convert the former Hays Grocery turned Cafe into the Plains Theatre. The venue opened on July 27th, 1946 becoming their third theater after the original Arcadia (1939) and Tech Theatres (1936). Smith put his name in the ad in promoting the opening films, “Outlaws of the Stampede Pass” and “Wild Horse Stampede” supported by two cartoons. The group would soon open the New Arcadia turning the original Arcadia into the Chief. And they would open the Sunset and Red Raider Drive-Ins.
By the drive-in’s opening, Preston Smith was on his way from Texas House member, to State Senator, to Lieutenant Governor all the way to the Governor. The Plains carried on from 1946 to 1948 with Smith testifying in an antitrust hearing that he was unable to secure downtown Hollywood features at the Plains. Hiram Parks would come in from Brownfield, Texas and found gold in playing virtually nothing but Spanish language films. Parks knew that clearing Spanish films was a snap compared to Hollywood films. Parks then built the Teatro el Capitán which opened next door in 1950 also very successfully screening playing Spanish language films.
The two theaters went unadvertised and virtually uncovered by the English language newspapers simply referred to - at times - as the “two Spanish language theaters.” As for the transition to adult fare, it certainly is possible but not covered by the local press. The building housing the former Plains was still hanging around in the mid-2020s though was biing used by a bails bondsman. The El Capitan’s footprint became a parking lot.
417 seats - Closed on August 19, 1933 with Ken Maynard in “Between Fighting Men.”