The Cinema Theater was built during the suburban luxury theater movement in the late 1960s outside of Big Spring’s central business district. The luxury suburbans were usually located in or adjacent to shopping centers to take advantage of free parking. They usually had advanced projection formats, comfortable seating, and amenities not found at aging downtown theaters.
The College Park Cinema Theater opened on June 14, 1968 with 168 wide seats. Bathed in tourquoise (it was the late 1960s!), Skyvue Theatre of Leamesa headed up by R.A. “Skeet” Noret was ready to go. The first film was Tommy Steele in “Half of Sixpence.” The College Park Shopping Center had opened in 1962 theatre-lessly and was anchored by a W.T. Grant Store (#1,006), a Safeway grocery store, and a smaller T.G.& Y. Family Store.
The Cinema closed but got new ownership in June of 1987 as the operators of the downtown Ritz took it on. But the cinema money swung to the Big Springs Mall where Cinemark was rocking it Front Row Joe and the Movies 4 beginning in late 1987. Tears were shed when the College Park Cinema Theatre closed on May 1990 with “The Forbidden Dance” and “Cry Baby.” Meanwhile, the Ritz would later downgrade to a $1 discount house before closing.
The venue is a little easier to find under its actual operating name of el Teatro Llanos. It is very rarely referred to as the Llanos Theatre - although both names are correct - as it was a Spanish language theater that opened during World War II to reach an underserved populace of Lubbock. El Teatro Llanos appears to have launched during World War II when veteran Brownfield, Texas theater owner Hiram Parks of Parks Theatres decided that this was a potential audience he could reach… and movie prints he didn’t have to fight against chain operators to get. But the theater got an unwelcomed visitor who tore a hole in the screen after business hours on March 22, 1945 - generally the mark of a union projectionist leaving a calling card that they frowned upon the usage of non-union projectionists.
The exact figure of Hispanic population in 1940s Lubbock is unknown since it wasn’t recorded; but non-White population was between 4,000 and 5,000 and best estimates placed the total at around 1,700 which was enough for the theater’s creation in an existing building. The swelling post-War Hispanic population led to a second Spanish language hardtop theater, the new-build El Capitan by Parks, a Spanish-language Drive-in, and a Spanish-language newspaper in 1950. The former el Teatro Llanos building which would have been at 1409 Crickets Avenue - the street renamed for legendary backing band of hometown hero Buddy Holly - but was long gone.
The Midway Theatre was the ninth movie theater in Lubbock built by contractor J.B. Maxey for Lassater & Mauldin for a mere $14,000. It opened in April of 1940. Joe Bryant took it over just three months later. In 1956, it was remodeled with widescreen projection to present CinemaScope titles but closing due to television’s impact on March 30, 1957.
Under new operators, it reopened as an art house called The Centre on July 9, 1957 with “La Strada.” That lasted two years with the venue folding in June of 1959. It became a burlesque dinner theatre called Cafe Gay 90’s on September of 1959. In 1961, it went back to full-time movies as the Tejas Theatre on June 30, 1961 with “The Young Ones.” In 1964, it became the Continental Fine Arts Theatre showing on a porno chic policy and art film policy. It closed in June of 1974 at the end of a 10-year subleasing agreement.
After a hiatus, it returned briefly as the Grande Cinema in 1976, a $1 discount sub-run theater showing recent past Hollywood fare. It opened one last time as the Bijou under Don Bollinger as a repertory / art house including “Creature from the Black Lagoon” in 3D, “A Hard Day’s Night,” an “Amarcord.” The Bijou opened on November 24, 1976 with “King of Hearts.” Midnight classic rock concert films were added in 1977. The Bijou appears to have given up as a $1 discount house on March 26, 1977 with a double-feature of “Shampoo” and “Harry and Walter Go to New York” and a final repertory rock concert screening at midnight of Joe Cocker in “Mad Dogs and Englishmen.”
As the Bijou was its name for just four unsuccessful months, the entry’s name should likely be the Midway which it was for 17 years.
The June 2, 1936 soft launch of the New Tech Theatre by three Texas Tech alums, Wendell O. Bearden and Preston E. Smith and Irma Mae Smith, took place with Clark Gable in “After Office Hours.” The official opening took place on June 3, 1936 with Bela Lugosi in “The Death Kiss.” The theater owners received an unwelcome present of a stink bomb not long after courtesy of the unnamed parties (the union projectionists). The total cost of the remodeling and equipping for the 350-seat venue was a mere $7,500.
The Tech closed in January of 1958. A building construction permit was granted in March of 1958 converting it to a retail drug store. And if the name Preston E. Smith rings any bells, it’s because he went on to become the Governor of Texas in 1969. And Tech remained important long after the theater’s demise as a mounted masked Texas Tech Red Raider rode in the governor’s inauguration to help both Preston and Irma Smith celebrate the day.
The local paper says that this was the Lyric Theatre in a converted restaurant venue that- under new operators - became the Tex Theatre. In 1953, the theater and entire front of the building were replaced as the building was transformed for other purposes.
The Scottic went out on May 31, 1965 with a triple feature the way a good drive-in should with “Rampage,” “Rio Bravo,” and “Yellowstone Kelly” ending after 2a on a Monday/Tuesday.
The Roxy was a suburban theater operating in one of the city’s first shopping centers, the the Monroe Shopping Center. It opened “With Love and Kisses” on February 13, 1938 by M&M Theatres' R.B. Montgomery and Jack McCollum. They also operated the Tower, Texan and Ritz theaters in W-Falls and the Ritz in Electra. T.R. Richards bought the M&M locations operating as T&R Theatres on May 156, 1947.
T&R granted independence to the Roxy on July 4, 1948 playing Tim Holt in “Thunder Mountain.” Leon L. Leath - an independent that I’ll call LLL Theatres - reopened it as the Linda Theatre on February 15, 1949 with Yvonne DeCarlo in “River Lady.” The Linda closed with “Walt Disney’s Pinocchio” on Stepmber 12, 1954.
Under new operator, Harold Teal - the venue reopened on an art house policy on September 28, 1954 just temporarily as the Linda but doing business as the Coronet Theatre while it awaiting new signage. Its first showtimes were for “5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.” The Coronet ended cinematically on June 23, 1955 with “Bright Road.” Four movie operators (M&M, T&R, LLL, and likely Sack Amusements in some way, shape and form for Teal’s Coronet) should have been it for movies on Monroe. But 15 years later, a new player would bring controversy to the sleepy suburban house.
First things first. The venue became a live, legit house just a month later in 1955 remaining as the Coronet Theater, then renamed as the Old Coronet Theater before becoming the Civic Playhouse for ten years from 1958 to 1968 undoubtedly at the end of a 30-year leasing contract.
In 1969, movies would return to the 31-year old playhouse. Cinne Arts Inc. of Dallas took on the venue spending a razor-thin $1,000 to convert the former playhouse to the Cinne Arts Theater playing adult films… and quickly ending up in court. This included the seizure of its Bell & Howelll 16mm projector within a year of opening their doors. The film that led to the downfall of the Cinne Arts was 1970’s, “What Ever Happened to Stud Flame?“ Well, it was taken away by the local police force along with the projector and held for a lengthy court battle that went all the way to the Texas Supreme Court. The lawsuit did not go the cinema’s way. Just after the court battle ended, the theatre and its contents were sold off in classified listings in 1972. And “Stud” may actually have been its last film as the building was retrofitted for retail purposes.
Despite its brief foray into adult cinema, I would definitely suggest that “Roxy” be retained as this entry’s name. It should be previously known by Cinne Arts Theater as operated previously by Cinne Arts Theatres, Inc.
Jones Theatres spent $150,000 on this 966 seat venue to the plans of Raymond F. Smith (see sketch in photos). Steel shortages pushed its launch to February 14, 1951 with “Vengeance Valley.” Actor Monte Hale was on hand for the premiere. The site of the theater was familiar as the Legion Hall Theatre which the Jones Theatre folks took on in 1922.
The Ritz Theatre was closed permanently on February 3, 1951 and ostensibly replaced by the New Regal Theatre likely meaning that the projection equipment was moved from booth to booth. The Joneses had also opened the Rustic Drive-In Theatre on January 30, 1951 so it was a swinging time for movie lovers of Brownfield. The Regal was twinned on June 25, 1970 and lasted to closure in 1993. It was donated by the family along with the other theater properties getting a brief life as a live venue and explaining why it says “Starz” on its marquee in the 21st Century - if its signage is still present.
The Pastime Theatre launched on March 28, 1924. The venue converted to sound to remain viable. Earl E. Jones refreshed the venue as the Ritz launching August 8, 1935 with “Going High Brow.” The Ritz Theatre was closed permanently on February 3, 1951 and ostensibly replaced by the New Regal Theatre that opened on February 14, 1951. The Joneses had also opened the Rustic Drive-In Theatre on January 30, 1951.
The Queen Theatre ascended on July 4, 1916 with 175 thrones for willing subjects. Murten Judd ran the castle on opening day and the first advertised feature came ten days later with “The Siege and Fall of the Alamo”
Gary Barnhill opened the Sandell Drive-In Theatre on September 8, 1955 with “Elephant Walk” and held its formal Grand Opening on September 11, 1955 with “Shane.”
The synopsis above says this was the Seal Theater at open to close which may, in fact, be accurate although the operator name is in error. Just giving a bit more historical context on Lockney’s movie history, the Lockney Opera House opened September 12, 1912 with the live staging of “Silas, the Chore Boy.” It began to mix in more movies than live stage presentations. Making the transition from live house to movie house, it is believed that it was renamed the Olympic Theatre becoming a full-time, 420-seat cinema. In 1925, C.R. Wilkinson took on the venue giving it a refresh and renaming it the Isis Theatre on August 13, 1925 with the film, “Recompense.”
New operator J.T. O'Heron took it on and in January of 1930 converting it to Western Electric sound allowing the Isis to remain viable. O'Heron was followed by John Jenkins (1935), R.E. Reynolds (1940), and - finally - J.B. “Brad” and Dovie Seale who took on the venture. They changed its name from the Isis to the Plains Theatre. In 1951, the venue was given a streamline makeover as the “new” Plains Theatre reducing seat count to 360 seats. They also established the Seale Drive-In in 1952 operating it until 1976.
In 1954, the Seales gave the Plains Theatre a widescreen conversion to present CinemaScope titles likely reducing seat count somewhat. The Plains carries that name into the 1970s. Not sure when the “Seal” seal was invoked as it isn’t covered by the local paper. However, it may indeed be in the same structure or an entirely different building than the Plains (leave that to the local historians). But the Seales definitely retired from the industry with the ozoner closing in 1976 and a late decision to not reopen made in the Spring of 1977. The operators passed away in 1980 and 1982. Ads for the Plains, Olympic, and Isis are provided in photos here.
(And, if it matters, it’s not Mr. Seal but is J.B. “Brad” Seale and Dovie Marie Watts Seale who were the operators of the Plains Theatre and Seale - not Seal - Drive-In.)
The Cinema Theater was built during the suburban luxury theater movement in the late 1960s outside of Big Spring’s central business district. The luxury suburbans were usually located in or adjacent to shopping centers to take advantage of free parking. They usually had advanced projection formats, comfortable seating, and amenities not found at aging downtown theaters.
The College Park Cinema Theater opened on June 14, 1968 with 168 wide seats. Bathed in tourquoise (it was the late 1960s!), Skyvue Theatre of Leamesa headed up by R.A. “Skeet” Noret was ready to go. The first film was Tommy Steele in “Half of Sixpence.” The College Park Shopping Center had opened in 1962 theatre-lessly and was anchored by a W.T. Grant Store (#1,006), a Safeway grocery store, and a smaller T.G.& Y. Family Store.
The Cinema closed but got new ownership in June of 1987 as the operators of the downtown Ritz took it on. But the cinema money swung to the Big Springs Mall where Cinemark was rocking it Front Row Joe and the Movies 4 beginning in late 1987. Tears were shed when the College Park Cinema Theatre closed on May 1990 with “The Forbidden Dance” and “Cry Baby.” Meanwhile, the Ritz would later downgrade to a $1 discount house before closing.
A 1951 ad for the Red Raider Drive-In during its first season - and ready to go with the in-car heaters for the cooler Texas weather
The venue is a little easier to find under its actual operating name of el Teatro Llanos. It is very rarely referred to as the Llanos Theatre - although both names are correct - as it was a Spanish language theater that opened during World War II to reach an underserved populace of Lubbock. El Teatro Llanos appears to have launched during World War II when veteran Brownfield, Texas theater owner Hiram Parks of Parks Theatres decided that this was a potential audience he could reach… and movie prints he didn’t have to fight against chain operators to get. But the theater got an unwelcomed visitor who tore a hole in the screen after business hours on March 22, 1945 - generally the mark of a union projectionist leaving a calling card that they frowned upon the usage of non-union projectionists.
The exact figure of Hispanic population in 1940s Lubbock is unknown since it wasn’t recorded; but non-White population was between 4,000 and 5,000 and best estimates placed the total at around 1,700 which was enough for the theater’s creation in an existing building. The swelling post-War Hispanic population led to a second Spanish language hardtop theater, the new-build El Capitan by Parks, a Spanish-language Drive-in, and a Spanish-language newspaper in 1950. The former el Teatro Llanos building which would have been at 1409 Crickets Avenue - the street renamed for legendary backing band of hometown hero Buddy Holly - but was long gone.
The Midway Theatre was the ninth movie theater in Lubbock built by contractor J.B. Maxey for Lassater & Mauldin for a mere $14,000. It opened in April of 1940. Joe Bryant took it over just three months later. In 1956, it was remodeled with widescreen projection to present CinemaScope titles but closing due to television’s impact on March 30, 1957.
Under new operators, it reopened as an art house called The Centre on July 9, 1957 with “La Strada.” That lasted two years with the venue folding in June of 1959. It became a burlesque dinner theatre called Cafe Gay 90’s on September of 1959. In 1961, it went back to full-time movies as the Tejas Theatre on June 30, 1961 with “The Young Ones.” In 1964, it became the Continental Fine Arts Theatre showing on a porno chic policy and art film policy. It closed in June of 1974 at the end of a 10-year subleasing agreement.
After a hiatus, it returned briefly as the Grande Cinema in 1976, a $1 discount sub-run theater showing recent past Hollywood fare. It opened one last time as the Bijou under Don Bollinger as a repertory / art house including “Creature from the Black Lagoon” in 3D, “A Hard Day’s Night,” an “Amarcord.” The Bijou opened on November 24, 1976 with “King of Hearts.” Midnight classic rock concert films were added in 1977. The Bijou appears to have given up as a $1 discount house on March 26, 1977 with a double-feature of “Shampoo” and “Harry and Walter Go to New York” and a final repertory rock concert screening at midnight of Joe Cocker in “Mad Dogs and Englishmen.”
As the Bijou was its name for just four unsuccessful months, the entry’s name should likely be the Midway which it was for 17 years.
Closed June 1, 2025.
The Red Raider Drive-In was built in 1950 and 1951 opening in 1951.
The June 2, 1936 soft launch of the New Tech Theatre by three Texas Tech alums, Wendell O. Bearden and Preston E. Smith and Irma Mae Smith, took place with Clark Gable in “After Office Hours.” The official opening took place on June 3, 1936 with Bela Lugosi in “The Death Kiss.” The theater owners received an unwelcome present of a stink bomb not long after courtesy of the unnamed parties (the union projectionists). The total cost of the remodeling and equipping for the 350-seat venue was a mere $7,500.
The Tech closed in January of 1958. A building construction permit was granted in March of 1958 converting it to a retail drug store. And if the name Preston E. Smith rings any bells, it’s because he went on to become the Governor of Texas in 1969. And Tech remained important long after the theater’s demise as a mounted masked Texas Tech Red Raider rode in the governor’s inauguration to help both Preston and Irma Smith celebrate the day.
Renamed as the R/70 on November 19, 1969 with “Those Were the Happy Times.”
The local paper says that this was the Lyric Theatre in a converted restaurant venue that- under new operators - became the Tex Theatre. In 1953, the theater and entire front of the building were replaced as the building was transformed for other purposes.
Infamously multi-raided location of Cinne Arts Theatres, Inc.
The Scottic went out on May 31, 1965 with a triple feature the way a good drive-in should with “Rampage,” “Rio Bravo,” and “Yellowstone Kelly” ending after 2a on a Monday/Tuesday.
The Roxy was a suburban theater operating in one of the city’s first shopping centers, the the Monroe Shopping Center. It opened “With Love and Kisses” on February 13, 1938 by M&M Theatres' R.B. Montgomery and Jack McCollum. They also operated the Tower, Texan and Ritz theaters in W-Falls and the Ritz in Electra. T.R. Richards bought the M&M locations operating as T&R Theatres on May 156, 1947.
T&R granted independence to the Roxy on July 4, 1948 playing Tim Holt in “Thunder Mountain.” Leon L. Leath - an independent that I’ll call LLL Theatres - reopened it as the Linda Theatre on February 15, 1949 with Yvonne DeCarlo in “River Lady.” The Linda closed with “Walt Disney’s Pinocchio” on Stepmber 12, 1954.
Under new operator, Harold Teal - the venue reopened on an art house policy on September 28, 1954 just temporarily as the Linda but doing business as the Coronet Theatre while it awaiting new signage. Its first showtimes were for “5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.” The Coronet ended cinematically on June 23, 1955 with “Bright Road.” Four movie operators (M&M, T&R, LLL, and likely Sack Amusements in some way, shape and form for Teal’s Coronet) should have been it for movies on Monroe. But 15 years later, a new player would bring controversy to the sleepy suburban house.
First things first. The venue became a live, legit house just a month later in 1955 remaining as the Coronet Theater, then renamed as the Old Coronet Theater before becoming the Civic Playhouse for ten years from 1958 to 1968 undoubtedly at the end of a 30-year leasing contract.
In 1969, movies would return to the 31-year old playhouse. Cinne Arts Inc. of Dallas took on the venue spending a razor-thin $1,000 to convert the former playhouse to the Cinne Arts Theater playing adult films… and quickly ending up in court. This included the seizure of its Bell & Howelll 16mm projector within a year of opening their doors. The film that led to the downfall of the Cinne Arts was 1970’s, “What Ever Happened to Stud Flame?“ Well, it was taken away by the local police force along with the projector and held for a lengthy court battle that went all the way to the Texas Supreme Court. The lawsuit did not go the cinema’s way. Just after the court battle ended, the theatre and its contents were sold off in classified listings in 1972. And “Stud” may actually have been its last film as the building was retrofitted for retail purposes.
Despite its brief foray into adult cinema, I would definitely suggest that “Roxy” be retained as this entry’s name. It should be previously known by Cinne Arts Theater as operated previously by Cinne Arts Theatres, Inc.
Once operated by Cinne Arts Theatre. Also “previous names” as: Cinne Arts Theater.
Once operated by Cinne Arts Theatres Inc.
Once operated by Cinne Arts Theatres Inc.
One operated by Cinne Arts Theatres Inc.
Jones Theatres spent $150,000 on this 966 seat venue to the plans of Raymond F. Smith (see sketch in photos). Steel shortages pushed its launch to February 14, 1951 with “Vengeance Valley.” Actor Monte Hale was on hand for the premiere. The site of the theater was familiar as the Legion Hall Theatre which the Jones Theatre folks took on in 1922.
The Ritz Theatre was closed permanently on February 3, 1951 and ostensibly replaced by the New Regal Theatre likely meaning that the projection equipment was moved from booth to booth. The Joneses had also opened the Rustic Drive-In Theatre on January 30, 1951 so it was a swinging time for movie lovers of Brownfield. The Regal was twinned on June 25, 1970 and lasted to closure in 1993. It was donated by the family along with the other theater properties getting a brief life as a live venue and explaining why it says “Starz” on its marquee in the 21st Century - if its signage is still present.
Status: I would vote for “closed.” It opened with “The Golden Bed” May 7, 1925. It was the first local theater to install sound on October 4, 1929.
The Pastime Theatre launched on March 28, 1924. The venue converted to sound to remain viable. Earl E. Jones refreshed the venue as the Ritz launching August 8, 1935 with “Going High Brow.” The Ritz Theatre was closed permanently on February 3, 1951 and ostensibly replaced by the New Regal Theatre that opened on February 14, 1951. The Joneses had also opened the Rustic Drive-In Theatre on January 30, 1951.
The Queen Theatre ascended on July 4, 1916 with 175 thrones for willing subjects. Murten Judd ran the castle on opening day and the first advertised feature came ten days later with “The Siege and Fall of the Alamo”
Opened with “Three Loves Has Nancy.”
Opened with Francis, the Talking Mule in “Francis.”
Gary Barnhill opened the Sandell Drive-In Theatre on September 8, 1955 with “Elephant Walk” and held its formal Grand Opening on September 11, 1955 with “Shane.”
A Robb and Rowley theater
The synopsis above says this was the Seal Theater at open to close which may, in fact, be accurate although the operator name is in error. Just giving a bit more historical context on Lockney’s movie history, the Lockney Opera House opened September 12, 1912 with the live staging of “Silas, the Chore Boy.” It began to mix in more movies than live stage presentations. Making the transition from live house to movie house, it is believed that it was renamed the Olympic Theatre becoming a full-time, 420-seat cinema. In 1925, C.R. Wilkinson took on the venue giving it a refresh and renaming it the Isis Theatre on August 13, 1925 with the film, “Recompense.”
New operator J.T. O'Heron took it on and in January of 1930 converting it to Western Electric sound allowing the Isis to remain viable. O'Heron was followed by John Jenkins (1935), R.E. Reynolds (1940), and - finally - J.B. “Brad” and Dovie Seale who took on the venture. They changed its name from the Isis to the Plains Theatre. In 1951, the venue was given a streamline makeover as the “new” Plains Theatre reducing seat count to 360 seats. They also established the Seale Drive-In in 1952 operating it until 1976.
In 1954, the Seales gave the Plains Theatre a widescreen conversion to present CinemaScope titles likely reducing seat count somewhat. The Plains carries that name into the 1970s. Not sure when the “Seal” seal was invoked as it isn’t covered by the local paper. However, it may indeed be in the same structure or an entirely different building than the Plains (leave that to the local historians). But the Seales definitely retired from the industry with the ozoner closing in 1976 and a late decision to not reopen made in the Spring of 1977. The operators passed away in 1980 and 1982. Ads for the Plains, Olympic, and Isis are provided in photos here.
(And, if it matters, it’s not Mr. Seal but is J.B. “Brad” Seale and Dovie Marie Watts Seale who were the operators of the Plains Theatre and Seale - not Seal - Drive-In.)