J.C. Capps held a naming contest for the new-build drive-in East of Eastland. In third place, Sonja Stagner had the Cactus. In second was Stella Jarrett with the Ra-Ol-Es. And Judge L.B. Houston won it with the Dixie. 300 car speakers awaited folks along with the June 2, 1950 grand opening film of “Yellow Sky” with Gregory Peck.
A-Ray Landrum reopened the Friona as the Regal Theatre in 1938 according to both the local press and the trade press. The building appears to have been destroyed in a 1960 tornado. Should likely be listed as the Regal Theatre “#1” formerly the Friona… but can certainly stay as the Friona.
The City of Wheeler says that the theater - although not in operation cinematically - is very much in use as a community hall or community center as of the mid 2020s. So “formerly abandoned” may be more appropriate.
Owners Leo and Laura Guthrie (and Son, “Corky” from 1958 forward replacing the late Leo) operated the Rogue from 1930 to 1979. They also built the Mustang Drive-In operating in Wheeling seasonally from 1952 to 1979.
On June 19, 1981, Cobb purchased the Hoover Twin and a variety of other Plitt properties. Cobb built the Hoover Square 6 launching June 10, 1983. It repositioned the Twin as a discount, sub-run venue. What many initially hoped was just an April Fool’s joke became a permanent closure on April 1, 1984 with Cobb moving on after showtimes of “Pete’s Dragon” and “The Dresser.”
The Ritz Theatre was announced in August of 1938 to be built by Bijou Entertainment for $30,000 by Cain & Cain Contractors. The 500-seat Ritz opened on December 4, 1938 as Fort Worth’s second African American theater at that point. Dallas-based Houston & Smith were the architects. M.C. Maxwell was its long-running operator and may have closed there in 1960. The building was purportedly to be demolished imminently in 1966 as a parking lot for the Convention Center project - but that was halted at the 11th hour.
At that same address, the Cinne Arts Theatre opened for adults with unrated short films on May 21, 1970, moving from Main Street. Cinne Arts was already in a court battle in 1970 in the case of State of Texas v. Steve Scott & Cine Arts Theatre, Inc. on a spurious obscenity case. On July 21, 1970, the venue became the Finne Arts Adult Theatre operating as a private membership policy. They appear to have transitioned from 16mm shorts to 35mm features. Later in 1970, they transitioned to a $3, sub-run discount adult theater policy.
On April 21, 1973, a film was run with the ad, “Extra Special Feature” for a $5 admission. The Finne Arts made the front page of the newspaper on April 23, 1973 for the local sheriff Lon Evans confiscating that feature film which turned out to be “Deep Throat” on 35mm.
In 1974, a live stage show was added to the fare. In 1975, it switched to unrated, “XXX” films open 24 hours on weekends. In April of 1986, local authorities put the hammer down on pornography closing almost all of the venues including the Finne Arts and the nearby Ellwest Theatre at 907 Houston. The theater was raided one final time seizing all films using the RICO Act as their basis. The court docket said that RICO was triggered as this was the 199th charge against the Finne Arts Theatre - and there would be no 200th. Its final operating day appears to be May 27, 1986.
Cinne Arts Theatres Inc. was a circuit of Southwest adult theaters in cities including Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth, Wichita Falls, Austin, Albuquerque, NM, New Orleans, and one in Tampa, Florida. All Cinne Arts (two n’s) named theaters changed to Finne (two n’s).
Completed a 25-year leasing agreement closing on September 17, 1966 with “Night of the Grizzly” and “Roustabout.” It became a house of worship for a number of years before turning retail and back to an event space.
A venue opened here as the Hippodrome but was shuttered due to major fire safety concerns. Owner Dr. Charles H. Hespe then ran a gambit where you could invest in the theatre. That got him the money to hire architect William Neumann who solidified the new building.
The Hespe Theatre had a $12,000 Kramer Pipe Organ and actually (!) opened June 29, 1921 with a Pauline Frederick film, “Salvage.” And that was the goal of Hespe’s creditors within months. Charles H. Hespe’s fortunes ran out - or perhaps he simply ran out with the money - by year’s end when the theatre was repossessed and the venue was force sold into new hands. As was the case in Hippodrome and Hippodrome-like ventures across the nation, the investors did not come out too well.
The Hespe Theatre was renamed the Ritz Theatre under new operators on January 30, 1922 with “The Ruling Passion” and vaudeville. And they even had to get a new organ later that year as creditors seized the Kramer unit. The Ritz converted to sound to remain viable. The Ritz would crumble in the TV age not converting to widescreen and closing on October 23, 1956 with “Killers” and “Sleeping City.” Stanley Warner Management offered their theater for sale and kids got in setting a fire that did minor damage to the property early in 1957. So it was quickly demolished for a parking lot.
This actually launched as the One Cent New York Vaudeville Theatre on November 30, 1906. In fairly short order, it moves from the Once Cent Vaudeville Theatre to the Penny Arcade Theatre to the Phillips Picture Show Theatre / Phillips Theatre to the Imperial Theatre. The Imperial lasts the longest from January 30, 1910 to April 12, 1912 when there is a foreclosure.
R.A. Healy takes on the venue rebranded it as the Hippodrome Theatre launching August 31, 1912 with a $10,000 Kimball pipe organ and “Fra Diavolo” with Billy Quirk. The Hippodrome plays a combination of live vaudeville and movies. By the late 1920s, the Hippodrome was reduced to exploitation films as superior theaters were built including the Worth in 1927. The Hippodrome was raided on August 23, 1931 while playing “Married Love” with live models paired with a burlesque show. On December 13, 1931, it ran a renaming contest.
On December 20, 1931, it became the State Theatre. The programming was family-friendly at the beginning but quickly devolved back to exploitation shows and burlesque. Some boxing matches were held on its stage, as well. A January 8, 1939 Midnight Ramble in which a female impersonator irked audiences. It led to a call to the police, a raid, and - apparently - the end of the State Theater. It was closed and the building was later demolished in favor of a parking lot.
The Cherry Lane Drive-In closed for the season on September 2, 1985 with “European Vacation” and “City Heat” on Screen East and Screen West went out with a triple feature of “Volunteers,” “Summer Rental” and “Ghostbusters.” It did not reopen.
Tejas Theatres and Phil C. Tidball & Associates were an original lessee in The 1849 Village family restaurant-entertainment project that would unite a steakhouse and cinema as more or less one. Bonanza International Steakhouses was the chain and the Fort Worth location was the first of two theme centers for Bonanza in Dallas-Fort Worth. Designed as a 70mm roadshow house in 1968, the Village Cinema was drawn up as a retro Victorian jewel box opera house with stylings evoking the “Gold Rush” era.
The steakhouse came online first. Papa’s Steakhouse evoking a Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, with live music was next followed by Lum’s, Hickory Fare and Pepe Taco. Faced with meager film clearances that was limited to lesser kids films and exploitation titles, Tidball sold out the theater to General Cinema which took it on November 24, 1971 as the General Cinema Opera House.
The 1849 Village Shopping Center served until it closed October 20, 1985 with “The Gods Must Be Crazy.”
The Worth was announced as closing with two X-rated films on October 28, 1971. But public pressure was such that the well-regarded house booked a double feature of “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Ki” and “Vanishing Point” closing permanently on October 31, 1971. The Wurlitzer was removed in March of 1972 just prior to its demolition.
The hydraulically operated organ - installed for the opening and played that night by Paul Forster or Syracuse on Nov. 27, 1927 - rose from the pit one last time and was played by Melody Muth Schenck, the daughter of long-time Worth organist Billy Muth. All but a few pipes rose to the final occasion of testing the instrument after its large period of dis-use. The theater’s Egyptian themed flourishes, artwork, and appointments - however - went down for the count.
Grand opening of the Pike Drive-In with “State Fair” on October 25, 1947. The venue is likely best remembered for its large cowboy with lasso neon sign.
The Gem Theater opened in 1912 at what is now 6303 Lancaster Avenue. The Gem added sound to remain viable. The neighborhood house closed for films on September 9, 1951 with “The Great Caruso.” It reopened as a live music house still called the Gem Theatre closing on June 24, 1952 with a live appearance by the Circle C Gang. It was offered for sale for nearly two years when it was home to a religious organization who took it on from March of 1954 to 1957 likely reducing its taxing liability. The venue was later torn down.
J.C. Capps held a naming contest for the new-build drive-in East of Eastland. In third place, Sonja Stagner had the Cactus. In second was Stella Jarrett with the Ra-Ol-Es. And Judge L.B. Houston won it with the Dixie. 300 car speakers awaited folks along with the June 2, 1950 grand opening film of “Yellow Sky” with Gregory Peck.
Last showtimes were September 27, 1981 with “Cannonball Run” and “Nine to Five.” The venue continued for two more years as a flea market.
Agreed on capacity… I couldn’t find cap. so didn’t add that. Not really enough population in the Wheeler area for 400 cars
Address: 8070 US-83, Wheeler, TX 79096 - the location furnished by the editor of the local newspaper of 65 years, the Wheeler Times!
A-Ray Landrum reopened the Friona as the Regal Theatre in 1938 according to both the local press and the trade press. The building appears to have been destroyed in a 1960 tornado. Should likely be listed as the Regal Theatre “#1” formerly the Friona… but can certainly stay as the Friona.
The City of Wheeler says that the theater - although not in operation cinematically - is very much in use as a community hall or community center as of the mid 2020s. So “formerly abandoned” may be more appropriate.
Owners Leo and Laura Guthrie (and Son, “Corky” from 1958 forward replacing the late Leo) operated the Rogue from 1930 to 1979. They also built the Mustang Drive-In operating in Wheeling seasonally from 1952 to 1979.
February 12, 1932 Grand Opening ad with “The Unexpected Father” in photos
Fort Worth Ritz: Oct. 5, 1952 ad at left and Oct. 30, 1953 ad at right
On June 19, 1981, Cobb purchased the Hoover Twin and a variety of other Plitt properties. Cobb built the Hoover Square 6 launching June 10, 1983. It repositioned the Twin as a discount, sub-run venue. What many initially hoped was just an April Fool’s joke became a permanent closure on April 1, 1984 with Cobb moving on after showtimes of “Pete’s Dragon” and “The Dresser.”
Adding a bit more here:
The Ritz Theatre was announced in August of 1938 to be built by Bijou Entertainment for $30,000 by Cain & Cain Contractors. The 500-seat Ritz opened on December 4, 1938 as Fort Worth’s second African American theater at that point. Dallas-based Houston & Smith were the architects. M.C. Maxwell was its long-running operator and may have closed there in 1960. The building was purportedly to be demolished imminently in 1966 as a parking lot for the Convention Center project - but that was halted at the 11th hour.
At that same address, the Cinne Arts Theatre opened for adults with unrated short films on May 21, 1970, moving from Main Street. Cinne Arts was already in a court battle in 1970 in the case of State of Texas v. Steve Scott & Cine Arts Theatre, Inc. on a spurious obscenity case. On July 21, 1970, the venue became the Finne Arts Adult Theatre operating as a private membership policy. They appear to have transitioned from 16mm shorts to 35mm features. Later in 1970, they transitioned to a $3, sub-run discount adult theater policy.
On April 21, 1973, a film was run with the ad, “Extra Special Feature” for a $5 admission. The Finne Arts made the front page of the newspaper on April 23, 1973 for the local sheriff Lon Evans confiscating that feature film which turned out to be “Deep Throat” on 35mm.
In 1974, a live stage show was added to the fare. In 1975, it switched to unrated, “XXX” films open 24 hours on weekends. In April of 1986, local authorities put the hammer down on pornography closing almost all of the venues including the Finne Arts and the nearby Ellwest Theatre at 907 Houston. The theater was raided one final time seizing all films using the RICO Act as their basis. The court docket said that RICO was triggered as this was the 199th charge against the Finne Arts Theatre - and there would be no 200th. Its final operating day appears to be May 27, 1986.
Cinne Arts Theatres Inc. was a circuit of Southwest adult theaters in cities including Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth, Wichita Falls, Austin, Albuquerque, NM, New Orleans, and one in Tampa, Florida. All Cinne Arts (two n’s) named theaters changed to Finne (two n’s).
Houston & Smith of Dallas were the architects.
Closed December 30, 1982 with “48 Hours”
Completed a 25-year leasing agreement closing on September 17, 1966 with “Night of the Grizzly” and “Roustabout.” It became a house of worship for a number of years before turning retail and back to an event space.
The Morgan was closed on February 14, 1954 after a double feature of “Botany Bay” and “Roman Holiday.” Its address: 608 North Sylvania.
A venue opened here as the Hippodrome but was shuttered due to major fire safety concerns. Owner Dr. Charles H. Hespe then ran a gambit where you could invest in the theatre. That got him the money to hire architect William Neumann who solidified the new building.
The Hespe Theatre had a $12,000 Kramer Pipe Organ and actually (!) opened June 29, 1921 with a Pauline Frederick film, “Salvage.” And that was the goal of Hespe’s creditors within months. Charles H. Hespe’s fortunes ran out - or perhaps he simply ran out with the money - by year’s end when the theatre was repossessed and the venue was force sold into new hands. As was the case in Hippodrome and Hippodrome-like ventures across the nation, the investors did not come out too well.
The Hespe Theatre was renamed the Ritz Theatre under new operators on January 30, 1922 with “The Ruling Passion” and vaudeville. And they even had to get a new organ later that year as creditors seized the Kramer unit. The Ritz converted to sound to remain viable. The Ritz would crumble in the TV age not converting to widescreen and closing on October 23, 1956 with “Killers” and “Sleeping City.” Stanley Warner Management offered their theater for sale and kids got in setting a fire that did minor damage to the property early in 1957. So it was quickly demolished for a parking lot.
This actually launched as the One Cent New York Vaudeville Theatre on November 30, 1906. In fairly short order, it moves from the Once Cent Vaudeville Theatre to the Penny Arcade Theatre to the Phillips Picture Show Theatre / Phillips Theatre to the Imperial Theatre. The Imperial lasts the longest from January 30, 1910 to April 12, 1912 when there is a foreclosure.
R.A. Healy takes on the venue rebranded it as the Hippodrome Theatre launching August 31, 1912 with a $10,000 Kimball pipe organ and “Fra Diavolo” with Billy Quirk. The Hippodrome plays a combination of live vaudeville and movies. By the late 1920s, the Hippodrome was reduced to exploitation films as superior theaters were built including the Worth in 1927. The Hippodrome was raided on August 23, 1931 while playing “Married Love” with live models paired with a burlesque show. On December 13, 1931, it ran a renaming contest.
On December 20, 1931, it became the State Theatre. The programming was family-friendly at the beginning but quickly devolved back to exploitation shows and burlesque. Some boxing matches were held on its stage, as well. A January 8, 1939 Midnight Ramble in which a female impersonator irked audiences. It led to a call to the police, a raid, and - apparently - the end of the State Theater. It was closed and the building was later demolished in favor of a parking lot.
Closed January 5, 1981 with “Tales from the Crypt II” and “Count Dracula and His Vampire Bride.”
The Cherry Lane Drive-In closed for the season on September 2, 1985 with “European Vacation” and “City Heat” on Screen East and Screen West went out with a triple feature of “Volunteers,” “Summer Rental” and “Ghostbusters.” It did not reopen.
Tejas Theatres and Phil C. Tidball & Associates were an original lessee in The 1849 Village family restaurant-entertainment project that would unite a steakhouse and cinema as more or less one. Bonanza International Steakhouses was the chain and the Fort Worth location was the first of two theme centers for Bonanza in Dallas-Fort Worth. Designed as a 70mm roadshow house in 1968, the Village Cinema was drawn up as a retro Victorian jewel box opera house with stylings evoking the “Gold Rush” era.
The steakhouse came online first. Papa’s Steakhouse evoking a Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, with live music was next followed by Lum’s, Hickory Fare and Pepe Taco. Faced with meager film clearances that was limited to lesser kids films and exploitation titles, Tidball sold out the theater to General Cinema which took it on November 24, 1971 as the General Cinema Opera House.
The 1849 Village Shopping Center served until it closed October 20, 1985 with “The Gods Must Be Crazy.”
The Worth was announced as closing with two X-rated films on October 28, 1971. But public pressure was such that the well-regarded house booked a double feature of “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Ki” and “Vanishing Point” closing permanently on October 31, 1971. The Wurlitzer was removed in March of 1972 just prior to its demolition.
The hydraulically operated organ - installed for the opening and played that night by Paul Forster or Syracuse on Nov. 27, 1927 - rose from the pit one last time and was played by Melody Muth Schenck, the daughter of long-time Worth organist Billy Muth. All but a few pipes rose to the final occasion of testing the instrument after its large period of dis-use. The theater’s Egyptian themed flourishes, artwork, and appointments - however - went down for the count.
The Westerner closed at the end of the 1978 season by United Artists.
The Riverside stopped advertising on December 19, 1988 showing unrated adult fare.
Grand opening of the Pike Drive-In with “State Fair” on October 25, 1947. The venue is likely best remembered for its large cowboy with lasso neon sign.
The Gem Theater opened in 1912 at what is now 6303 Lancaster Avenue. The Gem added sound to remain viable. The neighborhood house closed for films on September 9, 1951 with “The Great Caruso.” It reopened as a live music house still called the Gem Theatre closing on June 24, 1952 with a live appearance by the Circle C Gang. It was offered for sale for nearly two years when it was home to a religious organization who took it on from March of 1954 to 1957 likely reducing its taxing liability. The venue was later torn down.
The Jane & John Justin Foundation Omni Theater reopened on December 14, 2024.