The Saks opened on July 24, 1974, and was originally called the Loews Twin in Saks Center. Opening days ads announced, “Boy, have we got a theatre for you!” The premier features were Charles Bronson’s “Death Wish” and Warren Oates' “The White Dawn”.
The Rice Drive-In opened at 7:00 p.m. on March 24, 1951. Among the first movies shown there were George Brent’s “Silver Queen”, Lex Barker’s “Tarzan’s Magic Fountain”, and “The Sundowners” with Robert Preston.
Thanks, Ken, for the information. This is slightly off-topic, but was the passing train in “Two Boys” a Southern Pacific train? Back in the day, there was an SP railroad crossing down the street from the Rio (It’s now a Kansas City Southern track). I wonder if that’s where the train scene was filmed.
According to opening day ads, Sharpstown Theatre was the original name. Mr. Foy Myrick was the first manager. The premier feature was “Mirage†with Gregory Peck and Diane Baker.
This theater should be updated to “demolished”. The Chase Tower and the Houston Chronicle now occupy the 800 Block of Texas Avenue. Graeme’s hunch is correct.
According to original 1910 ads for this theater, O.W. Mitchell, with the firm of Mitchell & Halbach Company of Chicago, Illinois, was a decoration design consultant.
The Zoe Theater opened at 5:00 p.m. on October 10, 1914. Mr. John E. Davis was the first manager. The premier feature was “America†with Bert Shepherd and Arthur Voegtlin.
The Granada Theater opened at 11:45 a.m. on December 7, 1949. The premier feature was “You’re My Everything†with Dan Dailey and Anne Baxter. Opening day ads for the theater exhorted you to “Give yourself a treat! You’ve never seen anything like Houston’s new, modern, magnificent Granada.†The correct address is 9231 Jensen Drive, Houston, 77093.
The Almeda should be updated to “demolished”. A dialysis center, a check cashing service, a thrift shop, and an abandoned service station occupy the 5600 block of Almeda Road. The architectural firm for the Almeda was the Houston firm of MacKie and Kamrath.
The Airway opened on December 30, 1950. The premier feature was “Rock Island Trail†with Forrest Tucker and Adele Mara. The zip for 5206 Airline Road is 77022.
The Uptown opened on November 9, 1935. It was a Will Horwitz theater. H. Koetter, of Koetter & Arbing, Inc., was the architect. The premier feature was “Top Hat†with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
I found the original ad for this theater. Southgate Red & Blue was the original name. It opened on March 17, 1971, and the premier features were:
Red: “Airport” with Burt Lancaster and Dean Martin.
Blue: “I Love My Wife” with Elliott Gould and Brenda Vaccaro.
The correct address is 4333 W. Fuqua Street, Houston, 77053.
The Almeda opened on August 9, 1940. The premier feature was “Road to Singapore” with Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and Dorothy Lamour. The Cliff Drescher Cowboy Band was slated to play in front of the theater. The Almeda’s first manager was Tom A. Howell.
November 28, 1939 was opening day for the River Oaks. Hugh Potter, mentioned above, was the master of ceremonies for the grand opening. The River Oaks’ color scheme was maroon and cream, according to that day’s news reports.
The OST opened on February 15, 1947. The premier feature was “Rendezvous with Annie†with Eddie Albert and Faye Marlowe. The OST’s general contractor was Paul Marxten and the structural engineer was Francis J. Niven.
The Loew’s Sharpstown opened on February 26, 1958. The opening night double feature was Jerry Lewis’ “The Sad Sackâ€, plus George Montgomery’s “Pawnee.†Movie stars Chill Wills and Barbara Lang were slated to participate in the grand opening ceremonies.
This multiplex was originally named the Greenway 3 Theatres, so two screens were added later. It opened at noon on February 1, 1974. The premier features were Goldie Hawn’s “Butterflies Are Free†(screen 1), Ernest Borgnine’s “The Neptune Factor†(screen 2), and Woody Allen’s “Play It Again, Sam†(screen 3). The correct zip for this address is 77046.
The Broadway opened on May 23, 1947. The premier feature was Walt Disney’s “Song of the South.†The Broadway’s original ad described it as “modern, beautiful, the finest equipment, a perfect showplace dedicated to community service and entertainment.†During the opening weekend, organist Norma Ballard was featured on a Hammond organ in the Broadway’s lobby.
The Saks opened on July 24, 1974, and was originally called the Loews Twin in Saks Center. Opening days ads announced, “Boy, have we got a theatre for you!” The premier features were Charles Bronson’s “Death Wish” and Warren Oates' “The White Dawn”.
The Rice Drive-In opened at 7:00 p.m. on March 24, 1951. Among the first movies shown there were George Brent’s “Silver Queen”, Lex Barker’s “Tarzan’s Magic Fountain”, and “The Sundowners” with Robert Preston.
Thanks, Ken, for the information. This is slightly off-topic, but was the passing train in “Two Boys” a Southern Pacific train? Back in the day, there was an SP railroad crossing down the street from the Rio (It’s now a Kansas City Southern track). I wonder if that’s where the train scene was filmed.
According to opening day ads, Sharpstown Theatre was the original name. Mr. Foy Myrick was the first manager. The premier feature was “Mirage†with Gregory Peck and Diane Baker.
This theater should be updated to “demolished”. The Chase Tower and the Houston Chronicle now occupy the 800 Block of Texas Avenue. Graeme’s hunch is correct.
According to original 1910 ads for this theater, O.W. Mitchell, with the firm of Mitchell & Halbach Company of Chicago, Illinois, was a decoration design consultant.
The Zoe Theater opened at 5:00 p.m. on October 10, 1914. Mr. John E. Davis was the first manager. The premier feature was “America†with Bert Shepherd and Arthur Voegtlin.
The Granada Theater opened at 11:45 a.m. on December 7, 1949. The premier feature was “You’re My Everything†with Dan Dailey and Anne Baxter. Opening day ads for the theater exhorted you to “Give yourself a treat! You’ve never seen anything like Houston’s new, modern, magnificent Granada.†The correct address is 9231 Jensen Drive, Houston, 77093.
The Ritz Theatre opened on April 15, 1926. The premier feature was “The Fighting Buckaroo†with Buck Jones and Sally Long.
Houston’s Bush Airport didn’t exist in 1950, and Hobby Airport is approximately 16 miles away, so the Airway name remains a mystery.
John J. McNamara was the architect for the Loew’s Sharpstown.
The Almeda should be updated to “demolished”. A dialysis center, a check cashing service, a thrift shop, and an abandoned service station occupy the 5600 block of Almeda Road. The architectural firm for the Almeda was the Houston firm of MacKie and Kamrath.
The Airway opened on December 30, 1950. The premier feature was “Rock Island Trail†with Forrest Tucker and Adele Mara. The zip for 5206 Airline Road is 77022.
The Uptown opened on November 9, 1935. It was a Will Horwitz theater. H. Koetter, of Koetter & Arbing, Inc., was the architect. The premier feature was “Top Hat†with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
I found the original ad for this theater. Southgate Red & Blue was the original name. It opened on March 17, 1971, and the premier features were:
Red: “Airport” with Burt Lancaster and Dean Martin.
Blue: “I Love My Wife” with Elliott Gould and Brenda Vaccaro.
The correct address is 4333 W. Fuqua Street, Houston, 77053.
The Santa Rosa opened on December 20, 1946. The premier feature was “Canyon Passage” with Dana Andrews and Brian Donlevy.
The Garden Oaks opened on July 10, 1947. The premier feature was “The Sea of Grass” with Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn.
The Almeda opened on August 9, 1940. The premier feature was “Road to Singapore” with Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and Dorothy Lamour. The Cliff Drescher Cowboy Band was slated to play in front of the theater. The Almeda’s first manager was Tom A. Howell.
The Heights opened on May 14, 1929. The premier feature was “Sunset Pass” with Jack Holt and Nora Lane.
November 28, 1939 was opening day for the River Oaks. Hugh Potter, mentioned above, was the master of ceremonies for the grand opening. The River Oaks’ color scheme was maroon and cream, according to that day’s news reports.
The OST opened on February 15, 1947. The premier feature was “Rendezvous with Annie†with Eddie Albert and Faye Marlowe. The OST’s general contractor was Paul Marxten and the structural engineer was Francis J. Niven.
The Loew’s Sharpstown opened on February 26, 1958. The opening night double feature was Jerry Lewis’ “The Sad Sackâ€, plus George Montgomery’s “Pawnee.†Movie stars Chill Wills and Barbara Lang were slated to participate in the grand opening ceremonies.
This multiplex was originally named the Greenway 3 Theatres, so two screens were added later. It opened at noon on February 1, 1974. The premier features were Goldie Hawn’s “Butterflies Are Free†(screen 1), Ernest Borgnine’s “The Neptune Factor†(screen 2), and Woody Allen’s “Play It Again, Sam†(screen 3). The correct zip for this address is 77046.
The Broadway opened on May 23, 1947. The premier feature was Walt Disney’s “Song of the South.†The Broadway’s original ad described it as “modern, beautiful, the finest equipment, a perfect showplace dedicated to community service and entertainment.†During the opening weekend, organist Norma Ballard was featured on a Hammond organ in the Broadway’s lobby.
The Fulton opened on September 26, 1947. The premier feature was “Fun on a Weekend†with Eddie Bracken and Priscilla Lane.
Thanks!