Visited El Real Tex Mex in November 2011. The marquee looks very nice, and overall things look about as good as you can expect for a theater converted to a restaurant.
The theater building is still there as of the end of 2011, but its condition doesn’t appear that great. The map address can be refined to 9th St and Ave I:
http://g.co/maps/q48z9
I’m glad the River Oaks is still around. I saw a number of movies there when I was in high school, although I don’t think I had much of an appreciation then for its history. I think it’s been maintained well, and has a lot of charm. The converted balcony screening rooms are fairly small and not laid out that well, but the main auditorium is great- nice details with oak-shaped wall lights and deco figures flanking the screen. A recent weekday matinee was pretty well-attended, so hopefully it’ll resist the development pressures!
This piece confirms GaryParks' points about the interior details not being original, and that it wasn’t originally named the Guild (was just the “Menlo Theatre.”
Visited El Real Tex Mex in November 2011. The marquee looks very nice, and overall things look about as good as you can expect for a theater converted to a restaurant.
The theater building is still there as of the end of 2011, but its condition doesn’t appear that great. The map address can be refined to 9th St and Ave I: http://g.co/maps/q48z9
Photo circa 1968
I’m glad the River Oaks is still around. I saw a number of movies there when I was in high school, although I don’t think I had much of an appreciation then for its history. I think it’s been maintained well, and has a lot of charm. The converted balcony screening rooms are fairly small and not laid out that well, but the main auditorium is great- nice details with oak-shaped wall lights and deco figures flanking the screen. A recent weekday matinee was pretty well-attended, so hopefully it’ll resist the development pressures!
Here is a nice write-up and photo set from 4/3/11:
http://inmenlo.com/2011/04/03/guild-theatre-bringing-movies-to-menlo-for-85-years/
This piece confirms GaryParks' points about the interior details not being original, and that it wasn’t originally named the Guild (was just the “Menlo Theatre.”