Rio Theater

JohnnyC, I moved the article to the Rio (4th St.) listing. Still digging through the newly digitised newspaper archive for Odessa for more. stand by.

I haven’t seen anything happening to the Rio in a while. Is it still being restored or is it back on the for sale list?

I just noticed Cinema Treasures has 3 sites for the Rio, So I am
transfurring my history of the Rio beginnings, so it will be here
with mostly most comments on the current Rio.
The structure was first opened at 120 West 4th street as the Palace
Theater by Joe Rice in October, 1927.
It was Odessa’s second theater, and equipped with 400 seating.
Located directly behind the Odessa Theater, which had also been opened by Mr. Rice.
In March 1928, H.T. Hodge founder of H & H Theater with headquarters at Abilene took over operations of the Palace & Odessa Theaters.
Hodge put his son in law Jack Laird in charge(Laird’s son still resides in Odessa)
Laird & Hodge were also instrumental in later openings in Odessa of
the Ector/Plaza/Texas/Lyric & Broncho Drive In.
The Palace fell into bad times during the big depression, and closed
in July 1932.
On March 30, 1934 James King reopened the theater as the new State,
but found out it was a chore competing with H & H Circuit, and threw
in the towel closing the State in early 1935. >> ENTER THE RIO.
The Scott Family reopened the theater in 1936 renaming it to the RIO.
This Rio was in oepration for 6 years, when the Scott’s built a NEW RIO at the corner of 6th & Grant with an 800 seating capacity, which
was the second RIO in Odessa.
This RIO was in operation for 15 years when it was destroyed by fire.
The walls only survived and can be seen at the corner site.
The Scott was built in 1947 next door to the Rio, and was operated
until 1959 when demand caused a new Scott to be built which I think
still stands but in disaray.
The RIO Marquee in limbo a couple years was brought out and went up
on the original Scott, and 50 years later after many up & downs with
changes and owners the first SCOTT building is still rememebered as
the RIO———-Hope this clears up some of the RIO’s foggy history.
I will be providing Don’s Flicker site with a number of old original
ads from all 3 historic RIO’S—CHECK OUT HIS SITE FOR PICTURES OF ALL OLD ODESSA MOVIE THEATERS.
ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME OLD ADS OF ANY ODESSA THEATERS
EMAIL ME Billy Holcomb———-sorry for outburst
Abilene

The Rio History above by me Billy Holcomb is Correct.
I have documented proof of what I listed.
I spent years finding the exact dates of openings—closings-operations.
I traced and searched it out to a complete history of all 3 buildings from actual plans/city directories/newspapers/ and
actual owners from the late Mr. Scott in 1959, and Boots Scott
thru the ninties, and many owners & decendents of owners of all
theaters.
In fact My book on the Odessa Theaters can be viewed in the
Southwest Archives at the library in Odessa-
Anyone who claims to have the complete history has to have gotten it out of my laborous toils to get it from forever being hidden.
It was me who did the work—IT IS RIGHT…Billy Holcomb

Update— The roof is 99% repaired and we will be moving inside to start restorations on the main auditorium and stage. Renovations are moving a little slower than expected but are moving forward. I found sections on the roof that I went ahead and replaced all the way down to the rafters. Figured if I’m going to fix it then I might as well do it right the first time.
We have a new page on Facebook with lots of pictures. See the progress we make and comment if you like.

We would love to hear stories from people who have been in the theater:)

OOPS—I FIND IT IS NOT BELOW, BUT UP ABOVE—BILLY H.

I think it was Mrs. Beaird that let me Troy Martin, my brother Brady and Shane Graham into the theatre and gave us full access. She was awesome….

Troy Martin

I had lots of fun in high school at the Holiday Drive-In…:)

The Scott Theatre was designed by architect Raymond F. Smith. Like the earlier Rio down the block, it was owned by Maggie Scott. The announcement of Smith’s plans was made in Boxoffice Magazine of December 21, 1945. The difficulties of postwar construction delayed the completion of the house.

The February 1, 1947, issue of Boxoffice said that the formal opening of the Scott Theatre was scheduled for that night. The opening feature at the new house was to be the Bing Crosby-Fred Astaire musical “Blue Skies.”

Odessa had many theaters, and I will be putting up their history.
Anyone who lives in Odessa can read my booklet on the history of
Odessa movie theaters at the Public Library.
Other Odessa theaters included!
SCOTT-ECTOR-PLAZA-TEXAS-LYRIC-RIO-ODESSA-PALACE-STATE-HARLEM-
Drive In’s Included!!
CACTUS—TERRACE—BRONCHO—PLAINS-TWIN VUE, which became HOLIDAY,
which in turn became the VIDEO PARK.
Multi theaters included!
WINWOOD-PERMIAN 4-NORTH PARK 6-CINEMA7-PERMIAN PALACE-CENTURY 12
billy holcomb

On 1/6/73, the Odessa American was advertising the following films:

Scott: “Tales from the Crypt”, starring Peter Cushing and Joan Collins

Rio: “The Virgin Witch”

Ector: “Death Master” and “The Incredible Two Headed Transplant”, starring Ray Milland and Rosey Grier

Grandview: “Thoroughly Modern Millie”

Holiday Drive-In: “Fillmore” (the sixties concert hall, not the president)

Twin Terrace: “The Other” and “Ben”

On a side note, there was also an ad for Burger Chef in the paper that day. We had one of those in South Jersey, but it sadly morphed into a Burger King when I was a teenager. The Super Chefs were tasty.

The Scott Theatre is listed in the 1950 edition of F.D.Y., located at 609 N. Grant Street. with 909 seats. The Rio Theater is listed at 601 N. Grant Street.