Winchester Twin Theatre

I have a color postcard of the Winchester from when it first opened in 1966 with “Doctor Zhivago” on the marquee. It was given to me by my projectionist friend (mentioned in a posting here at the Cinema West) who was once a projectionist at most Lubbock theaters in the 1960s at one time or another. He sent me the postcard from Los Angeles where he was still working part-time at the Egyptian and Chinese, among others. Sadly, he’s now deceased. I don’t know how to post a scan of this postcard.

In 1969/1970 we showed what was called “Road Shows” and when you bought a ticket it was for a specific seat and the Ushers would show everyone to their specific seat. Shows would typically run a month or more. There was a couple of hours between showings so we could completely clean the theater prior to the next showing. At the time it was the only theater In the west using 70mm film equipment. Theaters used 35mm equipment at the time so the Winchester was unique in this regard.

Very nice looking Theatre the kind we really miss and will never see again.

Yes. I think that the Backstage became the Chapparal, and I had completely forgotten that. The “twin” theaters were really tiny.

The miniature golf course was nestled behind the shopping center, west of College Avenue. I don’t know when it closed, but I used to play the course in the 1970s. There were two larger courses in southwest Lubbock, but I can’t remember the names of both. One was the Putt Putt which is still on 29th Drive and the former Brownfield highway (now Marsha Sharp Freeway). The other one was a double course, and I just don’t remember the address. It was very popular. In the 1980s there was another small course south of Briarcroft Savings and Loan on Avenue Q south of 50th Street. I can’t remember the name of it, either, but it was a fun course.

Hello Gene'64. I am finding you comments on Lubbock’s theaters some of the most interesting and in depth I have read.

Do you have photos of any of the theaters?

Thanks!!

Don… (Lubbock is home but my wife and I live in Grapevine)

There were 3 theaters in a row—the Chief, the Arcadia, and El Capitan. Around the corner on Broadway was the Plains Theater which billed itself as the biggest little theater in town! The Village, of course, was left off the list of Lubbock theaters and so was the Chaparral Twin which was in Town and Country shopping center near the miniature golf course.

The Palace became the Clifton in later years. The Midway lived several lives under names like the Centre Theater, the Gay 90s, El Tejas, and lastly the Varsity, which was kind of an arts theater that often showed films requested by Tech professors for their speech and drama classes. There may have been other names for this theater that I’ve forgotten. Interestingly, the Broadway became Skibells, an upscale clothing store that lasted for MANY years!

The Winchester was showing first run movies on two screens until the Winchester Shopping center which it anchored was sold. It was an off-the-street center in a 90-degree angle with the Winchester (not always a twin) in the corner. A former working wooden windmill stood at the corner of 50th & Indiana (2 thoroughfares) along with a large tree. When the center closed commemorative pens and items were made and sold with wood from this landmark tree.

The center was successful but its largest tenant, United Supermarket, needed a much larger and modern store in this valuable location. Thus, the entire center was demolished and a new MarketStreet constructed (see http://www.unitedtexas.com/))

The huge Winchester marquee and name remain in Lubbock associated with entertainment. The Winchester room is a part of the Lone Star Events Center (anchored by a modern amphitheater) and the huge marquee is mounted on the facility located just East of Avenue A on East 19th Street in Lubbock.

As a kid I saw several movies on the giant screen before it was divided into a twin. However unlike most divided theaters, because it was so large to begin with (70mm) after the divide the screens were still huge by modern standards. The plush rocking chairs, aside from squeaking, and the sound system ensured that the Winchester was one of the best places to see a movie until it closed. I was fortunate to see the big theater re-release of Gone with the Wind there as well as many other great films of the 70’s, 80’s and 1990’s. The Noret family did a great job running this theater until the center sold.

I will…I’ll ask them to e-mail me a story or 2, and I’ll post them.

Don & Charles,

Just told my mother about this site, and the Showplace thread, and she couldn’t believe Skeet Noret was still around. She and my Aunt Patsie used to sing for the crowds during intermission at the Sky-Vue in Lamesa (sep thread)!!

Thanks, Charles!

Just got an e-mail from my cousin, and the name of the theatre is the Showplace 6, formerly just the Showplace. It’s still in business, with cheap tickets and (according to cuz) decent prints.

6707 University Ave.

• David

Me too…..!!

I have pix of many of the Lubbock Theatres & Drive-Ins from the 60’s.
Anyone interested may contact me by e-mail at:
Ned

To dujac. Lubbock has done very poorly on saving but one (the Cactus) of its previously numerous theaters and drive ins. The only theater that I can remember at 66th and University was the Horse Shoe drive in, now long gone along with these drive ins, Circle, Corral and (Red?) Raider. There was a “fine arts” drive in that I cannot recall the name of. They now have a new drive in, the Stars and Stripes.
There were numerous theaters, I can only name a few, now all gone, the Lindsey (downtown), State on Texas Avenue and one on University Avenue that may hve been the Varsity. Hope this helps.