Regal Theatre

112 E. Walker Street,
Breckenridge, TX 76424

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Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on April 9, 2018 at 10:23 pm

Another house called the National Theatre was in operation in Breckenridge before this house opened. It was advertised in the October 16, 1920, issue of the Breckenridge American, as were the new Alhambra Theater, set to open on the 18th, a House called the Broadway Theatre and another called the American Theatre, plus the Ruby Theatre. The ad for the National boasted of its “Photoplayer Supreme.”

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on April 9, 2018 at 12:20 am

The July 2, 1921, issue of Motion Picture News had this item:

“F. W. Zimmerman opened the new National theatre at Breckenridge, Texas, last week to pleased capacity business. The new house is strictly modern and up-to-date and said to have cost $750,000. The new theatre is strictly fireproof.”
I will assume that the figure of $750,000 is Texas-sized exaggeration. There’s no way that little 500-seat house cost three quarters of a million in 1921.

A bit of confusion arises from an item in Boxoffice of October 9, 1967. It says that Regal Broadcasting, owners of local radio station KSTB, were building a new 300-seat theater to be called the Regal. The company had bought the Palace Theatre and the National Theatre, and the National had been razed so the Regal could be built on its site. The Palace would continue to operate until the new theater was completed.

It appears that the writer of the Boxoffice item got the names of the theaters switched, and the house that was demolished was the Palace. Presumably the new Regal never got built, and the National was renovated and renamed the Regal instead.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on December 14, 2012 at 6:06 am

Oops; thanks for pointing that out; I had just previously been looking at the Alhambra page, which has the same postcard view, did not notice the theater’s AKA.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on December 13, 2012 at 10:46 pm

That appears to be the Alhambra Theater in Breckenridge which has its own page here on CT.

nonsportsnut
nonsportsnut on October 6, 2009 at 9:11 am

I’m a Three Stooges Fan Club member, trying to confirm a personal appearance by the “3” Stooges (Moe Larry and Shemp), on a bill with Wee Bonnie Baker, the Barretts and Don Hooton, after an appearance by the A.B. Marcus Revue. The movie “Queen of Burlesque” was also shown. I have a display ad, but no dates (or town shown). Believe it was the Summer of 1946, and may have been Shemp’s first appearance after Curly’s strokes. The National was advertised as air cooled and showed a phone number of JA-7863.
Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks Frank Reighter

Don Lewis
Don Lewis on March 15, 2009 at 8:48 pm

As recently as 1970 the National was known as the Regal Theatre.

Don Lewis
Don Lewis on February 28, 2008 at 6:30 pm

This is a July 1988 photo of the National Theater bearing a sign identifying it as the REGAl THEATER.

DriveInTheatre2001
DriveInTheatre2001 on April 10, 2006 at 6:00 pm

This Theatre is being renovated… They were holding a Fund Raiser.
Pictures to come……