Cine Ritz
3730 N. Main Street,
Houston,
TX
77002
3730 N. Main Street,
Houston,
TX
77002
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Opened by Interstate on December 25th, 1935. Grand opening ad posted.
Name was changed to Cine Ritz Theatre when it began showing Spanish language films, year unknown. Today it houses Mision Cristiana ELIM Church. Street view shows a new facade over the original, and the marquee is gone. Website below. Undated photo as Cine Ritz added also
http://elimhouston.com/
The above photo is correct. The map location and the description of the theater being near the Museum District are wrong. The theater is north of Woodland Heights near the North Freeway. The building is now a church.
Here’s a link with current and historic photos: http://www.houstondeco.org/1930s/northmain.html
The picture & map are wrong on this theater. The location you show is 3730 South Main Street, Houston, Texas instead of 3730 North Main Street. The North Main Theater is on the north side of Houston not the south.
The map view puts you behind the theater, but you can follow the streets around to the front for a more contemporary view. There is also the photo posted on 10/15/08.
Here is a photo circa 1942:
http://tinyurl.com/ybut92p
The premier feature at the North Main was “Page Miss Glory” with Dick Powell and Marion Davies. The North Main advertised “modest prices 15-25¢. Children anytime 5¢.”
A short tour from 1965 of the North Main Theatre in Houston.
A 1965 view of the North Main Theatre in Houston and a night time view of an attendant working with the marquee lettering.
Cool. Looks just like it did, when I drove by last night.
Click on where it says Here in the post above and it will take you to the site of the photo.
Jack—where’s the pic?
Here is a relatively recent photo of the North Main. It appears salvageable.
Does anyone have any pictures of the theatre? I grew up across the street of “El Cine Ritz” and have many fond memories.
I drove by it tonight—just to check it out. Looks sad.
Marquee Man, I just read, on the Garden Oaks page, that the church group which currently owns it—is restoring it to it’s glory, to use as a performance center—faith-based, no doubt.
The North Main Theatre opened Christmas Day, 1935 and was built by Interstate Theatres. It operated under Interstate until January 3, 1967 when it was sold to an independeat operator. It continued to operate under the North Main Theatre name until 1984 and when the name was changed to Cine Ritz Theatro and showed only Spanish speaking films until it closed in 1991(?)or so. The theatre was sold to a Spanish speaking church which still operates the building today. The massive marquee and tower signage were removed but the interior remains very close to intact. I spent many an hour as a kid in the 50’s and 60’s and I worked there as an usher until it was sold in 1967. I then went to the Garden Oaks where I worked for a couple of years more…what a great time! I miss it all terribly.
The North Main was at one time part of the Interstate Theatre circuit.