Valley Theater
6345 Alameda Avenue,
El Paso,
TX
79905
6345 Alameda Avenue,
El Paso,
TX
79905
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Additional Info
Architects: Raymond F. Smith
Functions: Live Performances
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Previous Names: Fine Arts Theatre, Marquee Theatre, Cine Azteca,
Nearby Theaters
The Valley Theater opened on Labor Day, September 5, 1948. It was closed in 1963. It reopened as the Fine Arts Theatre on July 10, 1964. On September 7, 1971 it became a live theatre named Marquee Theatre. This closed in 1972. From May 11, 1973 it began screening adult movies. On December 2, 1974 it was renamed Cine Azteca. It is now Naken Harem, a strip-tease club.
Contributed by
Ken McIntyre
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Recent comments (view all 14 comments)
You’re not thinking outside the box, or maybe the pole in this case.
The Valley was converted into a dinner theater in 1971, according to a 1975 article in the El Paso Herald-Post. That lasted two years before the theater re-opened as the Cine Azteca, showing Spanish films. That incarnation lasted until February 1975, when the theater closed. Cine Azteca should be another name for this theater.
Here is a September 1948 item from the Herald-Post:
The new Valley Theater at 6345 Alameda Avenue, described by its builders as one of the finest and most modern suburban amusement houses in Texas, will have its formal opening at 7:30 p.m. Monday. “That’s My Man,” starring Don Ameche and Katherine McLeod, is the film scheduled for the opening.
The Yandell Theatre is mentioned frequently in Boxoffice in 1947 and 1948, when operator C.M. Garrett wrote capsule reviews for the magazine’s “The Exhibitor Has His Say” feature. I haven’t found it mentioned anytime before 1947.
Neither have I been able to find any mention of a Valley Theatre in El Paso before the Alameda Avenue house opened. If the Yandell was called the Valley before 1947 then it must have been run by somebody who lacked Mr. Garrett’s adeptness at publicity.
The May 9, 1960, issue of Boxoffice said that Clayton Garrett had closed the Yandell Theatre after operating at a loss for several months. Attempts to sell the theater were a failure, and finally the projection room equipment was sold to a local theater equipment dealer and removed. That must have been the end of the place.
Here is a photo of the Cine Azteca from the 1975 Herald-Post article:
http://tinyurl.com/yj6x8v5
The women who ran the Naked Harem was convicted for running a prostitution ring and having under-age girls.
There was a theater called the Garden Airdome at 900 E. Yandell. Cynthia Farah Haines states it was listed at that address from 1921-22, then for the next three years at 1116 E. Yandell. She also says, “Since 1925, a theatre called the American had been located at 2806 E. Yandell but moved to 1120 E. Yandell where it showed movies until 1935.” She adds, “The American was known as the Little Theatre from 1937 until 1942. it was renamed the Western in 1943and then the Yandell from Oct. 7, 1946 until 1960. (Cynthia Farah Haines, Showtime! From Opera Houses to Picture Palaces in El Paso, Texas Western Press 2006).
Does anyone else remember walking down to the neighborhood “Pitchur show” and paying $.25 for admission and staying as long as you wanted during the double feature? There was a newsreel, previews of coming attractions, and ALWAYS a good cartoon before and after the show – all that fun for $.25!
When I was in grammar school in South El Paso, the Valley theater was the place to go on Saturdays and weekdays with your family. It was a typical 1940’s-1950’s movie house with snack bar (don’t remember it being overpriced as now), ushers to show you to your seat (my brother had that job for a while) and even a “cry room” of all things where parents could take their unruly children so as not to disturb the other patrons (imagine such a thing!!!).
I remember seeing “Mr. Roberts” there when it came out in 1955.
It pains me to see it in its present state.
This opened as Valley on September 5th, 1948 and closed in 1963. It reopened as Fine Arts on July 10th, 1964 as an art cinema that switched over to adult movies by the end of the year. more to come. 1964 grand opening ad in the photo section.
Became a live theatre called the Marquee on September 7th, 1971 until 1972 and reopened as an adult cinema on May 11th, 1973.
more to come.
Reopened as the Cine Azteca on December 2nd, 1973. Another ad posted.