Lynn Theatre
Tahoka,
TX
79373
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Wallace Theaters
Previous Names: Star Theatre, Lavelta Theatre, Ida English Theatre
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No theaters found within 30 miles
The Star Theatre was opened on December 18, 1914. It was renamed English Theatre is 1924. It was renamed Lavelta Theatre on November 1, 1929. It suffered from damage in a fire in 1931, and briefly reopened as an events centerwhich closed in 1932.
It was sold to Wallace Theatres chain in 1936. It reopened as the Ida English Theatre. It was last renamed Lynn Theatre on October 20, 1944 reopening with Gene Autry in “South of the Border”. It suffered from three different fires in subsequent years, the third was on November 29, 1949 which closed the theatre forever.
By 1957 the small Lynn Theater stood vacant and in poor condition. There was a vertical sign with individual block letters spelling out "Lynn" that were loose and becoming misaligned. A marquee with all the panes missing extended out over the entrance and outside ticket booth.
Contributed by
Don Lewis
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
A 1957 photo of the Lynn Theater in Tahoka.
Perhaps the same intrepid architect who designed the Lux in Los Angeles?
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015375.jpg
Sad ending to close in the Fifties.
Sad looking marquee and vertical posted by Don.
The Star Theatre launched December 18, 1914 presumably on a ten year leasing cycle. The Star completed that cycle and got new operators when D.B. and Ada English came to town to operate same in 1924 likely on a 20-year lease. English changed the name of the venue to the English Theatre.
But in the March of 1929, the Englishes knew they needed to transition to sound and decided the time was right for an elegant 500-seat “talkie” theater bearing their surname just to the north of the St. Clair Hotel. That became the English Theatre and this house was renamed as the Lavelta Theatre on November 1, 1929.
The Lavelta is used as a weekend only operation carrying silent films into late 1930. It becomes an events center until it has a fire in 1931 and is updated with non-charred stylings and sound in 1932. But that is short-lived and the theater moves to inactive.
In 1936, with business conditions improving, the Englishes create the Ada Theatre in a different location. Likely at the end of their original leasing contract, the Englishes then sell the English, Ada, and inactive Lavelta to Wallace and Rose Blankenship of Wallace Theatres Circuit. Wallace changes the name of the English to the Wallace, the Ida to the Rose, and decides to relight the inactive Lavelta Theatre. As a nod to the Englishes, he names the for mer Star/English/Lavelta as the Ida English Theatre. In most cities, that third wheel theater would mysteriously burn down… but not here.
That name, Ida English, doesn’t last long - likely too confusing - and the venue’s changed to its final operational name as the Lynn Theatre. The Lynn bowed on October 20, 1944 with “South of the Border.” The Lynn suffered three fires - an auditorium fire gutting the auditorium not long after it opened. That didn’t end things, though. It then suffered a projection booth fire on July 21, 1948. That didn’t end things, either. And then a third fire on November 29, 1949. That did end things for the Star/English/Lavelta/Ida English/ Lynn Theatre, but not the building which hung around on Main Street.
One more name to add in to this venue. G.A. Cole of Lamesa took on the venue on May 13, 1938 with “Melody of the Plains.” Their final listing was in December of 1938 - likely the end of the line. Reading their bookings, I’d say that they were not having much luck getting good film titles.