Tower Theatre
113 S. Austin Street,
Ranger,
TX
76470
113 S. Austin Street,
Ranger,
TX
76470
No one has favorited this theater yet
Additional Info
Previous Names: Temple Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Temple Theatre was located in the new Southland Hotel at 113 S. Austin Street and was built by the Southern Enterprise Company. It was opened on June 20, 1920 with Cecil De Mille’s “Don’t Change Your Husband” starring Gloria Swanson. Seating was provided for 400 in the lower floor and balcony. The Temple Theatre was equipped with a combination organ installed and operated by a trained organist. More than 1,600 people attended the opening and every person attending was given a souvenir. The men were given cigars, and the women were given gladiolas. Nearly $500 in flowers were given out that day. Children were given Dutch windmills.
The Walls and ceilings were stenciled with carefully laid out borders. The stage was dressed with large vases of flowers. The vestibule was carpeted, and a wicker fountain filled with flowers was in the center. By November 1922, C.C. Peters was the manager, then in January 1923 W.W. Grist Jr. was the new manager. The Temple Theatre closed in March 1922 with J.D. Hughes as the last manager.
In the mid-1940’s Herbert Rapp returned from service and reopened the building as the 280-seat Tower Theatre in May 1945. In June 1948 considerable damage was done to the projection booth when a fire broke out. The Tower Theatre was closed in February 1957.
The vacant theatre building and the Southland Hotel suffered extensive damage on February 15, 1958 due to a fire. Since demolished only the foundation of the building remains.
Contributed by
Billy Smith / Billy Holcomb / Don Lewis, Dorstar
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
The Tower was reimagined in the former Temple.
Subsequent to opening the Tower Rapp opened the Ranger Drive-In in Loop Strawn. This has its own listing on Cinema Treasures. Rapp retired from the Drive-In in 1978. Presumably he was still operating the Tower at that time.
Herbert Rapp opened the Tower Theatre in the old Temple Theatre in May of 1945. The theatre began with Saturday and Sunday offerings of two big pictures. In June of 1948, considerable damage occurred to the booth in the Tower Theatre destroying the sound system and causing additional damage. In February 1957, the Tower Theatre closed. In February 15 1958, the old Southland Hotel and Tower Theatre were gutted by fire causing thousands of dollars in damage.