Movie House
504 Noel Street,
Memphis,
TX
79245
504 Noel Street,
Memphis,
TX
79245
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Additional Info
Previous Names: New Gem Theater, Ritz Theater, Capri Theater
Nearby Theaters
The New Gem Theatre Theater was opened on October 12, 1925 with Reginald Denny in “I’ll Show You the Town”. It was renamed Ritz Theater on July 8, 1931, screening Claudette Colbert in “Honor Among Lovers”. It was remodeled and was renamed Capri Theater on June 3, 1966 screening Burl Ives in “So Dear to My Heart”. In November 1971 it was renamed The Movie House". The building was vacant & unused in July 2013.
Contributed by
Billy Smith / Billy Holcomb / Don Lewis
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
Open 1935-1955?
Need an address more info and photos.
From a 2010 a photo the the Ritz Theater building in Memphis.
I worked at the Ritz in 1966 or 67 for about 2 weeks before we moved on. Someone in town was just doing a new reopening after being closed for a while. The movies were “Flight of the Phoenix”, and “My Fair Lady”. as second run (cheap for a small theater). I was projectionist and theater janitor at end of night. The projectors were Motigraph 35mm. with hand slide change over for the picture. There was an operating drive in theater, where I met the towns regular projectionist. I only remember his nickname which was “Burbon”. Menphis was a dry town, I think there is a story behind that, but I will protect the innocent. I was still in my mid-teens.
There are Sanborn maps on line for Memphis TX for 1908, 1914, 1920, 1924 and 1931. None show a theatre on Noel Street, which narrows the Ritz’s construction date a little.
The Ritz was first listed in the FDY in 1932, with 450 seats. Because a house called the Gem Theatre, also with 450 seats, was last listed by the FDY in 1931, I thought perhaps that there was simply a name change, but if the earlier Sanborn maps show no theaters on Noel Street I guess couldn’t have been that.
The Ritz Theater was open in Memphis, Texas by at least January 1925 since its mentioned in the local newspaper.
On June 3rd, 1966, Bill Boren, will open a new theater in Memphis called the Capri. The Capri Theater, formerly known as The Ritz, was completed remodeled and re-equipped from front to back. The projection room is equipped with a 35mm Cinemascope and new 150 dimension films, Century projector, RCA Mirrorphonic sound, Ashcraft lamps and rectifiers, and Kollmorgen Super Cinephor lenses. There are 450 new rocking chair seats upholstered in royal blue fabric with Saphire metal finis. New carpet, and the lobby has been re-designed - Memphis Democrat, June 2, 1966
John Wolfe, the owner of the Tower Drive-in during the summer has remodeled the old Ritz / Capri Theater and has named it “The Movie House”. Movies will be shown during the winter months. Extensive remodeling of the facilities has been done. He decided to renovate the theater instead of abandoning it. - Memphis Democrat, November 4, 1971.
Charles C. Meacham assumed active management of the Ritz Theatre on 2 June 1935 pending a deal in which he will purchase the interests of Mrs. Jean McClure, owner and manager of the theater since 1934. Lee Bell will remain the operating manager. Mrs. McClure was managing the theater since the death of her husband in 1934. The Ritz Theater was established in Memphis on 16 June 1931 by Max L. McClure in the R.E. Martin building on Main Street. The Ritz Theater has been at its present location on the south side of the Memphis square since 1933 when a new sound system was installed. - Memphis Democrat, 3 June 1935
The New Gem Theatre opened on October 12, 1925 with Reginald Denny in “I’ll Show you the Town.” The film was projected by two Power Projectors onto the Gardner Gold Fibre Screen and was accompanied by a Photoplay Organ. The Ritz Theatre opened on July 8, 1931 with Claudette Colbert in “Honor Among Lovers” in the Gem Theater’s spot.
Bill Boren of Boren Theatres relit the venue as the Capri Theatre on June 3, 1966 with “So Dear to My Heart.” The booth got 150 dimension film and CinemaScope capability. 450 seats at rebirth.J John Wolf took on the venue rebooting it as the Movie House on November 2, 1971 with Walt Disney’s “The Wild Country.” The venue closed and reopened under Lyndon Craven’s watch on December 1, 1976 relighting with “Joe Panther.”