Finne Arts Theatre
909 Calhoun Street,
Fort Worth,
TX
76102
909 Calhoun Street,
Fort Worth,
TX
76102
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Additional Info
Architects: Raymond F. Smith
Previous Names: Ritz Theatre, Cinne Arts Theatre
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No theaters found within 30 miles
The Ritz Theatre was the first African-American movie theatre in downtown Fort Worth launching on December 4, 1938. The theatre ran 27 years closing at the end of 1966.
On May 21, 1970, the theatre re-emerged for all audiences (21 or above) as the adult Cinne Arts Theatre. On July 21, 1970, the theatre changed names to the Finne Arts Theatre. The theatre was under constant attack and the operators were arrested multiple times.
The high water mark for the theatre was in 1973 when “Deep Throat” was dropped by Dallas adult theatres, the Finne Arts booked it and hit box office gold. The Finne Arts lasted into the video age and rented X-rated videos in addition to the film screenings. A 1986 raid could well have ended things at the Finne Arts or at least changed its advertising practices.
The Finne Arts Theatre was demolished becoming a parking lot in busy Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth.
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dallasmovietheaters
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Recent comments (view all 1 comments)
Seen here, the Ritz, later the Finne Arts Theatre, now demolished.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edEOwGjCDBs RAC Photography