Ideal Theatre

Like many other cities, Corpus Chirsti had a spate of nickelodeons by the end of first decade of the 20th Century including the Crystal Electric Theater and the Seaside Theatre. Immediately following the store-show era of nickelodeons were more – or less – improved but converted retail spaces designed for motion pictures. The Ideal Theatre and the Dixie Theatre (at 404 Chaparral Street) fit that bill. The Ideal Theatre started advertising in 1912 and was operated as an independent photoplay house. It was operated by Eliseo Villasenor for some of its World War I operational days. In 1916 the Ideal Theatre was operated by Roy Finn as its second operator. Finn installed a $2,500 Seeburg Orchestron Model J to provide music. J.W. Harper was its third operator.

Harper is most known for operating the Melba Theatre and Agnes Theatre in their formative years but he also operated Leopard Street Theatre and here at the Ideal Theatre. When the new Melba Theatre was delayed, its bookings were carried at the Ideal Theatre. Once the Melba Theatre opened, the Leopard Street Theatre was closed permanently with Harper and new partner, James Wass, continuing with just two venues. Harper & Wass Amusement Company then added the neighborhood Agnes Theatre on September 4, 1928.

The Ideal Theatre had experimented with Spanish-language versions of silent films but Harper & Wass did not convert the venue to sound. The 1926 edition of Film Daily Yearbool lists the Ideal Theatre as a ‘Mexican’ theatre. The Ideal Theatre was sold to the Robb & Rowley Theatre Circuit (which at that time was going by the R&R Gulf Entertainment Company) in September of 1928. R&R had also acquired the Melba Theatre the previous month and would take over the Agnes Theatre shortly thereafter in three transactions.

With R&R’s new-build Grande Theatre ready to launch in November of 1928 and the future Ritz Theatre already on the drawing table for a 1929 opening, R&R was trying to rid the Central Business District of as many competitors as possible. The days of the Ideal Theatre were clearly numbered.

R&R made a decision to end the Ideal Theatre without converting it to sound in December of 1929 just a day prior to the new Ritz Theatre launch that occurred less than a mile away on December 22, 1929. The building was retrofitted for retail use. It has since been demolished.

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