Ritz Theatre
401 S. Main Street,
Big Spring,
TX
79720
401 S. Main Street,
Big Spring,
TX
79720
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Hughes Franklin Theatres, Rowley United Theatres Inc.
Architects: W. Scott Dunne
Styles: Spanish Renaissance
Nearby Theaters
The Ritz Theatre was opened in November 1928. This was the showcase theatre for Big Spring, back when that mean’t anything. Time has not been kind to the building. The current owners have covered the ground floor façade with shiny grey tiles that look like they came from a bathroom. The lobby was more tastefully done, but there’s none of the original left.
There is no marquee left, indeed there is nothing at all either mounted or written on the theatre except for three cheap poster boxes. The original façade is a little over three stories, and now at least is fairly plain, although there are lions mounted along the roof. All but one window has been bricked up. The rear of the theatre still proclaims it ‘West Texas’ Finest Theatre', and advertises the Vitaphone system. By 1957 it was operated by Rowley United Theatres Inc. It was still open in 1988.
Apparently, some restoration work was carried out in 2008, but it was closed by early-2010.
Contributed by
Seth Gaines
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Recent comments (view all 21 comments)
Link to Google Street View – This might work…
Yes, it does, Thanks Vitonet. It looked much better in 1984.
My grandfather was the Robb who built the ritz, unforunitly I was never able to meet him, due to his untimely death. If you know anything about him or the theater please contact me
That is what I am afraid of…… I am trying to contact Don Snyder right now. I think today I might go out to Big Spring and check out the old place. I would just really like to get into the place. I contacted the chamber of commerce to try and find out who the owner is.
From the 1980s a photo of the Ritz Theater in Big Spring.
Ritz Theatre on Flickr
From the 1980s a photo of the Ritz on Flickr
Chains included Hughes-Franklin and Robb & Rowley (R&R)
The October 29, 1933, issue of the Big Spring Daily Herald said that Robb & Rowley’s Ritz Theatre would celebrate its 5th anniversary week from October 29 through November 5. Unfortunately, issues of the newspaper from 1928, the year the Ritz opened, are not yet available online.
Kevin Ritz and James Best ran the Ritz - I believe - from 1999 to 2006. They got the theater up and running in time to play the “Phantom Menace” in 1999. Then they made headlines for being an early adopter of DLP digital cinema in April of 2003 playing some files digitally (often for a dollar more) and analog 35mm prints. The Ritz was one of two theaters in Texas playing “Attack of the Clones” in DLP so we drove to see it there. It was easily the smallest population area to have a DLP exhibition at that time.
The Ritz closed for contemporary film in 2006. It was purchased in 2008 and opened sporadically for limited, special screenings into 2010. in May 1999. They charged $1 extra for DLP digital titles into 2006.