The Pastime Theatre launched on March 28, 1924. The venue converted to sound to remain viable. Earl E. Jones refreshed the venue as the Ritz launching August 8, 1935 with “Going High Brow.” The Ritz Theatre was closed permanently on February 3, 1951 and ostensibly replaced by the New Regal Theatre that opened on February 14, 1951. The Joneses had also opened the Rustic Drive-In Theatre on January 30, 1951.
The Queen Theatre ascended on July 4, 1916 with 175 thrones for willing subjects. Murten Judd ran the castle on opening day and the first advertised feature came ten days later with “The Siege and Fall of the Alamo”
Gary Barnhill opened the Sandell Drive-In Theatre on September 8, 1955 with “Elephant Walk” and held its formal Grand Opening on September 11, 1955 with “Shane.”
The synopsis above says this was the Seal Theater at open to close which may, in fact, be accurate although the operator name is in error. Just giving a bit more historical context on Lockney’s movie history, the Lockney Opera House opened September 12, 1912 with the live staging of “Silas, the Chore Boy.” It began to mix in more movies than live stage presentations. Making the transition from live house to movie house, it is believed that it was renamed the Olympic Theatre becoming a full-time, 420-seat cinema. In 1925, C.R. Wilkinson took on the venue giving it a refresh and renaming it the Isis Theatre on August 13, 1925 with the film, “Recompense.”
New operator J.T. O'Heron took it on and in January of 1930 converting it to Western Electric sound allowing the Isis to remain viable. O'Heron was followed by John Jenkins (1935), R.E. Reynolds (1940), and - finally - J.B. “Brad” and Dovie Seale who took on the venture. They changed its name from the Isis to the Plains Theatre. In 1951, the venue was given a streamline makeover as the “new” Plains Theatre reducing seat count to 360 seats. They also established the Seale Drive-In in 1952 operating it until 1976.
In 1954, the Seales gave the Plains Theatre a widescreen conversion to present CinemaScope titles likely reducing seat count somewhat. The Plains carries that name into the 1970s. Not sure when the “Seal” seal was invoked as it isn’t covered by the local paper. However, it may indeed be in the same structure or an entirely different building than the Plains (leave that to the local historians). But the Seales definitely retired from the industry with the ozoner closing in 1976 and a late decision to not reopen made in the Spring of 1977. The operators passed away in 1980 and 1982. Ads for the Plains, Olympic, and Isis are provided in photos here.
(And, if it matters, it’s not Mr. Seal but is J.B. “Brad” Seale and Dovie Marie Watts Seale who were the operators of the Plains Theatre and Seale - not Seal - Drive-In.)
The Lockney Opera House opened September 12, 1912. Making the transition from live house to movie house, it was renamed the Olympic Theatre as a 420-seat cinema. In 1925, C.R. Wilkinson took on the venue giving it a refresh and renaming it the Isis Theatre on August 13, 1925 with the film, “Recompense.”
New operator J.T. O'Heron took it on and in January of 1930 converting it to Western Electric sound allowing the Isis to remain viable. O'Heron was followed by John Jenkins (1935), R.E. Reynolds (1940), and - finally - J.B. “Brad” and Dovie Seale who took on the venture. They changed its name from the Isis to the Plains Theatre. In 1951, the venue was given a streamline makeover as the “new” Plains Theatre reducing seat count to 360 seats. They also established the Seale Drive-In in 1952 operating it until 1976.
In 1954, the Seales gave the Plains Theatre a widescreen conversion to present CinemaScope titles likely reducing seat count somewhat. The Plains carries that name into the 1970s. Not sure when the Seal seal was invoked as it isn’t covered by the local paper. But the Seales definitely retired from the industry with the ozoner closing in 1976 and a late decision to not reopen made in the Spring of 1977. The operators passed away in 1980 and 1982.
The Seale Drive-In’s final screening was Yvette Mimieux in “Jackson County Jail” and Angie Dickinson in “Big Bad Mama” on August 29, 1976. It was offered for sale in the classified ads in April and May of 1977 when the drive-in might have - but did not - reopen with operators J.B. “Brad” Seale and wife Dovie Marie Watts Seale retiring from the industry after 43 years.
C.C. Caldwell opened the Rex Theatre August 25, 1933 with Wheeler & Woolsey in “Hold ‘em Jail.” Ads are discontinued following the May 1, 1962 showing of “Pocketful of Miracles.”
Richland Plaza Shopping Center was announced in 1960. General Drive-In (soon to be General Cinema) announced its 39th hardtop property adjoining Richland Plaza, a shopping center opened in 1962 anchored by a J.C. Penneys store and Buddies Grocery Store. During construction, Montgomery Ward’s joined the project along with the outparcel / freestanding cinema.
Plans were by General Cinema’s Maurice Sornik and had 950 seats at launch as built by Dallas contractor Ten-Eyck Shaw and local Dallas architect Don Speck as associate architect. Groundbreaking was on February 13, 1964. It opened on September 24th, 1964 with Hayley Mills in “The Moonspinners.” It was one of three venues for the circuit to open that same day and another 28 were in construction as General Cinema would dominate many markets in the suburban luxury era of movie exhibition.
The Richland Plaza contained 100 tons of plate glass as each storefront was decked out floor to ceiling in heavy glass. This was great until the Texas summer sun took an initial toll and, markedly worse, when a hail storm took out the front facing windows of the Cinema in 1968 which crashed down during the business day. (A modern photo shows that the building was retrofitted with a facing to protect the upper part of the building.)
The venue closed in March of 1977 for a refresh. It re-emerged on April 9, 1977 as a twin screen operation, the GCC Richland Plaza Cinema I & II, with “Raggedy Ann and Andy” and “Led Zeppelin’s “The Song Remains the Same.” But two malls would open within four miles of the Plaza in the 1970s altering the General Cinema and Richland Plaza’s futures. Penney’s bolted for the North East Mall at its opening with Montgomery Ward’s following in an expansion with Ward’s reducing its Richland Plaza anchor to a clearance outlet store. North Hills Mall opened theatre-lessly in 1979; but, in a refresh, GCC opened the seven-screen North Hills VII mall cinema there about 2.5 miles away.
This led to a downgraded GCC Richland Plaza positioned as a sub-run discount house as it tried to run out its leasing agreement. GCC ultimately closed the Richland Plaza I & II on April 30, 1986 with “Back to the Future” and “Murphy’s Romance.” It sat empty until a 1988 conversion to a Bingo Hall. The former cinema/bingo hall was later converted for office space. As for Richland Plaza, it held on with some independent stores and a thrift store becoming a mixed use property. But it was essentially rezoned as primarily non-retail and is considered closed with the cinema and many other structures looking fairly familiar.
The Nu-Vue seems to have become the no-vue after a May 21, 1959 free screening hosted by the local merchants. The last advertised show was “Band of Angels” on May 20, 1959. The operators said that competition from television led them to close both the Nu-Vue and the Antelope Drive-In at the end of its 1959 season, as well.
Opening film on March 19, 1953 was “Ride the Man Down.” Appears to have closed for the season on September 2, 1959 with “Horrors of the Black Museum.” They do not have appeared to have opened in 1960.
By 1920, the oil boom town of Ranger had over 16,000 people. Theaters sprang up everywhere including the June 20, 1920 launch of the Temple Theatre (ad in photos). But by 1930, more than 60% of the population was gone and making the transition to sound for a now small town theater was a risky proposition. But, fortunately for the Temple - which didn’t - so many theaters burned down that the former Temple became viable in a town of just over 4,000 people in 1945. And the venue reopened as the Tower Theatre on May 5, 1945 with Tex Ritter in “Rhythm of the Rio Grande.”
The Pastime Theatre launched on March 28, 1924. The venue converted to sound to remain viable. Earl E. Jones refreshed the venue as the Ritz launching August 8, 1935 with “Going High Brow.” The Ritz Theatre was closed permanently on February 3, 1951 and ostensibly replaced by the New Regal Theatre that opened on February 14, 1951. The Joneses had also opened the Rustic Drive-In Theatre on January 30, 1951.
The Queen Theatre ascended on July 4, 1916 with 175 thrones for willing subjects. Murten Judd ran the castle on opening day and the first advertised feature came ten days later with “The Siege and Fall of the Alamo”
Opened with “Three Loves Has Nancy.”
Opened with Francis, the Talking Mule in “Francis.”
Gary Barnhill opened the Sandell Drive-In Theatre on September 8, 1955 with “Elephant Walk” and held its formal Grand Opening on September 11, 1955 with “Shane.”
A Robb and Rowley theater
The synopsis above says this was the Seal Theater at open to close which may, in fact, be accurate although the operator name is in error. Just giving a bit more historical context on Lockney’s movie history, the Lockney Opera House opened September 12, 1912 with the live staging of “Silas, the Chore Boy.” It began to mix in more movies than live stage presentations. Making the transition from live house to movie house, it is believed that it was renamed the Olympic Theatre becoming a full-time, 420-seat cinema. In 1925, C.R. Wilkinson took on the venue giving it a refresh and renaming it the Isis Theatre on August 13, 1925 with the film, “Recompense.”
New operator J.T. O'Heron took it on and in January of 1930 converting it to Western Electric sound allowing the Isis to remain viable. O'Heron was followed by John Jenkins (1935), R.E. Reynolds (1940), and - finally - J.B. “Brad” and Dovie Seale who took on the venture. They changed its name from the Isis to the Plains Theatre. In 1951, the venue was given a streamline makeover as the “new” Plains Theatre reducing seat count to 360 seats. They also established the Seale Drive-In in 1952 operating it until 1976.
In 1954, the Seales gave the Plains Theatre a widescreen conversion to present CinemaScope titles likely reducing seat count somewhat. The Plains carries that name into the 1970s. Not sure when the “Seal” seal was invoked as it isn’t covered by the local paper. However, it may indeed be in the same structure or an entirely different building than the Plains (leave that to the local historians). But the Seales definitely retired from the industry with the ozoner closing in 1976 and a late decision to not reopen made in the Spring of 1977. The operators passed away in 1980 and 1982. Ads for the Plains, Olympic, and Isis are provided in photos here.
(And, if it matters, it’s not Mr. Seal but is J.B. “Brad” Seale and Dovie Marie Watts Seale who were the operators of the Plains Theatre and Seale - not Seal - Drive-In.)
The Lockney Opera House opened September 12, 1912. Making the transition from live house to movie house, it was renamed the Olympic Theatre as a 420-seat cinema. In 1925, C.R. Wilkinson took on the venue giving it a refresh and renaming it the Isis Theatre on August 13, 1925 with the film, “Recompense.”
New operator J.T. O'Heron took it on and in January of 1930 converting it to Western Electric sound allowing the Isis to remain viable. O'Heron was followed by John Jenkins (1935), R.E. Reynolds (1940), and - finally - J.B. “Brad” and Dovie Seale who took on the venture. They changed its name from the Isis to the Plains Theatre. In 1951, the venue was given a streamline makeover as the “new” Plains Theatre reducing seat count to 360 seats. They also established the Seale Drive-In in 1952 operating it until 1976.
In 1954, the Seales gave the Plains Theatre a widescreen conversion to present CinemaScope titles likely reducing seat count somewhat. The Plains carries that name into the 1970s. Not sure when the Seal seal was invoked as it isn’t covered by the local paper. But the Seales definitely retired from the industry with the ozoner closing in 1976 and a late decision to not reopen made in the Spring of 1977. The operators passed away in 1980 and 1982.
The Seale Drive-In’s final screening was Yvette Mimieux in “Jackson County Jail” and Angie Dickinson in “Big Bad Mama” on August 29, 1976. It was offered for sale in the classified ads in April and May of 1977 when the drive-in might have - but did not - reopen with operators J.B. “Brad” Seale and wife Dovie Marie Watts Seale retiring from the industry after 43 years.
C.C. Caldwell opened the Rex Theatre August 25, 1933 with Wheeler & Woolsey in “Hold ‘em Jail.” Ads are discontinued following the May 1, 1962 showing of “Pocketful of Miracles.”
The Liberty Theatre was purchased by Dunlap & Smith on January 13, 1954 and its name changed to the Plains Theatre.
Opened September 9, 1954 with “Son of Paleface.”
Appears to have opened April 4, 1952 with “Texas Longhorn.”
J.B. Seale opens the Seale Drive-In on June 19, 1952 with Yvonne DeCarlo in “Scarlet Angel.” The screen was pulled down on August 12, 1978.
Richland Plaza Shopping Center was announced in 1960. General Drive-In (soon to be General Cinema) announced its 39th hardtop property adjoining Richland Plaza, a shopping center opened in 1962 anchored by a J.C. Penneys store and Buddies Grocery Store. During construction, Montgomery Ward’s joined the project along with the outparcel / freestanding cinema.
Plans were by General Cinema’s Maurice Sornik and had 950 seats at launch as built by Dallas contractor Ten-Eyck Shaw and local Dallas architect Don Speck as associate architect. Groundbreaking was on February 13, 1964. It opened on September 24th, 1964 with Hayley Mills in “The Moonspinners.” It was one of three venues for the circuit to open that same day and another 28 were in construction as General Cinema would dominate many markets in the suburban luxury era of movie exhibition.
The Richland Plaza contained 100 tons of plate glass as each storefront was decked out floor to ceiling in heavy glass. This was great until the Texas summer sun took an initial toll and, markedly worse, when a hail storm took out the front facing windows of the Cinema in 1968 which crashed down during the business day. (A modern photo shows that the building was retrofitted with a facing to protect the upper part of the building.)
The venue closed in March of 1977 for a refresh. It re-emerged on April 9, 1977 as a twin screen operation, the GCC Richland Plaza Cinema I & II, with “Raggedy Ann and Andy” and “Led Zeppelin’s “The Song Remains the Same.” But two malls would open within four miles of the Plaza in the 1970s altering the General Cinema and Richland Plaza’s futures. Penney’s bolted for the North East Mall at its opening with Montgomery Ward’s following in an expansion with Ward’s reducing its Richland Plaza anchor to a clearance outlet store. North Hills Mall opened theatre-lessly in 1979; but, in a refresh, GCC opened the seven-screen North Hills VII mall cinema there about 2.5 miles away.
This led to a downgraded GCC Richland Plaza positioned as a sub-run discount house as it tried to run out its leasing agreement. GCC ultimately closed the Richland Plaza I & II on April 30, 1986 with “Back to the Future” and “Murphy’s Romance.” It sat empty until a 1988 conversion to a Bingo Hall. The former cinema/bingo hall was later converted for office space. As for Richland Plaza, it held on with some independent stores and a thrift store becoming a mixed use property. But it was essentially rezoned as primarily non-retail and is considered closed with the cinema and many other structures looking fairly familiar.
Opening film, “Blondie’s Reward.”
February 21, 1936 opening ad with “Broadway Melody of 1936.” Not an African American cinema at launch.
The Queen was coronated on September 24, 1914.
The Hillcrest opened March 28, 1950 with “Untamed Breed.”
The Princess ascended on February 28, 1919 with “Vivi la France” and “The Terror of the Range.”
Tommy Tucker opened the Round-Up Drive-In on June 16, 1950.
The Nu-Vue seems to have become the no-vue after a May 21, 1959 free screening hosted by the local merchants. The last advertised show was “Band of Angels” on May 20, 1959. The operators said that competition from television led them to close both the Nu-Vue and the Antelope Drive-In at the end of its 1959 season, as well.
Opening film on March 19, 1953 was “Ride the Man Down.” Appears to have closed for the season on September 2, 1959 with “Horrors of the Black Museum.” They do not have appeared to have opened in 1960.
By 1920, the oil boom town of Ranger had over 16,000 people. Theaters sprang up everywhere including the June 20, 1920 launch of the Temple Theatre (ad in photos). But by 1930, more than 60% of the population was gone and making the transition to sound for a now small town theater was a risky proposition. But, fortunately for the Temple - which didn’t - so many theaters burned down that the former Temple became viable in a town of just over 4,000 people in 1945. And the venue reopened as the Tower Theatre on May 5, 1945 with Tex Ritter in “Rhythm of the Rio Grande.”
Last films were “The Broadway Cowboy” supported by an episode of “The Moon Riders.” Neither print survived the September 15, 1920 fire.